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 almost straight up from the body. The fingers of the right hand curl to the thumb as in the single whip position. As the arm complete their movement and the hips finish turning the heel of the right foot turns in until the toe is pointed at your right rear corner. (This is the transitional Yang Style tai chi movement: T-stance Position with Single Whip Hand Postion)
Sink into the right leg lower the torso until the leg is fully bent, or as low as is comfortably possible. The left leg slides straight back as the body lowers.
Turn the waist the face the opposite direction. As you turn the left hand swings down over the front of the body past the hip and up in the same line as the left leg (Skim the ground if your leg is fully bent). The edge of the left hand is facing forward. In sync with the rest of the movements the right hand circles in and down across the body coming to a rest at the right hip. The hand is still in the hook position with the fingers pointing up.
Portland Tai Chi Class
Previous Yang Style tai chi movement: Strike Ears with Both Fists
Next Yang Style tai chi movement: Stand On One Leg Left
Yang Style Tai Chi Philosophy:
Dragon Waves It’s Tail – Meditate on the qualities of heat, energy, endurance, know the four directions and their relations.
Martial Application:
Parry a strike to the outside with the right hand. Hook the wrist and draw to opponent’s force up. As you sink, sweep the opponent’s leg with your left foot.
Every Tai Chi movement is said to have between three and thirty applications. The application listed is one example of how to effectively apply the movement.
Alternate Translations:
Dragon Waves It’s Tail (Xia Shi)Squat Down on Left Leg
Snake Creeps Down Right Leg
Squat on Right, Climb Down Left
Snake Creeps Down
This information is meant for reference and to give an idea of the details involved in all Yang Style tai chi movements. In order to receive the benefits of an internal arts practice it is vital that you seek qualified instruction.
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