September 18, 2019

8 Brocades Certification Review: Videos submitted

Introduction Video

Pushing Up Heaven & Drawing the Bow

Separating Heaven and Earth & Wise Owl Gazes Back

Big Bear Turns & Punches with angry gaze

Press the earth and touch the sky & Raising and lowering the heels

Sifu G Notes: Irma has met her video demonstration requirement. She clearly has experience talking in front of others as her speech was clear, well paced, positive toned, with virtually no visual nervousness. She began with an educational introduction, invited the participants to follow along and then shared the health aspects of each move with the participants. Her demonstration was consistent, pleasant, and it was clear that she cares about what she is sharing. Irma is instructor material.

Focus Areas: Below are the notes from the video that are to be taken as educational guidance.

1 Pushing Up Heaven - No comments

2 Drawing the bow - A rotation at the shoulders before drawing the bow is a unique interpretation outside of our program, but I believe it falls within the tolerance of all of the varying styles of the 8 brocades.

3 Separating Heaven and earth - Holding a tai chi ball before separating heaven and earth is a unique interpretation outside of our program, but believe it falls within the tolerance of all of the varying styles of the 8 brocades

4 Wise owl gazes back - Traditionally the 8 brocades always begins starting with directing to the left first (where applicable). Our videos are meant to be mirror images. The videos are actually inverted so while it looks like I am starting to the right, I am actually starting to the left, so the user (mirroring the video) will start to the left. 8 brocades (when alternating sides) always begins with the left side first.

5 Big bear Turns - Start with turning to the left first :)

6 Punches with angry gaze - The closing of the fist has a specific Qigong sequence for the fingers. 1. thumb 2. pinky 3. ring 4.middle 5.index. It is important that they close in this specific sequence (Traditional Chinese Medicine). In our program, after the fingers close, they then reshape the sequence back to a vertical fist before bringing the fist back to the waist.

7 Press the earth, touch the sky - In the 8 brocades set, the right foot is rooted throughout the set for all exercises. The left foot is the only foot that extends and retracts.

8 Raising and Dropping the Heels - No comments