by trying to keep and developing this elbows on an imaginary centerline idea, we open our backs out , spread the lats and contract the pectoralis muscles/chest muscles..a personal trainers posture nightmare
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---I agree. That's why I don't practice or teach the idea that the elbow has to be exactly on the centerline. That's not good biomechanics.
the basic training starts with SLT to learn to do the elbow/line idea...not anything about chi-or tricks.
---Again I agree. And in the SLT one starts with the arms held at the sides. This forces one to come forward to engage the centerline from an angle. The elbows are not on the centerline. To me, the elbow line is not a straight line that goes out from the center of the body. Its an arcing motion as it goes forward.
while doing the basic levels in dan chi , we need to get the elbow along the centerline to 'develop' further this idea .
---I guess I look at it differently. I don't try to put the elbow on the centerline during Chi Sao. This would leave the outer gate open to a blow from the partner's Fook Sao hand.
the slouching will come from this daily drill done to develop the idea
---I think you are onto something here. Maybe the idea that the elbow has to be exactly on the centerline is a big contributor to the tendency to "slouch." But I see both as poor biomechanics and therefore a mistake.
slouching isnt required to fight its just the results of guys not doing stretching to keep open chests ...Im sure a lot of us have a slouch
---Yep! Tight pecs are certainly a contributing factor! Wing Chun players should be doing stretches to open the chest and prevent this. And IMHO they should be standing up straight and not slouching!