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Yang Style Short Form Tai Chi
(By Ben Skywalker) (Return to Teachings)

(opening set)
 * Yang Style Short Form Tai Chi**

You should be able to perform this opening set before becoming a Jedi Knight. You should practice each position until you can perform it easily before moving on to the next. Feel free to PM me if you have any problems or the instruction is not clear.

From horse stance, shift weight to left leg and turn 90 degrees to right shaping a ball with your arms, right hand above left, left hand in front of right hip. Square hips to the right. Slowly shift your weight forward, look over your left shoulder and step out with left heel straight out from shoulders. Step down and slowly shift weight forward, turning waist, and raise left forearm to the ward off left position, right hand angled at hip. Pivot right foot 45 degrees.
 * 1. Ward off Left**

Slowly shift forward, bring right hand to left hip, left hand above it as if holding a ball. Come up on your right toes so all your weight is on your left leg. Keep your back straight and sink your weight into your left hip. Move empty leg and put it down heel first. Slowly shift forward, bring both hands to throat level, bring right knee over right toes, turn your waist, turn your left foot 45 degrees and come to ward off right. Left palm is behind right, both are aligned with your centerline at throat level.
 * 2. Ward off Right**

Roll back - Turn waist and carry arms 45 degrees to the right. Turn right palm forward, left palm up, point left fingers toward right elbow. Shift your weight and turn left. Swing your arms down in front of your body as though holding a ball at chest level, weight firmly in left leg. Press - Shift and turn into Ward Off Right stance. Press your left hand into your right palm. Push - Step back, let hands separate and float back to shoulders, settle weight into left leg, then push off rear leg sponging arms forward. Elbows point downward, forearms at 45 degrees, hands and elbows at shoulder’s width.
 * 3. Grasp the Swallow’s Tail** - (rollback, press, push)

Shift and turn left, floating your arms across at shoulder level. Pull right toes inward toward left foot. When you can’t turn your waist anymore slowly shift your weight back onto your right foot and form a hook with your right hand. Hold the hook in front of your right shoulder with your left palm underneath by your right hip. Feet are pigeon-toed and all weight is in your right leg. Slowly turn your waist to the right and extend your hook out to the corner 45 degrees and pivot on your left toe. Slowly pick up your left foot and step wide to the left shift forward as if into a Ward Off Left stance, turning your waist and arcing your arm upward. Turn your left palm forward and your right foot 45 degrees. Focus eyes over left fnigertips. Hips can be held slightly open as opposed to squared. This posture opens all the joints in the body.
 * 4. Single Whip**

Slowly shift weight to left leg, open hook pivot on right toes and open arms wide. Then slowly close your arms and move right heel in front of left heel. Aligning your right foot and both arms along your center line. make sure all your weight is in your left leg.
 * 5. Lifting Hands**

Slowly lower the arms, right arm in front and left to the side, bring your right foot straight back just in front of your left ankle. Slowly step forward and outward 6 inches to the right and touch your heel down. Shift your weight forward and swing your left and up near your right elbow. Weight should be distributed 60% on forward leg and 40% on back leg. When you stand in this position you should feel as massive and immovable as a mountain.
 * 6. Shoulder Stroke**

Shift your weight to the right leg, look to left. Simultaneously, raise right arm, lower left hand, and drop left toe in front of right heel. Square hips and shoulders to left and hold right hand outside temple, blocking upward. Hold your left hand just outside left thigh. This is a difficult position with all your weight in right leg - keep left hip tweaked back, shoulders relaxed and level.
 * 7. White Crane Cools Its Wings**

Slowly, lower right hand turn the waist right, bring the left hand around as if cradling a child. Circle left palm in front of body and right arm back and out 45 degrees. Bring right hand to ear while stepping out wide with the left heel. Shift to the left, turning the waist. Brush left knee with left hand, push right hand forward, turn right foot 45 degrees, square hips and shoulders to left.
 * 8. Brush Knee and Twist Step**

Moving forward, keep back straight, center your weight on the left leg and pick up the right foot. Then slowly sit back on your right foot, float left arm up, adjust left heel in front of right heel and hold right palm in front of left elbow.
 * 9. Play Guitar**

Slowly, lower right hand turn the waist right, bring the left hand around as if cradling a child. Circle left palm in front of body and right arm back and out 45 degrees. Bring right hand to ear while stepping out wide with the left heel. Shift to the left, turning the waist. Brush left knee with left hand, push right hand forward, turn right foot 45 degrees, square hips and shoulders to left.
 * 10. Brush Knee and Twist Step**

Form a fist with the right hand, slowly sit back on the right leg, turn waist to left and swing fist across body to the left. Shift your weight forward, back straight, bring right foot into the left, staying low. Anchoring into your left hip and foot. Step forward to the right 45 degrees. Shift to the right, swing your fist upward and then downward to left hip. When your weight shifts to your right leg step up with a door-like swinging action. Move the left foot to shoulders width, your right fist comes to your hip and your left hand is en guard at your centerline with your body angles at 45 degrees. Shift forward, square the hips, and punch with the right hand in a left forward stance. Left hand covering heart with palm angled opposite the right elbow. Open fist, turn waist to the left and extend right hand to left front. Place left palm below right elbow, facing upward.
 * 11. Deflect, Intercept, and Punch**

Sit back on right leg and turn waist to the right, pulling right arm off left forearm, wiping off. As you sit back on your right leg, hands separate and palms turn forward. With all your weight on your right leg, shift forward, square hipsand push into a left forward stance, sponge arms forward, stopping at 45 degrees.
 * 12. Withdraw and Wipe off**

Shift weight back to right leg and turn to the right, slowly spreading the arms. As you turn pull left toes toward front and spread hands outward even more. When hands come down past shoulders, slowly shift weight back to left, pivoting on right toes. When all weight is on left leg, move right foot shoulders width and parallel to left. Shift to hose stance, crossing hands in front of chest, right hand closest to body. This closes the first third of Yang style short form tai chi.
 * 13. Close: Cross Hands**