Taoist Sanctuary

Taijiquan can vary under thousands of different situations, however, it has only one systematic rule of motion ; that body movement must originate and be directed by the Dan –Tian .This rule can be divided into three types of motion.

The first type of motion can be called the left-right rotation of the Dan-Tian The motion of silk-reeling or spiraling is when the Dan-Tian rotates left to right horizontally. The trunk of the body begins to spiral, to have silk-reeling and the shoulders, elbows, and hands; hips, knees, and ankles have the silk-reeling too.

This demonstrates principle of motion as `one-part moves the whole body moves`. When the Qi moves inwards, it goes through the shoulders and the waist, to the Dan-Tian. When the Qi moves outwards, it goes up through the back of the body, shoulders, elbows, to the hands , and it goes downward through the hip-joints and knees, to the ankles and feet.

When we are practicing, we should only use half of the mind. We start between thinking and not thinking. Through partially thinking and partially relaxing, then we can feel the unified ONE. If we are concentrating too much, then we’ll pay attention to something specific and forget about other things. So, again, the first type of motion is the left-right rotation of the Dan-Tian which is the silk-reeling spiraling motion.

The second type of motion is the front -back rotation of the Dan-Tian; front to back, back to front . This is the folding motion of the chest and waist. For example, in the beginning posture of raising both hands , the Dian-Tian doesn’t rotate to the left or to the right, this is the front to back rotation. There is no spiraling in or silk reeling in the hands .The double front jump kicks, is also a front to back rotation. This is the second type of motion , rotating the Dan-Tian front and back to fold, move and divert forces using the chest and waist. In the movement of Qi , when Opening, the Qi moves to the hands. When Closing, the Qi moves back to the Dan-Tian. This way, it moves to the hands when opening. When you sink down, closing, it moves back to Dan-Tian. When there is another movement, it moves to the hands, when closing , it moves back to the Dan-Tian.

To use the Small Circle Silk-Reeling as an example, when opening this it moves to the hands. When closing it moves to the Dan-Tian. These all belong to the second type of motion.

The third type of motion is between the first and second types. It involves both front-back and left-right rotations. Every time the Jin (internal force) changes, it belongs to the third type of motion .The simplest motion, turn to the right, turn to the left, when you are in the left-hand side, then turn and move to the right-hand side, this is the changing Jin moment. While your are moving to the back and the left at the same time, moving forward and to the right at the same time,you are changing the Jin and it is the third type of motion.To make a change, a small motion , the Dan-Tian rotates four different directions.The third type of motion is moving to the front-back-left and right every time you change the direction of the Jin, it belongs to this third type of motion.