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  • Current location: home>> Taiji Quan >> Illustrated Exercises
    Part II
    8. Lean Obliquely


    Fig.47


    Fig.48

    (1) Shift the weight to the right leg, toes of the left foot inward, and turn the body to the right. Move the right hand in an arc to the right side of the body and the left hand in an arc symmetrically to the left side of the body, both elbows slightly bent and palms forward. Look at the right hand. (Fig. 47)
    (2) Shift the weight to the left leg and withdraw the right foot to the inner side of the left foot. At the same time, move the right hand in an arc downward and leftward, and then back to the front of the chest at shoulder level, and the left hand back until they cross at the wrists obliquely, both palms inward (right hand outside). Look forward. (Fig. 48)
    (3) Turn the upper part of the body slightly to the right, and move the right foot forward to the right (due west 30° by north), heel on the floor. Turn the front forearm slightly inward, both hands clenched in fists. Look ahead. (Fig. 49)


    Fig.49


    Fig.50

    (4) Shift the weight forward and straighten the left leg naturally (heel backward) to form the right bow step. At the same time, separate the hands, and move the left downward to the left hip, knuckles obliquely forward, and the right upward in front of the forehead, knuckles inward. Lean the upper part of the body obliquely southwestward. Look ahead to the left. (Fig. 50)
    Points for attention: In the fixed position, the bow step faces west by north and the upper part of the body turns to the west by south. Drop the shoulders and relax the hips. Extend the shoulders and arms slightly outward. Do not lean sideways.
    9. Punch Under Elbow
    (1) Shift the weight leftward, toes of the right foot raised and turned inward, and turn the upper part of the body to the left. Change the right fist into a palm and turn it up in an inward arc. At the same time, change the left fist into a palm and turn it down in an inward arc. Look at the right palm. (Fig. 51)


    Fig.51


    Fig.52


    Fig.53

    (2) Shift the weight rightward and move the left foot back to the inner side of the right foot. Turn the right palm down and bend the arm in front of the right part of the chest, and turn the left palm up and move it in an arc past the abdomen to the right to face the right palm as if holding a ball. Look at the right palm. (Fig. 52)
    (3) Turn the upper part of the body to the left, and skip the left foot forward to the left, heel on the floor and toes up and outward. Move the left palm from under the right forearm in an arc to the upper left, palm inward at nose level, and the right palm in an arc past the chest downward to the right of the hip. Look at the left palm. (Fig. 53)
    (4) Continue to turn the upper part of the body to the left, land the left foot on the floor, shift the weight forward to the left leg, and move the right foot half a step forward, ball on the floor behind the left foot. Turn the left forearm down and move the left palm in an arc to the left and downward to the side of the body, and the right palm to the right and forward to in front of the body, palm obliquely up to nose level. Face due east and look ahead. (Fig. 54)


    Fig.54


    Fig.55

    (5) Shift the weight backward, land the right foot on the floor, and move the left foot slightly forward, heel on the floor to form the left empty step. Thread the left palm forward from above the right wrist, palm to the right and fingers pointing to the nose. At the same time, change the right palm into a fist and move it back to under the inner side of the left elbow, knuckles up. Look at the left palm. (Fig. 55)
    Points for attention: The whole exercise should be done in a continuous flow. Use the waist as the axis to motivate the limbs. In the fixed position, relax the shoulders and drop the elbows slightly, with the right fist under the left elbow to the right. Keep the chest relaxed.
    10. Step Back and Whirl Arms on Both Sides (Four)


    Fig.56


    Fig.57

    (1) Turn the upper part of the body to the right, and change the right fist into a palm, palm up, and move it in a curve past the right hip backward and raise it horizontally to the shoulder level, elbow slightly bent. At the same time, turn the left arm outward, palm up, and raise the left foot gently. The eyes first turn to the right as the body turns, and then turn to the left palm. (Fig. 56)
    (2) Raise the left foot a bit, toes down, and step backward, ball of foot on the floor. Shift the weight backward, and land the left foot on the floor, the heel of the right foot slightly outward and toes forward to form the right empty step. At the same time, bend the right arm at the elbow, move the right palm back past the right ear and push it forward, palm forward at shoulder level. Withdraw the left hand downward to before the left hip. Look at the right palm. Keep the upper part of the body upright, and relax the waist and hips. (Fig. 57)


    Fig.58


    Fig.59


    Fig.60

    (3) Turn the upper part of the body to the left, and move the left palm downward and to the left backward in an arc and raise it horizontally, palm up. At the same time, turn the right arm outward, palm up. Look to the left first as the body turns, and then to the right palm. (Fig. 58)
    (4) Raise the right foot gently and move it backward, ball first on the floor and then the whole foot. Shift the weight to the right leg, heel of the left foot slightly outward. Bend the left knee slightly to form the left empty step. Bend the left arm at elbow, and move the palm past the left ear to push forward, palm forward at shoulder level. Move the right palm downward and backward to in front of the right hip. Look at the left palm. (Fig. 59)


