Ten Important Points for TÕai-chi ChÕŸan

These are excerpted from Òoral instructions of Yang ChÕeng-fu*,Ó from Douglas Wile, compiler and translator, TÕai-chi Touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions (NY: Sweet ChÕi Press, 1983), pp. 9-14. 

 

1.      The Energy at the Top of the Head Should Be Light and SensitiveÉ. No strength should be usedÉ.Without this light and sensitive energy at the top of the head, the spirit cannot rise up.

2.      Sink the Chest and Raise the BackÉ. (T)here is a slight drawing in of the chest allowing the chÕI to sink to the tan-tÕien.  Absolutely avoid expanding the chestÉ.

3.      Relax the Waist.  The waist is the ruler of the bodyÉ. Changes in full and empty all come from the rotation of the waistÉ.

4.      Distinguish Full and EmptyÉ. (This) is the first principle in Tai-chi chÕŸan.  If the weight of the whole body rests on the right leg, then the right leg is full and the left leg is emptyÉ.

5.      Sink the Shoulders and Drop the Elbows.  (T)hey are able to relax and hang downwardÉ. If the elbows are pulled up, then the shoulders cannot sinkÉ

6.      Use the Mind and Not Strength.  (W)e must rely exclusively on mind and not on strength.  In practicing TÕai-chi chÕŸan the whole body is relaxedÉ.

7.      Unity of the Upper and Lower Body.  (T)his is what the ÒTreatise on TÕai-chi chÕŸanÓ means by ÒThe root is in the feet, it is issued through the legs, controlled by the waist and expressed in the hands.Ó  From the feet to the legs to the waist there must be a continuous circuit of chÕi.

8.      The Unity of Internal and External.  What TÕai-chi chÕŸan trains is the spiritÉ. The postures are no more than full and empty, opening and closing.  What we mean by opening is not limited to just the hands or feet, but we must have the idea of opening in the mind as wellÉ.

9.      Continuity Without InterruptionÉ. From beginning to end there is no interruption.  Everything is complete and continuous, circular and unendingÉ.

10.  Seek Stillness in MovementÉ.  (I)n practicing the postures, the slower the better.  When one slows down, then the breath becomes slow and long, the chÕI can sind to the tan-tÕienÉ.

 

*Yang ChÕeng-fu was the son of Yang Jian Hou, who was a son of Yang Lu ChÕan, founder of Yang style Tai-chi chÕŸan.  One of Yang ChÕeng-fuÕs students who became a master was Yaxuan Li.  In turn, one of his students who became a master is Mogen Lin.  And in turn, one of his students who became a master is Lily Qin, founder and master teacher of the Tacoma Tai Chi Qigong Wellness Center.  Read about this lineage at http://taichigongfu.com/taichi/ChengfuYang.html.