Tai Chi Journal

My Tai Chi Form (Part IV)

This post is a continuation of My Tai Chi Form (Part III). In it I cover another segment of Yang-Style Long Form. This is the fourth and final segment of the first of the form's six parts as we are being taught them in class.

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Here are detailed descriptions of the movements:

(18) The movement which follows the last in the previous segment, (17) Brush Knee Right, is actually a composite pattern. It is called, in The Dao of Taijiquan, Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Intercept and Punch.

(18a) At the end of Brush Knee Right we are in a Bow Stance, left foot forward with the weight on it, and with the right hand extended. We now want to Step Forward with the right foot. To do so, we first have to rock back over the originally unweighted right foot. Then we shift the weight fully off the left foot and raise its toe. We simultaneously pivot that same left foot outward around it's still-planted heel.

Meanwhile, the formerly extended right hand sweeps down in front of the body, which pivots to follow the pivoting foot. The left hand pretty much just moves out of the way.

Now we're ready to Step Forward with the right foot. As that is happening, the right hand continues its sweeping oval such that it starts to come up in front of the face.

While the empty right-foot step forward is still in progress, the right arm continues in such a way as to make an upraised, extended fist, with the open left hand brushing the inside of the elbow. (This looks exactly like a classic obscene gesture.) The fact that the right fist is extended simultaneously with the right foot is an exception to the general rule that foot movement precedes hand movement.

(18b and 18c) Next comes, in rapid-fire order, Deflect Downward and then Intercept.

As the weight comes fully over the right foot (which is cocked outward at this point) the fisted right hand is withdrawn backward in preparation for coming forward again to deliver a punch.

At the same time, the open left hand moves forward and then slightly downward, as the left leg makes an empty step forward as well. The withdrawing of the punching hand (the right) causes the torso and head to pivot clockwise.

The Intercept movement occurs now. After the empty step forward with the left foot is completed and its toe is lowered to the ground, the body moves forward over it. The extended left hand in effect moves back toward it, though really it stays in one place and the torso closes the gap between itself and the hand. This hand gesture serves to intercept a hypothetical blow.

Meanwhile the fisted right hand and arm are on their way forward to deliver their own ...

(18d) ... Punch. By the end of this composite set of pattens, accordingly, the fisted right hand is extended well out in a forward direction, at chest or shoulder height; the open left hand is at the same height but back nearly against the body, still parrying the opponent's blow; and the legs and the rest of the body are once again in a Bow Stance, left foot forward and with the weight mainly on it.

(19) The next movement, Withdraw and Push, is relatively simple. Just as when we earlier did Push from Double Ward Off/Press by rocking back, pivoting the upper body in the appropriate direction, and circling the hands in an up-back-and-around oval that ends up with the open hands pushed forward, palms out, we do the same here. The only differences are (a) this will be a Push Left (i.e., left foot forward) and not a Push Right (i.e., right foot forward), and (b) the starting position of the hands is that of the end of Punch, not the end of Press.

Now comes ...

(20) ... Cross Hands. We rock back over the right foot and the right hand comes up and over in a high sweep above forehead level. We pivot the unweighted left foot on its heel as this happens, such that the upper body (which was pointed toward 9 o'clock) can rotate and point toward 12 o'clock, the orientation it had at the very beginning of the form.

When the circling right hand reaches shoulder height out away from the right side of the body, the left hand starts its own downward movement such that both hands sweep down in front of the groin. The upper body moves back over the left foot and briefly rotates slightly toward 11 o'clock to ease lifting the right foot and bringing it in closer to the left foot.

As the left foot comes down again, the arms and hands continue their swinging, such that they wind up crossed at the wrist at chin level. The right hand is in front of the left, and the palms are facing in.

(21) The next movement, Conculsion of Tai Chi, is also called Close Tai Chi. It is, of course, the last movement in this section of Yang-Style Long Form as we are being taught it. From the end posture of Cross Hands, we simply "unwrap" our hands, à la the end of Press, such that they end up open and relaxed, palms down, at chin height. As we slowly lower them to hip height, we unbend our knees (which were bent as usual for Yang-Style) and stand up straight. We are in the very same standing meditation position we were in at the end of Beginning of Tai Chi. We may stay in that position as long as we like, for the first section of Yang-Style Long Form is done!

posted by eric @ 9:27 AM