Minimizing the Arc of Movement With Qigong
“No pistol shooter, no matter how expert, can hold a pistol in firing positions without some motion. This is called the arc of movement. The very best that any shooter can do is to keep the arc of movement at a minimum—it cannot be eliminated.” The N.R.A.’s Basics of Pistol Shooting (57).
For humans, perfect stillness does not exist in the living. Our bodies constantly make adjustments, large and small, to maintain even simple postures. In marksmanship, constant adjustments add up to what is called the arc of movement. The arc of movement is the amount that the firearm moves as a result of a body’s natural inability to maintain perfect stillness. The greater the arc of movement, the more difficult it is to maintain proper site alignment which leads to inconsistent marksmanship.
At first we might think that to minimize the arc of movement we need to force our arm into stillness. This severe willing of stillness inevitably leads to muscles contracting, causing tension as well as motion. Anyone who has tried showing off their bicep could tell you that intense muscle contractions cause trembling in surrounding muscles. We can conclude that forcing our arms into stillness leads to a greater arc of movement, the exact opposite of what we want.
Read Pistol Qigong Is A Blast »
Relax. You know how. You do it everyday. You sleep for example. And you, nevertheless, crave more of it! You desire more methods, more skills, more prowess to let go, let up, and let loose.
Relax. Stop pouring effort and emotions and energy and reasons and time and money into machines and lessons and language and schools and therapy and workshops. Stop trying, real hard, to relax.
Relax. No pressure, no need to worry. Relaxing is easy — go deeper with the following five free methods.
Read Five Little Known Ways to Relax »
Hostels are inexpensively priced; they’re run by friendly folks with promising visions. Check out all they offer.
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§ Steven Smith’s Wisdom in a Nutshell
One posture point depends on another. You could Knee, Knee without Cat Feet, but you’d miss the subtlety of Cat Feet—the sinking. Likewise, with other posture points. So work your way down this list. Find each point’s point from the ground, up.
01 Cat Feet
Gently draw your feet up into cat paws. Lightly curl your toes; squeeze the ground, lightly gripping. The tips of your toes grasp softly. Sink your weight straight through your tibia (your big, sharp shin bone) through your foot, into the front of your heels, deep down in the ground.
02 Knee, Knee
Bend your knees until over your toes, you sink. Weight through heels, relax. Sink. The detail: sink into the front part of your heels, not the center of your foot, just behind the center.
While we’re on the subject: your knees are transfer joints, not weight bearing instruments. Wha-what?! That’s right: your knees transfer weight from your hips into your ankles into the ground, gently. Any knee pain you experience is not because the knee is the source of problems—the trouble resides in the hips and/or ankles (usually hips). Your knee may feel the pain, but movement distortions in the hips cause the distortions, dysfunctions, and the pain; it’s not the knee. The knee is a victim of anal-retentive hips—let go! Really, seriously…never get knee surgery for knee pain…it’s your hips.
For people with knee pain, this concept is a hard sell…oh, well. Do some research with your body, use your intellect’s internet research to support your body, not the other way. Go see a Soft-Tissue Expert, like a Massage Therapist before a Surgeon and get some Structural Integration or Cranial-sacral work before seeing a Common Medical Practitioner. Note that this advice is about knees, and I disclaim any responsibility for your pain. Get some Bodywork, and do real Qigong.
Read 10 Potent Posture Points Produce Practical Power »
The histories of Tai Chi Chuan often seem vague and mystical. Many books and internet sites attempt to remove Taijiquan (a modern spelling of T’ai-chi Chüan) from its violent historical roots, preferring instead to clothe the vibrant and colorful Zhang San Feng in the grey robes of the Sage. Such bland suggestions or proclamations, be it accidental or deliberate, should insult the reader. They muddy the reality of Taijiquan.
Motivations, at first, seem kind. People, generally, seem to seek some peace of mind, ease of body, and contentment of spirit. Certainly, in an age of unprecedented, phenomenally technological and barbaric warfare, the desire for local and global peace is necessary and nice. I am merely concerned that deception and lies, both accidental or deliberate, promote neither peace nor understanding. I propose that peace-seekers wage war, and war-mongers seek peace.
Read Mystical History of Tai Chi »
Real Taiji is World Taiji Boxing lessons in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Steven Smith is currently the only World Taiji Boxing Association Certified Instructor in Utah. You can train with Steven right now, through Real Taiji, in group classes Monday, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, private lessons by appointment, or monthly immersion workshops.
