Can you find the mistakes (Immortal Waves Sleeves)?

[Leo Shaolin]

Dear Shaolin Wahnam family, especially our martial arts students,

We should and can learn from our mistakes. So, why not learn from other’s mistakes as well?

I collected some common mistakes and did my best to reproduce them.

The feeling we get during an exercise is a great teacher. While it was fun practicing how to do it wrongly, it was also strenuous and sometimes some discomfort occurred.

We are very lucky that we learn systematically and that we have chi flow to remedy blockages we might develop from wrong practice.

Please note that some things that we regard as mistake, might be considered correct in other schools.

From the Shaolin Wahnam perspective, there are at least three major mistakes in each video. Try to figure them out yourself before watching the solutions!
Who knows, maybe you also find some mistakes I wasn’t aware of yet.

You get three chances to spot the mistakes and a slow-motion... and of course you can re-play the video as often as you like.

Have fun!

Best wishes,

Leo

[Leo Shaolin]

The first video is on Immortal Waves Sleeves.

What's wrong with it?

[Anton S.]

I would like to mention only one subtle mistake: the back / left foot is not in line with the front / right.

[Leo Shaolin]

I would like to mention only one subtle mistake: the back / left foot is not in line with the front / right.

33.3 points for Anton!

Although the mistake is subtle, it has a huge impact on the whole body movement, especially the waist rotation.

Whenever you feel that your hips are locked and you can't really rotate, have a look at your back foot. It should be at an angle of 45 degrees, not 90 degrees as shown in the video.

Try it out yourself and feel the huge difference this little change of the angle can make!

What else can others find?

[Steffen]

Dear Sisookgung,

very nice idea, thank you! I also go for 33.3 points :

The movement is lead by the hand.

Best regards,
Steffen

[Mark-)]

Hello Leon. Nice Idea. I'll give it a try

1. Like Anton mentioned, your back foot is not in Line with your front foot.
2. Because of this, you didn't fully rotate your waist and you loose some stability in your stance. And your body moves a little bit up and down, not staying with the dantian at the same level.
3. Your right arm started moving a little bit before you rotated your waist and so the movement seems disconnected.
4. Maybe you leaned a little bit too much forward at the end

but you have a nice suit

[sancrica]

Dear Sidai,

Wonderful idea. Thanks a lot for taking the time to create the video and for making the learning process fun. :-)

I think that the 3 mistakes have been already mentioned. Congratulations to all the participants!

Can't wait for the next coming videos.

With Love, Care and Shaolin Salute,

Santi

[Charles David]

Very nice idea, Leo! I concur with the above points, and didn't notice anything else. On the positive side: you are clearly having a good time enjoying yourself.

[Andrew]

Excellent thread, Leo!

Apart from the points previously mentioned
- Front knee pushes slightly forwards
- Chi locks up in the lower back
- The lean mentioned is there, but there is also complete disconnection between upper and lower (stance / body / arms)

[Anton S.]

As we already have named a few, I would like to contribute one more which was probably noticed, but not mentioned: the overall movement is rather leaning forward than circular.

I agree with our Wahnam view of the back foot mechanics, however other schools do it differently:

please have a look at 0:44 - 0:52

What do you notice?

[Neuromantica]

Stance is not stable at the end. So when he should stand strong, instead he falls forward.
"Bewegen wie Wasser, stehen wie ein Fels". (Stand like mountain, flow like water)


Yep, Anton, you're right.
In your video the movement is circular, instead of forward. First the chen style guy sets his foot on the ground - and his center is still on the back leg, the body turned to the side. And only then he moves forward by turning in in a circular movement.
I think it's comparable, as in the beginning stance (of immortal waves sleeves), the body is also turned to the side with the weight on the back leg as well. And then it twists circular into the stance. Or at least it should.

[Andrew]

Exactly --- the Six Harmonies are clearly missing

Great demo, Leo!

[Neuromantica]

Exactly --- the Six Harmonies are clearly missing

Great demo, Leo!

Hah yep! Now you reminded me of exactly this video "Six Harmonies in Taijiquan and Kung Fu". He even shows it (how the feet, body, handy are not in harmony) at exactly the same stance, as Leo does. (2:05 to 2:28).

https://youtu.be/MxFOEFzySaY?t=2m5s

[Anton S.]

In the video I posted the back foot is ca. 90° however, the overall movement looks smooth and stable. Wait, do you notice something at 0:50 ?

[Neuromantica]

Wait, do you notice something at 0:50 ?

You mean, when he slightly readjusted his back foot, as his weight was on the front.
Yep, he does this often.