Peace

Fifth Principle: Centerline

Originally, I decided to write what I understood centerline to be. But I found myself in another lesson on my journey in Taiji. I found this article to be frustrating. But the lesson, as the article, continues to grow. As I started to examine my information, I discovered that centerline and other theories work hand in hand. To try to explain one, you need the others. They feed off of each other and are connected.

The journey starts with the basic information about the center and centerline. The words "straight body, straight mind" must be understood in our form practice. A straight body is the image of a string holding the head erect. This starts the first idea of the centerline. Next, there is the connection from the nose to the navel. The primary centerline combines the string holding the head erect and the line between the nose and the navel.

Knowing this, we divide evenly down this middle, creating the left and right sides. These sides are split into multiple halves of your body or an opponent's. As Sifu has said over and over again, "centerline, centerline, centerline." We have to know every centerline from the smallest point on a finger to the centerline of a hair. I'm starting to see the importance of him saying it repeatedly.

The idea of that string holding the head erect placed an image of a pole in my mind, with the body suspended around this pole, making the body mobile. This becomes the primary center that we play off of. The example of basic Peng now is introduced. Peng and that original centerline are the same.

Without Peng, there can't be a stable body. This introduces stabilization, balance, and gravity. Again.  Stabilization is a basic requirement (balance) for understanding the centerline.

Notes from Percy Lumpkin

4/2000

There was a writing component as Part of the tenure as a student of Sifu Chen. Most didn't have to write much, but it was his way of testing your knowledge.