Tai Ji Quan
Theory, Practice & Fighting Methods
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
There are 9 sections in the human body. They include palm (Zhang), wrist (Wan), elbow (Zhou), shoulder (Jian), back (Bei), waist (
1. Palm (Zhang):
Both the thumb and the little finger are held inward a little.
A: Vertical Palm: the wrist bent back and the palm facing forward. (Figure 18)
B: Palm side up is Yang Zhang and Palm side facing downward is Fu Zhang. (Figure 1A)
C: Horizontal Palm (Heng Zhang): the little finger on top and the palm facing the front. (Figure 1B)
D: When you rotate your hand toward the little finger side, it is called Inner Circling (Nei Xuan). When you rotate your hand toward the thumb side, it is called Outer Circling (Wai Xuan).
2. Wrist (Wan):
A: Sitting Wrist (Zuo Wan): when you hold your palm facing forward, it is called sitting the wrist. This is the hand form to turn over the palm to face the other way. It is also called folding. In order to move forward, you have to move backward first, the same for the left, the right, the front and the rear. These folding movements also apply to the waist, the arms, the steps etc. (Figure 19B)
B: Elevating Wrist (Ti Wan): when you move your wrist upward, it is called Ti Wan.
3. Elbow (Zhou):
In order to be flexible, the elbow is usually down a little. It is called sinking the elbow. The elbow may be used to strike (Kao). (Figure 16)
The forearm may be used to move outward and upward. It is called Peng. (Figure 10)
4. Back (Bei):
The back has to be arched a little around the chest area, so that there is room for expansion. The tugging in of the chest is called He. The expansion of the chest is called Kai. The back and the chest may be used to strike (Kao).
5. Waist (
The waist is where every movement starts and ends. The rotation of the waist to the left and right is called reversible rotation (Huei Zhuan). The muscles on the left and right side of the waist are elevated in turn. This is called Ti Zuo. If the left side is elevated, the weight is shifted to the right. The right side is called the real side (Si) and the left is called the empty side (Shi). The weight is always on one side of the body in Tai Ji. If the weight is distributed evenly on the both sides, it is called double weighted. It is to be avoided in the practice.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Tai Ji Quan or Tai Chi Chuan is practiced by many people for health and fitness. However, imbedded with the moves, there are also self defense principles and applications. Most people may be practicing the moves and acquiring some skills that they never know anything about. The fundamental principles and applications of Tai Ji Quan are explained in an easy and fun to read format in this book. Whether you are interested in knowing how and why you have to do the move in a certain way, or you are interested in knowing how to practice and apply the defense skills you may already have, this book is a good guide to start. The 13 postures (Shi) are Peng. Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao (8 Jin methods); Jin, Tui, Gu, Pan, and Zhong Ding (5 steps, Wu Bu) are explained with techniques. How to use 13 Shi to study Tai Ji Quan are illustrated with techniques. How to contact, stick (Zhan Nian) and neutralize the opponent’s Jin (Hua Jin); and, in turn, release your own Jin (Fa Jin) are explained with examples. Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate learner or an advanced student, this book is an essential tool for study and review. Hundreds of techniques are explained in details. The first 16 postures of Chen Tai Ji old frame first routine are explained as well. How you maneuver to be in your front side, so that you may exert your Jin smoothly (Uo Sun). How you make the opponent to be on his back side, so that he may not reverse his Jin (Ren Bei). This is the whole story of theory and practice of Tai Ji Quan.
About the Author
Since young, my brother (the author of this book) is always like to study, think and research. Whenever the teacher gave us an example and asked us to derive 3 more examples. My brother would always come up with more examples. He can turn many boring subjects into gold and make them interesting. For example, practice of Tai Ji Quan was slow and boring. He would come up with so many applications with a single move grounded on theories. There were always huge gaps between understanding of theories and actual practices of Chinese martial arts. The theories are always written in old Chinese and difficult to understand. Not only can he interpret them well and he would actually apply them to the study of the practices. This is my brother.
From author’s brother, Frank