So the jian dan moves are quite simple. Not true!! There is a lot of energy generation in crane. This is easier when you are already in motion, and more problematic from a stationary position.
Home is where you want to be ( position wise ). Where ever you are, if you return to the basic stance at the point of arrival you will have enery. This means leaving home. If you leave home at the right point, this will generate a lot of power as well. Or at least intend to leave. And that is where the problem is. In San Jan do you pop the knees? Or not? The Jian Dans give you some idea of the problem.
These are the questions that occupy the mind of a man with only 6 forms and some basic stuff. In fact they are suspicions based on how my teacher moved.
One of the effects of this is that if your arms are almost fully extended, you can still generate a lot of power. In these clips I try to do the Jian Dans with no pops, and then slowly with pops and then a bit more powerfully.
Warning: if you really get this right at full power and have not trained up slowly you can hurt your back.
You can download the clips one at a time, or get them all in one big ( 4.5 Meg ) file
| Here we can pop a little to get us going and then return home on connection. In the clip I try to show the effect of this. | Jian Dan 1 Example ( 814 K ) |
| Jian Dan 2 - the most difficult!! We are trying to lead with the shoulder - only returning the arm to the home position. | Jian Dan 2 Example ( 601 K ) |
| Jian Dan 3 - very nice!! In fact we can leave to a high position on the first strike , and return home on the second. | Example Jian Dan 3 ( 659 K ) |
| Jian Dan 5 - crane stuff - the leaving is only in the spinal twist and shoulder levels - the return in the straightening. | Example Jian Dan 5 ( 1.5MEG ) |
| Jian Dan 6 - spine again - but rippling and straightening. | Example Jian Dan 6 ( 1 MEG ) |
I do not understand these things and am still playing with them. However, this is just 5 ways of leaving home ( the lovely basic position ) and returning to it. When you consider they can be done in combination ( Twist and pop or ripple and should action ) and I am only dealing here with a basic 4 changes all starting from a static position then you can see it becomes very complex.
Going through the forms and re-applying these is a good exercise. There is lots more I could say about this.....but I will just say instead sorry for my terrible kneck position instead!!! It has also been pointed out to me that I am wearing my socks. This is not a necessary part of the training..
Lastly here is the question / answer you should read and understand before you write and tell me how wrong I am.
Question: ' How much do you pop for full power? ' -
Answer: ' You don't pop at all you mad telegraphing fool!!! - not only will that destroy your rooting, but it could cause
a cataclysmic breakdown of reality not unlike the effect of crossing the beams in ghostbusters. Now go and do san jan in the corner you bad boy !'