Our form is considered Late Wu Style (Mr. Chow), and has some changes from what Wu Chien Chuan practiced and taught earlier in his life.
(For more on this, see the “About the Lineage” section in the “About T’ai Chi” tab from the Home page.)
In looking at the internet I didn’t find much in the way of examples of this form. I have therefore added a tab (Videos) with some examples of our form to this website. These are meant to help the student, and are not to be taken as anything other than teaching aids. I hope they are useful.
The Etch and Sketch Analogy
First we get rid of extra movements, then as we begin the form, after the first turn (to the right), our arms produce a large vertical circle.
This is made by combining a right-left movement from the hips with a vertical movement made by bending and straightening the right elbow.
This can be likened to a child’s toy called an Etch and Sketch, which has two knobs - one creating horizontal (back and forth, the hip) movement of a stylus, and the other creating movement on a vertical axis (up and down, the elbow movement).
When the two movements are coordinated perfectly, one may draw a perfect circle.
(This may also be conceptualized as the x and y (Cartesian) elements of a graph, or any other combining of vertical and horizontal components.
This becomes more apparent as extra, un-necessary movements that may affect the balance are eliminated, and the elegant simplicity which remains is exposed.
The next movement in the form then produces a horizontal circle by combining a left-right hip movement with a forward and back movement made by straightening and bending the upper arms and elbows.
To this is added a forward and back weight shift from the back foot/leg to the front foot/leg and back again.
Thus we move from the hips while centered on the Back leg, move to the front leg and again move from the hips (movements originating from the center), and then go back to being balanced on the back leg.
These are basic movements of good T’ai Chi, where we are never out of balance (can maintain a state of relaxation - engendering good Chi flow) and the movements are originated from the center.
The Chi Energy Pump
Here again we make and combine linear movements to create a perfect circular hand/arm movement through space.
(When we are on the back foot and turn to the left to complete the circle we also rotate the forearms to turn the thumbs from the right to the left - palm up and palm down hands are reversed - but this does not effect the balance.)
This is followed by a forward weight shift and 90 degree left turn and then moves into a flying/slanting position and so on, all executed in balance and with the weight constantly moving back and forth between the feet.
The weightless side is in motion and the weighted side is stable, creating an energy pump as these sides switch back and forth, generating the Chi energy as a product of all the parts working together from the center.
This continues on through “Stork cools its wings”, followed seamlessly by the turn which leads into the forward walk, and so on.
Hopefully this description isn’t too obtuse.
It may help to watch these movements in one of the videos in the Video section and follow them there.
Good luck with it!
Best Wishes Always,
Daniel
