Code: Funny you should say this.. Our fundamental neigong set is called "9 Circles", and involves exercising the 9 joints of the body; Wrist Elbow Shoulder Neck Spine-wave Lower back rotation Hip Knee Ankle [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmbRqvoHWLM"]9 Circles Neigong - YouTube[/ame] EDIT: Can't seem to get the video to embed properly??
Fixed for you - you need to take the "s" off the "https" [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmbRqvoHWLM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmbRqvoHWLM[/ame]
Well, I did mention writings. Guess I should have worded it "classical" works. 9 Circles as a name for exercises for different areas of the body is fine.But if the system actually refers to those as 9 joints some are obviously highly arbitrary and artificial designations and I've never heard any system,except yours,I guess, designate the spine into those supposed distinct joints,as opposed to areas. Even accepting the spine as 1 joint -(which it is in reality as much as a finger is 1 joint-the spine is a bunch of joints)- trying to give the lower back a separate identity as a joint unto itself is just...rather odd.And certainly incorrect. Same w/the neck.I'm betting you don't stop the spine wave at the neck-that would probably be uncomfortable and injurious. So...those simply aren't "the 9 joints of the body" but a combo of joints and 3 distinct areas of the spinal column.But perchance something was lost or clouded in translation as relates to terminology. And belated birthday greetings,old bean!
Barbara Davis (p. 128) translated it as the nine-bend pearl, that is one passage curved into nine bends. The Xingyiquan classics mentioned the 9 joints, 3 in the arm, 3 in the leg and 3 in the spine. The open kinetic chain is similar in speaking about the movements of different joints in a particular movement. It is just kind of interesting in workout a straight line from the different curves in the body that is all.
