Tai Chi Level 2: Single Leg Rooting

Rooting is a very important skill in Tai Chi. Tonight, Sigung Richard Clear explained how and why to practice rooting on one leg. By doing this simple exercise you can instantly increase your root power, and build deeper and stronger root over the long term.
This probably seems like it wouldn't work. After all, one leg is less stable than two, right? If it was just about standing on one leg instead of two, that would probably be correct, but there is a bit more to it than that.
Sigung Clear explained that it works like the pressure in a hose. If you hold your thumb over the spout you can send a stream of water out over a large distance (or you can make quite a spray). This same principle applies to rooting. If you first root as deeply as you can, then keep the same amount of pressure but only use one leg, you are effecting the same result as the thumb over the hose.
The trick to making this work is to not let your root come up when you transfer your weight to one leg. Practicing this regularly will help you build a stronger root very quickly, as you will be increasing the capacity of each leg to root on its own. It is also a quick way to immediately double the power you are able to generate from your existing root. When you have true command of this skill, you can maintain a powerful root while in motion. If you ever plan to use Tai Chi for real self defense, that is a skill you are going to want to have down cold, and this is a great way to train it.
As always, we encourage you to test the power of this technique out for yourself like we do in the video. And as always, be careful with your partner!
The fastest way we have found to build deeper and stronger root is in our DVD set called Internal Power. The set is filled with rooting games and exercises that will send your energy to new depths.
You can find it here: www.clearstaich...
And if you're looking to bone up on other Tai Chi skills, you owe it to yourself to check us out at Clear's Tai Chi Online. You can try out a two week membership for just $5.
Check it out here: www.clearmartia...

[@blockmasterscott]

I never really looked at Parting the Wild Horse's Mane that way. Good stuff.

[@santiagodobles9843]

so much of silat and kuntao is based on this. Excellent Sifu Clear.

[@anibaljesusdelgadillo2091]

That's amazing.