Gilman Studio On-Line Lessons
Yang Style Long Form
Tai Chi Chuan
This Lesson Contains:
Movement # 84 – Stork Spreads Its Wings
This is the third repetition of Stork Spreads Its Wings. This application is similar to the previous one, movement # 28. In that application, I used shoulder strike ( Kao Jing) because the opponent had attacked me with his right hand and I couldn’t close him up before counter-attacking. Here, he attacks with his left fist, which allows me to close him up first, and then attack with my elbow ( Jou Jing). I follow by throwing him over my leg, or attacking with my right forearm.
Yoshi attacks with his left hand. I neutralize it to my left, closing him up, and leading him in.
Turn the torso to the left as you shift the weight back onto the left foot. Draw up the right foot on to the toe. Torso faces half way between north and west.
The two palms turn face down and move to the left and slightly down with the torso turn. Both are about at waist level on their respective sides of the body. You are joining with the opponent’s wrist and elbow.
Focus on the two palms for joining, sticking, and leading. Possible foot kick with the right foot.
I change hands, step behind, and get ready to attack with elbow.
Sinking deeper into the left leg, replace the right foot in about the same place it was, but change the angle. The toe now faces halfway between north and west. Don’t add weight yet. This is the step behind the opponent.
The left hand makes a small circle (clockwise) and ends above the right hand. It looks much like center position. What I have done is slide the right hand down onto the wrist area and circled up the left, which now controls Yoshi’s elbow.
Focus on the left palm for sticking to the opponent’s elbow.
I now apply elbow stroke (Jou).
Shift the weight onto the right foot. Be sure not to lean forward. Keep a solid root on the right foot. The torso still faces halfway between north and west.
The right hand forms a fist, knuckles up, and the elbow trusts up to center chest level. The left palm stays at the same basic place, now facing the right fist. This palm can be used to either block attacks or add support to the elbow strike. Also, as is the case in this application picture, the left palm can pull the opponent’s elbow to increase the elbow strike power.
Focus on the right elbow.
I follow the elbow strike with a strike with the back of my right forearm or hand. This could also be a push backward to throw the opponent over your leg.
Shift the weight completely onto the right foot and as you do, turn the torso to face west. Replace the left foot onto Ding Bow On Toe, which faces west.
The right forearm opens to the right and upward to end with the palm facing forward. The palm is about at face level. The elbow is relaxed.
The left hand moves down and to the left to end by the left side of the left hip. The palm faces down. In the application, the left hand is pulling to the left to secure the opponent if you want to strike, or make escape difficult if you want to throw him over your right leg.
Focus on the back of the right forearm/hand.