by Wushuer » Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:03 pm
Since P hasn't chimed in here, I'll do my best.
I'm not certain I'm understanding the question however, and before I make an unmitigated ass out of myself, once again, by comparing apples to oranges I will need some clarification as to the meaning of the question.
What exactly do you mean by "rotational turning of the tantien"?
I will make a preliminary answer, but I'll toss in a caveat to boot:
First off, I am REALLY weak in Yang style theory, though I have been reading quite heavily, studying hard and working diligently to correct that problem.
I've only been studying YCF's forms for a little over two years, so I'm not an expert by any stretch on tantien rotation in their forms. All I know at this point is what I've been shown by my instructor, there may be, in fact I feel 100% certain there is, a whole world of training beyond anything I've seen so far. I feel confident that Yang Zhenduo, Yang Zhenji, Yang Zhenguo, Yang Jun or any one of their family members or disciples could show me things of the Yang style that would make my head spin with envy.
So I can only answer these types of questions in the context of what I know so far, not on what is actually in the advanced training of the Yang family.
Second off, I am nearly as weak, if not more so at this point, in Wu style "theory". My strength in Wu family style TCC seems to be in my body, not my brain. I was taught how to physically do their forms and use their applications, however the "spoken" or "written" theory wasn't as heavily taught in their sytle, at least not to me by my Sifu's. Most of what I know of Wu style I could show you easily, but have no real idea how to convey those things to anyone else by spoken word alone.
In other words, when I learned their transmission I learned by watching and repeating, "Let me show you" instead of "Let me tell you". I watched what Sifu (in this case I use the word to denote all of my former teachers at WTCCA, not just Eddie or his family, we used that word mostly for Eddies disciples, but it can mean anyone who is teaching, some people still call me Sifu) did, I would then try to follow his movements, with his corrections, until he was satisfied I was performing correctly, then I practiced that way until either I was doing it correctly, or he would correct me some more and I would then work on doing things more correctly.
I have gotten myself in trouble here before, also, because of the above mentioned apples and oranges. What I "know" to be true in Wu style is usually true in Yang style, but not always AND even if it is it's called something different. So the explanations won't have a common base denominator to build from.
All that said:
MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION on this, as I understand the question and according to what I know of both styles so far, would be that there is less of a range in directional turning of the tantien in Yang Cheng Fu style TCC, as I have learned it to this point, than there was in the Wu style as far I learned their transmission, which was considerably more than I've learned of Yang Cheng Fu style.
If I'm understanding your question, you've lead me in a circle right back to the question of the Wu families use of "leaning" in thier postures.
I really, really don't know if we want to open that can of worms again on this Forum.
The Yang Cheng Fu stylists of the world don't "lean". In thier system this is correct and proper and I will not speak against it further until I obtain a higher level of understanding of the concept.
In order to understand the Wu family "lean" as I do, would require at least a few years training under that system. But I will say that the "tantien rotation" is closely tied in to that system.
That is where I will leave this for now.
If I've answered the question, fine. If not, then perhaps we're on one of those topics that is best left for "agreeing to disagree".
And again, Polaris would be better at conveying Wu style theory to us. As he is one of Eddies own disciples, he will surely be able to give us a more inciteful answer. Certainly one couched in less double-speak than I am forced to use here.
Sorry, but I'm getting a bit weary of being blasted across the moon for using wrong words or incorrect contexts when comparing these apples to those oranges.
Regards