Pulling Taffy: A New Focus

Since the conference, I have slightly altered the way I do and teach Pulling Taffy. My emphasis had traditionally been on the tan t’ien. I’ve now adjusted the focus to the side movements, where I feel there is more power. Mentally, I envision a fine filament or thread coming from the tan t’ien as I begin a Pulling Taffy move, causing my hands, arms and waist to come into position with much more smoothness and flow as well as less effort. Years ago, Justin suggested seeing our bodies as marionettes suspended at the head, yet grounded below, allowing the strings of the marionette to move our bodies in the most efficient and easy way. The feeling complements his comment that no one does T’ai Chi Chih; it does itself. The marionette image seems to apply to the Pulling Taffy movement and other side-to-side movements. My students indicated they liked the idea of a thread or filament being the impetus of feeling where the movement originates.

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