Practical Method Characteristics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hstkDJCjE9A

1. Rotation (Spin like a wheel, Be like a gyroscope)
2. Withdraw is to issue
3. Eye on the opponent
4. Revolution and rotation combined
5. 45 degree angles

Reaching 19,000 yilus

On Jun. 14, 2016, I reach 19,000 yilus. From 18,000, to 19,000 yilus, I have noticed the following:

1. I am able to more clearly see a dot that can be used for rotation. That can be in the opponent's body, my body or in the space. See this article for more detail. When I watch Master Chen Zhonghua push hands videos, I can see this dot in his actions.
2. I am able to engage my waist more. During push hands, the setup I previously talked about must include the engagement of the waist.  Unless the setup is there, don't do the actual move. However, the process of learning this does require repeated attempts to locate the moment when the setup is done, since I don't know what it means to be "the setup is there" previously.
3. During push hands, I need to remind myself about maintaining a fixed dot in my body during the setup process. Recently, I notice that I am not doing that as much as I focus on point 1 above.

https://youtu.be/-cJO0BsmCSM

Dot in space

Master Chen Zhonghua has demonstrated numerous times of having a fixed point (dot) for rotation in his action. Recently, I start to understand the pair of contacting points which can be used to create a stick/lever. I have been able to rotate an opponent using a dot in the middle of the stick. Today, I realize this dot can, in fact, be in space, and not necessarily in the opponent's body. It depends on how I contact the opponent, e.g. which body parts I use to create the stick. This kind of rotation is vertical, and can take the bottom support out from the opponent.

Update on June 18, 2016:
Today, related to this idea, I found myself using a stick created by my opponent on my body trying to do a move on me. The move he was trying was with his right arm across my chest and his right leg behind my left leg to flip me backwards. Between the contact point on my chest and the contact point behind my left thigh, a stick was formed. If I considered this stick with a third point on his body where he powered up, a triangle (a plane) was formed. I was able to rotate the dot in the middle of the stick between the two contact points, and flipped him forward.

Update on June 20, 2016:
I discovered there was yet another triangle. With the stick being one side of the triangle, I can have a point of another triangle at my waist/dantian. When I rotate my waist, I rotate the stick. This should be the concept of a fork as documented in my notes back in 2010: http://ktaiji.blogspot.ca/2011/01/private-lesson-with-master-chen.html
Related:
What's the dot?

Experience in Pushing Hands

I was pushing hands with my taiji brother today. I always felt that this taiji brother was strong, he normally did not use it, but when he did, I had a lot of trouble dealing with it. Today, he was trying to put his front leg between my legs to do a throw. I felt a strong sweep from his leg to my front leg. I held my structure fairly upright, then he fell forward two metres away. He tried a second time with the same move, this time he fell forward since I twisted him but in the opposite direction.  I didn't know what I really did, it happened fairly quickly. Both times I was able to remain standing in the same place.  I realized for things like this to happen, he needed to be committed for his move, and used a lot of power while I spent a lot of effort maintaining my structure. Because of that, a lot of potential energy was created like pulling a bow back, and the fall was triggered by the release.

Reaching 18,000 yilus

On Apr. 22, 2016, I reach 18,000 yilus.  From 17,000 to 18,000 yilus, I have noticed the following:

1. During push hands, I am starting to experience that opponent's power either stays in front of me or I can let go past me from either side by keep a dot in me not moving. It is as if they are touching the surface and not the centre.
2. I am also able to explain things based on separation of yin and yang or rotation. It is like I can see that pattern in various ways.
3. During push hands, I am focusing on the the setup. When I can get that setup, both the opponent and I will know that moment and the opponent suddenly collapses and falls straight down. That fall will need no power, just a poke. However, before that moment, a lot of effort is put into maintaining my structure and sneaking myself into the target position.

How to use the waist - Push Hands Live Broadcast at Daqingshan

http://www.douyu.com/593154

Tonight, I was able to see how Master Chen Zhonghua used his waist to apply indirect power. It was very clear to me for the first time. It was as exciting as seeing the "line" for the first time back in 2011. The action was like that of a nutcracker. He also showed how to handle when the opponents always held on to both of his wrists. Don't fight at the wrists (contact point), don't try to get your wrist off the hold.

Notes for Empty (Jakarta 2015) Online Video

http://practicalmethod.com/2016/04/empty-jakarta-2015-online-video-trailer/

Notes:

1. When you go low, the vertical rod will come out. How low? Go until you can't move anymore. A small poke will cause you to fall.
2. Go for size.
3. We need to make the body evenly stretched out. When you are even, you are empty.
4. We will only feel the protrusion and indentation, e.g. we will feel a bump or hole on the ground, but not really the ground normally.
5. Wuji means nothing, but it also means everything is there.
6. Become ONE.