Gilman Studio On-Line Lessons
Yang Style Long Form
Tai Chi Chuan
This Lesson Contains:
Movement # 47 – Step Up, Deflect Downward, Punch
This movement is quite similar to Movement #33. The main difference is that here the opponent is gabbing my wrist. I roll back, forcing his arm off, and then follow with a downward chop directed to his neck or arm, and end with a punch. Once again, this illustrates the continuous flowing attacks of Tai Chi.
The opponent grabs my left wrist with his left hand.
I start to withdraw back onto the left foot and to turn the waist to the left.
The left arm is twisting in a counterclockwise circle and moving downward. The right arm, still in a fist, starts to circle up to the front, right side of the chest.
Focus on the contact with the left wrist.
Note: Even though I am trying to escape the grip of the opponent, I must remain stuck to him in some way so I can listen to his energy. At first I listen with my left wrist, and soon the listening will switch to the other arm. Tai Chi is like glue. Your opponent can never quite get away from you once contact has been made.
Depending upon the situation, I can either apply an arm bar to control John, or break his elbow with a chop.
The weight is shifted onto the left foot. The waist has turned to face half way between south and west (the direction the left toe is facing). The right foot rolls up onto the heel.
The left hand has moved down to the waist with the palm facing upward. Be sure not to let the left elbow get behind the body. The upper arm falls straight down the side, and the elbow is bent at a bit more than a right angle.
The right arm, still in a fist on the right side of the chest, moves with the body to the left.
Focus on the left palm for contact and the right forearm for pressure outward.
I didn’t show the detail of the following part of this movement. The opponent finds his center and throws a punch with his right fist to my center. These two pictures show the transition into the block and chop down.
1) Withdraw the right foot onto the toe. The right forearm drops by pivoting at the elbow. The left hand relaxes.
2) Lift up the right foot and replace it with the toe facing north. It is very close to the left foot, but do not block the left foot from moving straight ahead. The weight shifts onto the right foot and the body turns to the right until it faces half way between north and west. The right arm has flipped over to end by the side of the body, fist facing up, and the left arm rises or circles up to the left side of the shoulder.
Here you can see the block with the right fist, and the deflecting or chopping with the left hand edge.
Step ahead the left foot to touch down the heel. The toe faces west. Don’t shift the weight yet.
There is a downward pressure with the right forearm/wrist to stick. Don’t let the elbow get behind the body.
The left palm little finger edge has the downward chopping energy. I could have chopped his right arm downward to open him up, or in this case, I chop his neck to stun him.
Focus on the right wrist and the left palm.
I follow up with a strike to the jaw.
Shift the weight onto the left foot until the knee just covers the toe. Turn the waist until the nose points to the west. Don’t lean forward. Remember, the shifting and turning happen together.
The right fist twists a quarter turn as it moves to the center of the chest. The left palm pulls back to end by the right elbow with the palm facing the elbow to protect it.
Focus on the right fist and the left palm.
Note: The Yang Style Tai Chi punch generally twists a quarter turn when moving away from the body. This turn helps to focus the energy and send it deeper into the opponent’s body, like a screw. We don’t do a half turn (ending with the palm down) like Karate because that can place too much stress on the elbow and shoulder joints.