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 you are turning the right hand floats up and rotates in until the palm is facing the center of the chest. The left hand trails behind the movement at hip level with the palm down and fingers turned out to the side.
Shift the weight back into the left foot while rotating your centerline as far to the left as you can without tensing the hips. This time let the movement pick up the right foot and step the feet lightly together as the rotation finishes.
The hands change with the weight. As we shift into the left the left hand rises and rotates in till the palm faces the chest. The right hand sinks to hip height with the fingers turning out to the side and trails behind the movement.
Repeat as above two more times but now as we shift to the right we step lightly to shoulder width with the left foot.
Previous Yang Style tai chi movement: Single Whip
Next Yang Style tai chi movement: High Pat the Horse
Yang Style Tai Chi Philosophy:
Wave Hands Like Clouds – Meditate on the qualities of happiness and love. Focus on love as a motive for your training.
Martial Application:
This is a very soft movement. Slip out of the line of an incoming strike while guiding it off to the side with the top hand. Stick with the hand to tie up the opponent’s ability to continue their attack.
The trailing hand can deliver either a strike or push to the exposed side of the opponent.
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:
- Wave Hands Like Clouds (Yun Shou)
- Move Hands Like Clouds (Yun Shou) [Foen Tjoeng Lie]
- Moving Hands Like Clouds [Metzger & Zhou]
- Waving Hands Like Clouds Drifting By [Chong]
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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