SAN TI SHI TRANSITION APPLICATIONS – THE YI IN XINGYIQUAN.

San Ti Shi is both a stillness and a movement Qigong. Most practitioners that I observe rush through the opening movement to get into posture and do some standing training. San Ti posture has multiple transitions that actually train various mechanisms used in the art of Xingyiquan. The initial turn trains the intent. It also trains moving from center to center. The first and second transition together make a pair ( Yin/Yang) and constitute a mechanism . The rising up action is of particular interest. Many people raise their hands up in what I call “upish” . It’s not a real word I understand but neither is their intent a real thing when it is vague. When raising my hands , if at the moment my partner applies their strength I meet their strength and my mind goes to that point then my intention is dispersed. This is the application of the principal even if the Li or strength is broken the Yi or intent is continuous. I do not divert my intent away from my target and towards your strength. I simply maintain focus in the direction of the target (fingertips). This action is made more effective by sinking or dropping. It is better not to utilize those mechanisms initially in training so as to train the intention. This is a very important concept and should be studied thoroughly. This is the mrthod of raising the hands upward. If one pulls downward against resistance, then they will usually pull themselves out of their root. It is more effective to “pull” from a distal area ( tailbone) then to put the mind in the wrist/hands and pull from the point of contact. *** It is a requirement that no strength is used or it will degrade into a strength versus strength contest . It will not work it you allow your opponent to “steal your heart”. We will look at some of the other gems hidden in the opening transitions of San Ti Shi.