Da Men Da Kai - 大門大開
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 9:07pm
Concerning practicing sticky hands with others
I found it interesting because I don't actually think of any technique. I think of moving so as to affect their centre and then DaMen DaKai will happen - the hole appears and I slide in.
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 9:11pm
#2
大展大開 - is DaZhan DaKai - zhan
大展大開 - is DaZhan DaKai - zhan means to spread out.
The Da Men bit I understand - what is your understanding of Da Kai?
I am expressing my own poor understanding of what I caught from SS on our weekend. I daresay you have a much more complete understanding of the philosophy and the technique.
I agree with what you say and show in the video but what if the opponent is moving, is hesitant to make contact with you and keeps his distance?
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 9:13pm
#3
I think that dazhan dakai is
I think that dazhan dakai is like blossoming.
We should repost as a topic on the I liq Chuan forum. This is a great subject for discussion...
Anyway, regarding the opponent, give me a day or two to try and come up with a polished thought. It ties in quite nicely with my recent experience with the bjj guy, but I'm not sure how I want to approach the thought without video, or if its even a good idea to try to write about it.
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 9:14pm
#4
'dazhan dakai resembles
'dazhan dakai resembles blossoming.' That makes sense.
Blossom is usually 開花 literally 'opening flower'. Zhan is to develop or spread out. I wonder if we're talking about two separate ideas here.
I've never heard SS mention dazhan dakai but then I've been to only 3 weekend seminars so it's not unlikely. It was during the last seminar that he mentioned damen dakai. I remember it so vividly because it was the Saturday and I could only make 20minutes of that day in the afternoon. I'd just walked in the door and he asked me to translate what damen dakai meant - I said big door big opening.
As for the covering up like a boxer, I see it as one option, it leaves us vulnerable to haymaker type punches because the midline is closed, the outside is open. The opposite is true if we open our hands. If our level of skill is high we'll use this to our advantage and we can know how our opponent will attack. SS doesn't have this problem because he knows, before we do, how we'll attack - but I'm not at that level yet. I'm sure you know all this so excuse the redundancy.
The problem for me is getting that contact, especially when the opponent moves in and out quickly - like a boxer. Almost like I have to intercept the incoming hand and as it's withdrawn stick to it - easier said than done.
Looking forward to hearing your response. If you can't write about it lets continue to train and ponder the question and discuss it over a cup of tea when you come to Santa Fe!
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 9:17pm
#5
After speaking to Sifu, he
After speaking to Sifu, he confirmed it is 大門 大開 (da men da kai)
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 5:34am
#6
Hi Ashe and Alistair,
I think
Hi Ashe and Alistair,
I think Ashe's explanation is a good one, but wanted to slightly change the nuance. When we attack, we go through the "big door" because we are training, and it is the right way or "gentlemanly" way to train.
going through the big door is less about the *movement* being big, and more about the movement being open. Like I'm spinning hands and feel a point of application, I can tell my opponent what I'm going to do, then I can do it and he or she will be unable to stop me. There is no need for me to sneak in my attack, because if I can maintain the 5443 crossing their diameter line and changing with their change, they will be unable to stop me from my attack.
(This was my understanding of what the sifu meant with regard to the big door, and I am lucky enough to have him staying with me right now so I was able to confirm that this is what he means)
Great discussion!
-Ben
Wed, 09/15/2010 - 8:04pm
#7
Re:
(This was my understanding of what the sifu meant with regard to the big door, and I am lucky enough to have him staying with me right now so I was able to confirm that this is what he means)
Great discussion!
-Ben
w00t! thanks for clearing that up for me. 
i need to confirm with Sifu, but I thought 大門 was one thing, and 大展大開 was another.
my understanding of 大門 is that we don't need to take "cheap shots" because we can always find the opening in the opponents defense, in other words, we go through the big gate (i.e. the main city gate that the emperor uses) as opposed to the the side gate for the peasants.
大展大開 is the idea of being open and free in your movements like around 1:19 - end in the clip below as opposed to covering up like a boxer or playing small and tight when your uncertain of your ability.
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