[/quote]I studied to run
[/quote]I studied to run barefoot but I didn't study to walk barefoot I was already a barefoot walker.[/quote]
me too....been walking barefoot most of my life LOL...it was just the study of taiji that made the movement "conscious"
.....Every time I "study" BF running though, it effs me up...while I notice the natural tendency to land fore/mid foot while running, if I pay attention to all that other "stuff" I end up screwing myself....but if I stay with what works for me, due to the years of my other modalities of movement (moving from my center, lifting my legs from my core, keeping my posture erect, knees bent, no "up/down" movement of the torso, staying relaxed--all things we work in kung fu and taiji, as well as yoga) I have no problems with blisters, tofp, no kind of pain (except this recent injury, which I attribute to BF running ONLY because if I wasn't BF, I wouldn't be running...it's more an over-training thing I believe...especially since one of my best friends, a life-long distance runner, did the same thing with shoes on years ago in his training)
The things that have helped me with the running though are the cadence issue, and "not pushing off the feet" issue...forward movement via forward lean at the ankles, using momentum helped as well, as it makes perfect sense to me from my other disciplines.
all that said, while there is a "proper way" for Taiji walking--since we are talking about a martial art and efficiency in that regard--for everyone, I think finding what's comfortable for you is suitable...just because it doesn't make sense to me, doesn't mean it's wrong for anyone else :-D I think we all have a tendency to over analyze just about everything under the sun, instead of relying on our own direct experience.