Yang Tai Ji 36 Postures
by
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I Stages of Practice: We have to practice stepping methods and body methods first. We have to learn how to have archness in our posture by standing practice. We then learn how to advance and retreat. We have to be aware of our center line at any moment and shift weight in a balance way. We may take time to learn and move slowly. Speed is not a concern. However, awareness about our center line and gradual weight shifting is the purpose of practice. II Standing Practice: We may pick any final move of a posture to practice. We use it as a standing in posture practice. We may stand for a few minutes or more. We relax all over of our body. We sink our Qi 气 around Dan Tian 单田. We maintain archness in our overall posture. We may attention our center line. We have to be comfortable with our centered posturing. It is called Zhong Zheng An Shu 中正安舒. III Moving Step Practice: We may practice how to advance and retreat without any hand moves. We may practice how to turn our front toes and body facing without any hand moves. We learn to be aware of our center line and gradual weight shifting. IV Moving Hand Practice: We move our hands up and down along our center line. We wave our hands clock or counter clock wise. We practice drawing small circles with wrist and then with forearm around the elbow. Our circles have to reach our center line. When we are ready, we may move on to learn 36 postures.
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About the Book
There are many versions of Yang Tai Chi forms. However, most of them are with expansive moves. There are also large and deep postures from Wu Shu routines. They may not be good for knees. I therefore started to make the moves smaller and tighter when I first learned them in 1980s. We may still gain health benefits from practicing these smaller moves. I preserved the original names for each posture. There are detailed descriptions about how to do the moves correctly. Each posture is also illustrated with several images including transitional moves. I have exchanged ideas and notes extensively with students from Yang Cheng Fu lineage. The moves in this book are much closer to original Yang Cheng Fu routines.
About the Author
Yang Tai Chi is the most popular physical exercise both in China and the rest of the world. I had the opportunity to learn both Yang and Chen Tai Chi in college. After some research, I restored some of the moves back to original routines. They are smaller and tighter moves. The focus of the body centerline is emphasized in these postures. We may still reap tremendous health benefits from practicing these smaller moves. They are also more in line with Tai Chi fighting theory and principles. I have practiced Tai Chin since 1980s. I also exchanged notes with students of Yang Cheng Fu lineage.