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• Ba Mén/Ba Jìn
Eight Gates or Eight Energys(Strengths)
The chief energies/strengths are the 4 primary hands or primary
directions and the four corner hands or four diagonal directions
are for assistance. The four primary hands are the basic rule
and the four corner hands are the alternatives.
The four primary hands (four cardinal directions)
1. Péng Jìn (outward) - Ward off, Tai Chi’s
essential energy, power of flexibility and resilience (born in
the thighs), energy of defensive attack, under opponents hand.
Attack. Evading is to attack. Yang or hard.
2. Lu Jìn (inward) - Pull or Roll-back, Péng in
reverse energy - energy of friction and rubbing, evade and adhere.
Over opponents hand. Defense. Evading is to attack. Yin or soft.
(Péng changes to Lu is the inward drawing of silk, and
Lu changes to Péng is the outward drawing of silk. These
are the two basic energies/strengths of Tai Chi.)
3. Ji Jìn (outward) - Press, two hands when they are joined.
Energy of two forces combined, when there’s not enough péng
jìn. Two energies combined as one, energy of dexterity.
Adhering is to attack.
4. Àn Jìn (inward) - Push, Listening energy, single
and double finger/palm. Lower péng jìn, used in
sinking, creating pull force. The posture of àn looks as
if one is preparing to push one or both hands. Àn from
the front = péng jìn, Àn from the left or
right = lu jìn, Àn combined = ji jìn.
The four corner hands (four diagonal directions)
5. Cai Jìn - Roll-pull, reverse of ji jìn, incline
downward towards the rear. Energy of two forces divided. Here
use fingers for Tai Chi Chin Na techniques. Like picking fruit,
one hand grabs branch down and other grabs fruit. Outside hand
is péng and below hand/grabbing is cai. Don’t use
cai horizontally toward the back, it must incline downward toward
the back. Use cai on only one of the opponents arms, not both.
6. Liè Jìn - Split, Tai Chi’s small strike
energy. Begins quickly a few inches from opponent. Energy of striking
(first line of defense). When liè is used by one hand the
other hand must have inside drawing of silk energy to keep the
body in balance. The hands can mutually interchange their use.
Liè is used to draw silk outward toward the opponent when
you are very close. This strike can’t stop half way you’re
committed, so strike quickly and very close the body.
7. Zhou Jìn - Elbow strike by moving the arms up &
down (Liè’s second line of defense). After you over
extend yourself and cai and liè won’t work, now use
zhou, elbow strike after wrist or from wrist.
8. Kào Jìn - Shoulder strike. Used in a slanting
direction, a strike by the whole body, body strike (Liè’s
third line of defense). Again used after over extending yourself.
Shoulder strike kào, knee strike kào, stomach strike
kào, back strike kào. Kào is used when the
hands and feet are tied up.
Péng drawn inside = Lu, Péng combined = Ji, Péng
drawn down = Àn, Péng divided = Cai, Péng
followed by a strike = Liè, Péng turning and elbow
striking = Zhou, and Péng turning and body striking = Kào.
The twelve rules for developing Péng
From Guo
1. Keep the body centered. 7. Step light (empty step).
2. Sink the shoulders. 8. Feet must be empty and solid.
3. Sink the elbows. 9. Top of the head turns.
4. Keep the wrists straight. 10. The back rotates.
5. Keep the butt tucked in. 11. Waist (tight) connected not slanted
6. Keep the knees bent. 12. Lower belly rises.
First point: 2 arms connect above elbow and below shoulder.
Second point: 2 thighs follow each other.
Third point: Back bow collects energy at the chest (chest is neither
concave nor convex).
The Nine rules for developing Péng
From Kwok
1. Crown as if suspended from a thread. 6. Neck and back straight
(up and down)
2. Eyes looking into the distance (eye level). 7. Sink the chest,
raise the back.
3. Ears listening inward. 8. Abdominal breathing.
4. Tongue to the roof of the mouth. 9. Drop the pelvis
5. Head as if balanced on a pin.
• Wu Fang
Five Directions
1. Forward (metal) 2. Backward (wood) 3. Step Left (water) 4. Step
Right (fire) 5. Center (earth)
14 Examples of Bù (stances or steps)
1. Breaking Step - like Tai Chi stance, used to half step and twist
so ½ step and you can sink then twist (toes come up) then
make contact and toes go down, then strike. Frontal attack.
2. Backward Step - step back with toes then rest of foot (step back
repulse monkey).
3. Rolling Step - when the foot turns as a result of following the
body. The sole of the foot creates friction. Foundation of Neutralizing
energy.
4. Rising Step - going to a rooster stance, knee kick.
5. Sinking Step - stepping down with foot from a rooster stance.
6. Withdrawal Step - stepping to the side, from inside to outside.
7. Collecting Step - stepping from the outside to the inside.
8. Curved Step - outside step forward for attack or defense.
9. Slanting Step - stepping diagonal to left or right.
10. Horse Step - horse stance, L stance, has double sinking step.
11. Fishing Step - horse step to the side where the hand and thigh
help each other, cloud hands.
12. Empty Step - Empty stance while top of body rises and inside
receives (lift the plams).
13. Turn the Body Over Step - putting spine in position to twist
for a strike.
14. Pushing Step - front foot advances and the rear foot follows
(forward stepping and leaping forward).
Note Step 1 & 3 (Breaking and Rolling) are the Foundation of
Tai Chi Foot Work.
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