Note: Instead of learning more and more exercise and proceeding at a low level of Skill, our practice is to go deeper into the movement / techniques that we already know and become more proficient; make less into more*. This is the idea behind Internal Exercise; if the body functions more effectively and efficiently, it can be used to do a wide variety of activities. Additionally, when we work on something intently for some time, and can actually feel a noticeable improvement from our hard word, we become more empowered to dig in deeper.

Yang Zhenduo Laoshi stated, “It is not the hard work that is the problem, but not receiving any benefit from our efforts.

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Lets continue to clarify our stepping and stance practice…

There are five stepping methods and 5 stances; bow, front, empty, twisted, and hanging. They all can be defined by three basic requirements; width (measure between the two heel-pads), foot direction (achieved by opening and closing the kua; crotch), and weight distribution. They are moved into and out of using the five basic skills; shift, pivot, stand, step, and transition. It is important to understand that regardless of the stepping and stance method, the lower body provides two basic functions; it supports the mass of the upper body concentrating at the Center, and it provides the power that is issued by the hands.

Once the Hand Form’s choreography is standardized, the means to improve can be achieved by actualizing the key points of this poem.

The energy begins in the root, developed by the legs, directed and controlled by the waist / center, and issued by (fa-jin) the arms and hands.

Master Yang Jun instructs us to use the Five Directives to assess our strengths and weaknesses; feet, body, hands, gaze, and method. To this end, my suggestion is always practice the whole form, focusing on each movement / technique first. Then picking a single movement / technique deconstruct it as; lower body (stepping and stances), Center (waist method), and upper body (arm circles). The objective is to perform Tai Chi Chuan with whole body usage, connecting the arms and legs together under the direction of the Center (the Five Bows; arms, legs, spine).           

* Real boxers actually have a small arsenal of fighting techniques, and usually work to perfect only one or two. It is not a good idea to be a jack of all trades and a master of none.