08/28/2019
Explicit vs Implicit Movement in Taijiquan Form
There is much to be said for what is explicitly done in form work. There is an abstract understanding of the basic body movement methods as force is conserved and transferred from one posture to the next. The transitions are as important as the postures themselves.
There is also the importance of form as a codex for what is done and what is possible. Whether you’re working with a more basic form in abstraction or an applied form, there is much more suggested than there is shown. When doing form work you need to be cognizant of the possibilities in which an given movement can go, and not the limitations of a choreography. Form should be live work that models several outcomes simultaneously, with the outcome being the best solution for a given situation. There are many things that are suggested in form, half done, or not fully expressed. This understanding is part of the interpretation of form, and it is an active and creative process. Change and adaptation while maintaining the basic principles of movement is what is important.
