[Martial Arts] 7 degrees in the early morning, sweating in summer clothes

Autor: Jeffi Chao Hui Wu

Fecha: 17 de julio de 2025, jueves, 5:50 a.m.

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[Martial Arts] 7 Degrees at Dawn, Sweating in Summer Clothes
More than a month into winter, I often go out in summer clothes, frequently discussed by others—on a frigid day, without wearing warm clothing, knee pads, or warming up, I can still wear thin shirts and pants, standing in place and practicing Tai Chi and swordplay from the 7-degree dawn until the stunning morning glow.
Yes, every dawn these days, I wake up alone at 4:45 AM, heading to the seaside, each day the same, precisely entering the full set of experiences and self-cultivation I regularly practice.
On July 17, 2025, at 7 degrees in the early morning, I am still alone in simple summer clothes, effortlessly entering my usual routine:
Atmospheric conditions: 5:42 AM, the sea breeze is gentle, cool but not cold, the temperature is 7 degrees, with a perceived temperature of 4 degrees.
Routine sequence:
• Atmospheric breathing for five minutes
• Tai Chi 24 Forms x3 sets
• Self-created Tai Chi Sword x3 sets
• Horse stance practice for 14 minutes
• Center of gravity practice: weight distribution on left and right feet, each for 10 minutes
• Yi Jin Jing plus Qigong closing
The average duration of the entire routine is 1.5 hours.
During the first set of Tai Chi, about 3 minutes in, my whole body starts to warm up; after 5 minutes, I maintain a consistent sweat, feeling warmth on my scalp, sweat on my forehead, dampness at the collar of my back, and my feet remain warm. At that time, the temperature is only 7 degrees, but my chest and the back, aligned with the skeletal structure, show signs of sustained light sweating, and wearing a thin shirt, I quickly need to change clothes.
The horse stance array is the most extreme part of the entire routine. When my body is fully in stance, hips opened, and precisely grounded, my heart rate begins to rise, and I can clearly feel the lower body structure being refined, with balanced warmth in my back and elbows.
I glanced at my smartwatch: heart rate 142, a value I had not reached during the previous full sets of Tai Chi and Tai Chi Sword, proving that the horse stance is the most efficient energy trigger in the entire system.
The subsequent center of gravity segment involves practicing weight distribution on each foot for about 10 minutes each; the so-called "weight distribution" is actually a delicate practice based on the deconstruction of the center of gravity and bodily awareness. In this interplay of internal precision and external relaxation, my whole body is balanced, and the energy flows in sync.
Everything is in a simple, consistent, and effective "structural opening" state, requiring no intention, no forced alignment, allowing the internal energy to naturally surge.
This is my experience of practicing in summer clothes—each form is simple, yet powerful internally. The phrase "7 degrees at dawn, sweating in summer clothes" is not about pushing for higher difficulty, but increasingly choosing simple, natural, and effective bodily solutions.
On the dawn beach, in the coolness of 7 degrees, I am warmed, observing the body in warmth, the structure within the body, the energy within the structure, and the Tai Chi within the energy.
After finishing my practice, with a sweaty back, I head home to change clothes!

Source: http://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696893