Training journal entry on Push Pull Elbow for my 'future self' ;-)
After last nights class and Sifu's comment, which if I remember correctly was about being 'honest' with yourself as regards integrated movement, I realised that I had to investigate Push Pull Elbow more deeply. So today I set out to see just how much movement was being initiated from the belly and breastbone and how much was 'me' using that initial momentum and carrying that forwards, intentially or subconsciously, towards an expectation. What I found is that in 'Push' from arm horizontal thumb down, I get a max around 20 degrees humurous rotation then I use the momentum + a bit of help to carry on the movement. There is a lot more 'doing' in Pull, and it didn't feel as integrated, that was, until I remembered there was a thing called the shoulder couple and not just the foot couple and the pelvic couple. I need 'basics,basics, basics, written on the inside of my glasses.
It feels good to have a clear baseline, however small, from which to extend from. And I need to keep in mind that this work is 'rice paper' laid down over time. I've set a reminder to check in with this post in a couple of months to see how that 'rice paper' is doing.