by Rick Barrett | Mar 19, 2021 | Elbow, Healing
My old friend David suffered a near-fatal stroke a year ago. His right side was paralyzed and the prognosis from his doctor was not good. It’s been a year, he was told to expect a decline. But that’s not how David and his wife Susan roll. Both are...
by Rick Barrett | Jan 19, 2021 | Elbow, Knee, Three Pillars
I was recently asked to clarify what I mean when I emphasize “setting” the knee to allow the kua to release, or setting the elbow to free up the shoulder joint, or setting the ball of the foot to establish energetic connection with the earth. Setting simply...
by Rick Barrett | Jul 10, 2020 | Elbow, Taiji
“Unlocking the Elbow Gate,” Part 1 and Part 2, were written to bring attention to the most underrated of the Eight Bamen (gates, or energies) of taijiquan. The Chinese name is zhou (pronounced “joe,” with the “j” sound having a...
by Rick Barrett | Jun 16, 2020 | Elbow, Taiji
I hope you had a chance to check out Unlocking the Elbow Gate, Part 1. If not, please read that now. This post will build on what we covered there. I feel a little like Nicolas Cage discovering some hidden map or document hidden in plain sight. I have been using...
by Rick Barrett | Jun 3, 2020 | Elbow, Taiji
There is a secret source of taiji power that is buried in plain sight. You actually have two of them, standard issue for most humans, and you have most likely been unaware of the vast potential they hold. Elbows. “Elbows?! You gotta be kidding me!”...
by Rick Barrett | Jun 12, 2016 | Elbow, Taiji
I watched a lot of westerns when I was a kid. Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, Wild Bill Hickok, Have Gun Will Travel…the list goes on. It was a staple of our meager television diet when there were only three channels available and the world was seen in black and...
