Kelley Graham's UnCarved Block Program
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As I approach standing each day, I find that I can work throught the checklist of standing points more quickly.
I'm able to observe/release master cavity as well as perineum much sooner than previous efforts. As long as I "stay out of the way" I feel I'm growing taller the whole set, as the softness emerges and gently guides everyting to greater verticality.
This post is more about anchoring the joints.
In the previous training practiced, the neigong was that during standing, you released foot, ankle, calf, knee, hips, torso...ect...over and over to allow filling from the bottom up.
However there was no clarity like the bottom, middle and top of each joint. This anchoring is already much more detailed, and I was surprised at how much intention and will it took to keep the mind on task, my mind kept wanting to run away from that mapping process.
Wow! I feel so dumb sometimes. I've just noticed in stick practice just how much working with the foot couple, the pelvic couple, and the cavities takes the "excess slack" out of the fascia "body suit." I was practicing chambering, strike, parry, and thrust, and I could feel just how much more connected the parry was when I forgot about my arms and just attended to the couples and cavities.
Doh!! Better late than never, I suppose. :-)
Pranam.
Pranams.
The main thing that keeps popping up currently, is that during the standing, if I remove any self will or "force" and allow the posture to set itself up, I keep growing taller.
A "Verticality" emerges, as im gently reminded not to compress Tan Tien, then, as soon as I remove that compression the verticality sets in and I feel supported in the U.
The amazing thing in all this is that the previous method I trained PREACHED verticality, but it could not help you attain it.
Training journal entry on Push Pull Elbow for my 'future self' ;-)
Pranam.
In my first post I remarked that Sifu's teachings on Standing have even influenced the way I approach my percussion practice. Last week I found another somewhat unexpected intersection.
About 2-3 times per year I have the opportunity to attend regional SWAT training here. I don’t jump out or off of anything, and I don’t rappel down buildings etc. with the young guys. Instead I practice shooting as much as possible - since I’m not the one paying for ammo.
around 3 weeks into standing, and this is totally different.
Sifu explained Empty Cup Beginners Mind, as setting goals with this is impossible and that helped profoundly.
I am beginning to wonder if there ever is an arguable case for 'Heavy Yi'
The more I become aware when I am using 'Heavy Yi', which is a lot more than I initially thought and spans a host of activities and not just training, the more I see it as a Cortisol 'spiker' which leads to background or low level lingering stress or unnecessary 'activation'.
This practical experience of Non-Interference came to mind just as I was finishing off my last blog post. Experiences such as this served me as ‘convincers’ that this method is preferable to letting my ‘big brain’ lead the development. It’s quite a superficial example, but for me, it was a real validation of Non-Interference versus the urge to try and 'fix' things.
Ok,
I may be way off on this, but wanted to write it while it was fresh.
For the past week my training has been 20-30 minutes of standing a day, with Bends, and Elbow Arm Circles...thumbs down of course.
Im working hard on acknowledging Master Cavity, and Releasing Perineum, while extending toe bones with Knees Not Engaged...
Here is where I want to know if Im wrong, so i can Listen more deeply...
When I acknowledge the Master Cavity, and it drops slightly, I feel it pull through the armpits anchoring the shoulders more securely
After focusing on acknowledging the Master Cavity, I've been struggling to release the Perineum, and I'm surprised at how difficult it has been for me to find that area with my mind, but I think I finally made some progress in that area.
I felt the ability to slightly relax that area, or "release", and I forget the structural changes it created, but I know that I felt a wave of anxious agitation arise, so I figured I might be on the right path once that happened.
Making a record of some of the changes I mentioned on Sunday.
Leg Cavities
Although have been able to experience continuous change over time with the method, there was one area where I've had difficulty properly getting my head around and that was ‘how to use the leg cavities’. Back in the beginning I felt nothing there, then in time a "flatness" and later, a "stretch." But beyond these sensations, I was at a loss as to how to make any of it work and I’ve felt like I’ve been "at the bottom of the wheel" regarding this.