Repeating
a Sequence
of Moves
In Warp Training, the idea is to repeat a sequence of moves four times. Each repetition takes the arms through different positions and the fourth repetition returns the arms to the position from which they started.
In this image, each side of the square is one repetition and one movement takes the arms from one position pictured to the next.
Warp 1
In Warp 1 the sequence of moves is:
CF-T, CF-CF, CF-B, F-CF where
- CF=CHANGE FORWARDS
- T=TRANSQUARTER
- B=BACKWARDS
- F=FORWARDS
CF-T
In a CF-T move the left arm does a ChangeForwards while the right hand does a Transquarter.
If we start from position 1-1 and do a CF-T the hands move to b-3. (The CF move takes the hand on the left from 1 to b while the T takes the other hand from 1 to 3.). We can practice this movement a few times (or more) until we are comfortable with it. Then we can move on to the next move.
CF-CF
In the CF-CF movement both arms do a Change Forwards taking the arms from b-3 to 3-d. We can practice this movement a few times and then add it to the previous move. 
Rather than trying to learn large chunks at a time, focus on learning small and easy to remember "pieces" and adding those pieces together.
Once we are comfortable with doing these two movements one after the other, we can then move on to practicing the CF-B movement from 3-d to d-c.
Positions
On a side note, if you haven't already noticed, positions indicated by a letter are those in which the palm faces outwards. Positions indicated by a number are those in which the palm faces upwards.
CF-B
In the CF-B movement the hand on the left moves from 3 to d and the hand on the right moves from d to c (a Backwards move.)
Once we've learned the CF-B movement we can add this move to our previous two movements and then go on to learn the final movement in the sequence, the F-CF from d-c to a-4.
F-CF
In this final movement we move the hand on the left Forwards from d to a and the hand on the right does a CF from c to 4.
In the process of learning these four movements we "learn" the Warp 1 sequence. (CF-T, CF-CF, CF-B, F-CF.) We then repeat this sequence three more times so that the arms return to the position from which they started.
Options
Ultimately the goal of Warp practice is to help you learn and practice all possible moves of the dance of shiva. Because there are 64 positions there are 64 ways we can move from each of these positions. Each of these is an option. And so for each Warp there are sixteen different starting positions that we pratice from.
When we are practicing the dance of shiva our brain has to "remember" which one of these 64 options is the right move to do.
Multiple
Channels
Because each position has a name as well as a physical representation, when we do the dance of shiva (or when we do "warp" practices) not only do we have to know the physical element, we also have to know the mental element.
We are processing two channels of information at once.
Ideally these two channels are two different views of the same thing.
By matching a name to a position we create another neurological link, one between a name and a position. But there are other links to.
Names and
Meaning
The name of a position isn't just a name like "white crain spreads its wings" or "Sage pose" or "horse stance."
The name of the position almost is the position.
That comes about because the positions are so easy to define. Position 1 is with the palm horizontal and the fingers pointing outwards.
Also the hand is at about the level of the top of the head. (That's not to say that the other names aren't "valid" it's just that learning what these names "mean" can take a lot longer than learning that position 1 is with the palm horizontal and the fingers pointing outwards (and the hand at just above the level of the head...))
Not that such a matching can't happen in tai ji or yoga but the advantages of doing the dance of shiva are that these basic positions are very easy to learn and practice and the same basic elements once learned provide the building blocks for all that follows.
Rather than learning "new" positions you learn new combinations of the same basic position.
This not only trains your brain in learning how to assemble and dissassemble ideas, it is also good training for whatever you may do on how to use and re-use basic elements over and over again in different ways to create potential.
This can be useful training for life, business, art and even relationships.
But for now back to a discussion of learning Warps.
Practice
Comfort
We can practice the first repetition of our sequence of movements until we are comfortable with both the movements and the positions and then we can take a break before moving on the next repetition of this sequence.
Because at first we are learning movements, positions and a sequence of moves the first few days of learning may be slower and more arduous. However once we've learned a few repetions of this sequence the following repetitions may come a little faster. This may be because there are only eight basic positions (with one arm) to learn and eight basic movements (with one arm.)
Learning this same set of moves but starting from different starting positions we may spend a day or less learning each new "start."
Warp 1
from 1-1
At right is all four repetions of Warp 1 starting from position 1-1. (click to get a larger view.)
You may be wondering about how this balances the sides of the brain and/or the body.
While this sequence can be used to exercise both sides of the brain and the body it doesn't necessarily balance them.
So that our practice is balanced we can practice the "Mirror Cross Link" of each Warp.
Mirror Cross Links
Rather than simply mirroring the movements and the positions a Mirror Cross Link also involves a change or switch in how we "read" the positions and the movements.
Normally we read the position and movement coordinates from left to right so that when we are doing the movements the left digit (or the first digit to be "read") corresponds to the movement and position of our left hand while the right digit corresponds to the position of our right hand.
In a Mirror Cross Link we can read the same coordinates from Left to Right however we apply them in the opposite fashion. The first digit read becomes the position and movement of the right arm while the second digit becomes that of the left arm.
Thinking from
Right to Left
While confusing to figure out and describe the ultimate advantages of this method are that we can reuse the same set of movements without having to memorize a new set. We also train ourselves to think from left to right as well as from right to left. We also have the advantage, when teaching, of being able to easily mirror our audience when facing towards them or not mirroring them when facing away from them.
This can also be a great way of testing our short term memory especially if we alternate practicing Warps with their Mirror Cross Links. We have to remember which side we are reading from.
Pattern
Recognition
Mirror Cross Links also give us the chance to practice the same movements twice (but from opposite sides of the body) and so it is easier to recognize or identify patterns in the movements we are doing. The movements then become easier to do in future sessions because we recognize them easier. We can use the patterns to help guide us.
This is especially helpful when we begin to learn more and more movements.
If you are worried about having to practice more and more the more you learn you don't need to worry.
Rather than having to practice the same movements constantly, we can "put them away" for a while in order to learn new things while still being able to "come back" to the movements we've already learned.
Like with anything we've learned well, they can come back quickly with a little patience and practice.
