Martial Arts

By Jeff Patterson 5/26/09 The Yang family first became involved in the study of tai chi chuan in the early 1800s. The founder of the Yang style tai chi was Yang Lu-ch’an, aka Yang Fu-k’ui (1799-1872), who studied under Ch’en Chang-hsing starting in 1820. Yang became a teacher in his own right, and his subsequent… Read more »

From Single Whip – Turn the waist slightly to the left and sink the weight to lower the hands. Shift your weight into the right foot while turning as far to the right as you can without generating tension in the hip. The left foot turns to face the front as the weight shifts. As… Read more »

From the Stand on One Leg Right position – Start this tai chi movement by stepping down into a bow stance toward your left corner. The hands move into a “hold-the-ball” position with the left hand on top. Turn the waist to the center, drawing the right foot up into a cat stance position. Step… Read more »

Shift the weight into the rear foot drawing the left hand back into the “open-diamond-position.” Maintain this hand position as you turn the waist right, toward the opposite direction. The hands circle across the top and the left toe pivots in until the feet are pigeon-toed. Shift the weight back into the left foot as… Read more »

From Dragon Waves Tail Left – Moving from the hips push the weight down and forward until it is fully in the lead leg. The right hand follows this movement scooping down and forward with the fingertips. Stand up with the left leg but take care not to lock the knee. Keep your weight sinking… Read more »

Step up with the right foot setting the heels together with the toes of the right foot pointed to the right corner. Both hands begin to sink as you step up. As the weight shifts into the right foot turn the center line to the right. This pulls the right hand back and out to… Read more »

  From Single Whip – Sink the rest of the weight into the left foot and let that shift pull the right foot up, stepping the feet lightly together with both toes pointed forward. As we step both hands extend lightly, forearms rotating until both palms are pressing up lightly at shoulder height. Sink the… Read more »

From Kick with Left Heel – The waist begins to turn to your right rear corner. Lower the left leg and touch the toe down in a cat stance. As the leg lowers the left hand pushes across the front of the body to the right shoulder. The right arm rises above the shoulder until… Read more »