Training the Five Circles by John P. Painter

Simply doing constant repetitions of the Five Circles or any other exercise for that matter or will only be beneficial if the true keys to the exercise and in this case the five Circles are used to unlock the underlying principles and these principles become second nature. This must be done before beginning any repetitive practice if one wants to truly benefit and plumb the depths of this simple but not easy method.

1. learn to stand in Ma-bu correctly.

2. learn to shift from side to side by pushing with one leg and releasing with
the other.

3. learn to turn the torso (Yao) waist (shoulder & Hips) simultaneously.

4. learn to turn the Yao without allowing the thigh / Femur to twist in or outduring shifting so the knees point directly ahead.

5. learn to make these movements as a continual ellipse not a start and stop action.

6. Become aware of the beginning, middle and ending point of each shift.

7. start the shift with circle over note where according to Cross the Great River principle the energy (jin) begins for this move during the shift at the midpoint.

8. Complete the shift note where the Jin changes from pushing to pulling for the palm up to the return mid point. When you can feel the build up and dissipation of energy in the circle over palm according to Cross the Great River principle at the appropriate points listed above on both the right and left circle over you can train the circle under in the same way.

9. Next do circle across and again notice the Jin transition points from start to finish. That is from moving left to right and back again. When you learn to feel the build up and dissipation of energy in the circle across palm at the
appropriate points of beginning middle and end as outlined in Crossing The Great River move to the next circle and continue in this way with each circle trained individually.

10. Now and only now start combining the circles into one continuous flow. You must be aware of each circle when it starts and when it ends and how it relates to the circle preceding and following it in accord with Cross the Great River principle.

11. Now practice of 30days and 100 repetitions can begin so long as awareness is fully maintained during the training.

12   After one has the awareness of each point of Jin building and fading in eachcircle is it possible to really benefit from doing the moves with "no movement"as a standing Wuji exercise. Once this is known and can be felt internally youare training correctly. However you must have more than just a feeling ofmovement. You must be able to sense the moves as if you were physicallyperforming them in real motion and time. This is very difficult. It is suggestedyou start with each individual circle and shifting feeling to achieve thisability. Take each step one at a time to develop true knowledge and skill.

I met John @ Jou Tsung Hwa's Taiji Farm in 1992 & stayed with John in Arlington Tx in 2002 where I did a week intensive with John & many of his senior students.