    Fig.61


    Fig.62


    Fig.63

    (5) Repeat the movements from (1) to (4) once each on the left and right sides. (Figs. 60-63)
    Points for attention: In moving the foot backward, land the ball first on the floor, and then the whole foot. Shift the weight backward to make a clear distinction between the empty and the solid when changing steps. At the same time, keep the feet about 10 centimetres apart. To remain balanced, do not cross the legs when stepping backward.
    11. Turn to Push Palms (Four)


    Fig.64


    Fig.65


    Fig.66

    (1) Withdraw the left foot to behind the right foot, ball on the floor. Turn the left palm outward and move it first upward and then downward to in front of the right side of the chest, palm down. Move the right palm in a curve upward to the right, palm up at head level. Look at the right palm. (Fig. 64)
    (2) Pivot on the ball of the left foot and the right heel to turn the body to the left backward, and keep the weight on the right leg after the turn. Bend the right arm, move the palm back, and press the left hand slightly downward. Look ahead to the left (northwest). (Fig. 65)
    (3) Move the left foot one step forward (northwest), with the right foot following immediately to land behind the left foot, ball touching the floor to form the T-shaped step. At the same time, move the left palm downward to circle around the left knee and press it to the left side of the hip, palm forward and fingers up to nose level. Look at the right palm. (Fig. 66)


    Fig.67


    Fig.68


    Fig.69

    (4) Pivot on the left heel and ball of the right foot to turn the body to the right backward, and keep the weight on the left leg after the turn. At the same time, turn the left arm outward and move it to the left and upward in an arc to head level, palm up. Move the right palm down to in front of the left side of the chest, palm down. Look forward to the right. (Fig. 67)
    (5) Move the right foot forward (southeast) with the left foot immediately following half a step behind the right foot to form the T-shaped step. Circle the right palm around the right knee, palm fingers forward, and press it by the right hip. Push the left palm forward past the ear, palm forward and fingers up to nose level. Look at the left palm. (Fig. 68)


    Fig.70


    Fig.71


    Fig.72

    (6) Repeat the movements for turning the body to push palms once on each side. The movements are exactly the same, but the directions should be northeast and southwest, just opposite of the two previous exercises. ( Figs. 69-72)
    Points for attention: In executing the T-shaped step, keep the feet about 10 centimetres apart for easier turning. In turning the body, keep the weight between the feet, and after turning, shift the weight to the rear leg to make the turning easy. The whole exercise should be done with both ease and steadiness.
    12. Hand Strums Lute, Right


    Fig.73


    Fig.74

    (1) Move the left foot half a step backward (slightly to the left) and shift the weight to the left leg. Turn the upper part of the body to the left. Bend the left arm and move it back with the palm in front of the left side of the chest, palm obliquely down. Move the right palm in an arc forward and upward to in front of the body, palm obliquely to the left. The head follows the body turn. Look ahead. (Fig. 73)
    (2) Turn the upper part of the body slightly to the right, lower the right palm slightly, forearm slightly turned outward and palm to the left and fingers pointing to the nose. Move the left palm forward past the left side of the chest to the inner side of the right arm, palm to the right to face right elbow. At the same time, raise the right foot slightly, heel on the floor and knee slightly bent to form the right empty step. Face due west and look at the right palm. (Fig. 74)
    Points for attention: In the fixed position, close the arms gently. Keep the head and the upper part of the body upright, and neck erect. Drop the shoulders, relax the waist, and face due west.
    13. Brush Knee and Punch Downward


    Fig.75


    Fig.76


    Fig.77

    (1) Turn the upper body to the left, and move the right foot ahead of the left foot, toes on the floor. Pull both hands down-ward to in front of the abdomen, palms obliquely facing each other. The head follows the body turn. Look ahead. (Fig. 75)
    (2) Move the right foot half a step forward, shift the weight forward to the right leg with the left foot following behind the right foot, ball of foot on the floor. Turn both hands over in front of the chest and at the same time move them in an arc to the left and forward, right palm up to shoulder level and left palm down on the inner side of the wrist of the right hand. Look at the right palm. (Figs. 76-77)
    (3) Shift the weight to the left leg, turn the upper part of the body to the left, turn up the left forearm and move it downward, backward and then upward to head level. Move the right palm in an arc to the left and press it in front of the left side of the chest, palm down. Look at the left palm. (Fig. 78)


    Fig.78


    Fig.79

    (4) Turn the upper part of the body to the right, move the right foot forward and straighten the left leg to form the right bow step. Circle the right palm around the right knee and press it by the right hip, fingers pointing forward. Change the left palm into a fist and strike forward past the ear and downward to abdomenal level, knuckles forward. Look forward down. (Fig. 79)
    Points for attention: Move the arms alternately, one in a vertical arc and the other in a horizontal arc. The movements should be well coordinated. Use the waist to guide the movements. In the fixed position, do not lean the upper part of the body forward too much. The stance is a twist step. In all twist-shaped steps, be sure to keep the feet apart for balance. Keep the upper part of the body natural.
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