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The Tai Chi
Netguide
a full and comprehensive online step-by-step
guides to the Yang Forms and warm-ups |
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Long Yang Form
guides (text and animations)
part three: moves
61-66 turn body & sweep lotus to conclusion
| previous ten moves |
| 61.
TURN BODY AND SWEEP LOTUS WITH LEG |
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Lower your right hand/arm and position it across your chest
with the (right) hand close to your left shoulder with the palm
facing down and fingers pointing S. Raise up your right arm
and reposition it to extended out to your left (at 90° form
your body - palm down and fingers pointing S.
By pivoting your left leg clockwise at the hip, bring your left
knee across and in front of your right leg so that the knee
points N and the raised heel points S. By now both arms should
be held extended out to your left and held parallel to the floor
with both palms facing down.
Swing both arms in (very) wide clockwise arcs from S to N and
then on from N to S. Shift 100% of your body weight into/over
your right leg and raise yourself up (just an inch or so) onto
the heel of your right foot as your swing both arms as above
in a complete 360° clockwise circle. To accomplish this
the player must spin 360° clockwise on the ball of your
right foot - then returning to face directly W.
As your return to facing W place your left foot back down, shift
your weight to over that leg - and allow your arms to continue
to extended out to your right, palms down and fingers pointing
N.
Keeping your left leg straight from hip to ankle, raise that
leg up in an arc first up and out and then up and in to maximum
height (waist level). Allow your left leg to travel on to your
right leg a little and then position the sole of that foot to
alongside your left shin. The ultimate challenge of this posture
is to perform it all, from beginning to end, stood first one
leg (right) and finishing stood on the other (left) - stable
and balanced!
As you begin to raise your right leg (as above) swing your arms
back from fingers pointing N to fingers pointing S. palms down.
Co-ordinate the sweep or your hand to the left and your foot
to the right so that your hands "sweep" across your
toes midway. |
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| 62.
BEND BOW AND SHOOT TIGER |
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Step diagonally forward (NW) with your right foot. Leave
your left foot positioned where it is - with heel and toes firmly
'planted' down and shift 70% of your weight into/over your right
leg. As you take the step forward with your right foot as described
above, make a loose fist (it is actually a grip), raise your
right arm up to above your right shoulder - fist facing W and
elbow E.
Turn your upper body clockwise to align your shoulders left/N
right/S. Lower the elbow of your left arm and reposition it
and the whole of that upper arm to alongside your body - against
the left side of your ribcage. Hold the left forearm parallel
to the floor and make a loose fist with that (left) hand - fist
pointing N and elbow (held close to your body) pointing S. |
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| 63.
STEP FORWARD, DEFLECT DOWNWARD, PARRY AND PUNCH |
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Downward Block: Sweep your right hand in a long downward
anti-clockwise arc.
Turn your shoulders and then hips anti-clockwise to align shoulders
and hips left/SE right/NW. Extend your left arm (but never stiff
or locked) to position the hand behind your left thigh with
that arm hanging relaxed at the shoulder with your open palm
facing your left thigh.
Twist Step: Keeping your body weight in the left leg for now,
lift your right foot and place the toes only down a half pace
ahead of the left - with the toes pointing NW and the raised
heel pointing SW. Turn your shoulders and then hips clockwise
to align your shoulders left/SW right/NE and hips left/S right/N.
Still facing directly W, raise your left heel. Lower your right
heel and shift 70% of your body weight into/over that leg. Position
your left kneecap to come to rest against the rear of your right
knee and thigh. You will find a little hollow there to nestle
into.
Parry: From its position beside your left hip, turn the palm
of your left hand to face W and commence a wide outside arc
across your sight line with your left hand. Finish with that
(left) arm extended across your chest with the palm facing in
towards your right shoulder; fingers pointing N.
Turn your shoulders and then hips clockwise to align your shoulders
and hips left/SW right/NE. Position your right hand behind your
right thigh with that arm hanging from the shoulder down. Your
eyes should remain facing directly W throughout all phases of
this posture.
Punch: Pivot your left forearm clockwise at the elbow to position
it across your body at about waist level with the palm facing
you - elbow pointing S, fingers pointing N and your forearm
held parallel with the floor.
Raise the right hand to waist level in a loose fist. Keep the
elbow close to your side.
Step W with your left foot and shift 70% of your body weight
into/over that leg. Punch forward with your right hand, forming
and making the fist 'harder' as it travels beneath your left
forearm. The left forearm, held in the alignment and position
as described above, marks the midway point in the travel of
your right hand and thus the midway point in the forming of
the fist. As the punch is delivered pivot your upper body anti-clockwise
until your shoulder are aligned left/S right/N.
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| 64.
APPARENT CLOSURE AND PUSH |
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Shift your body weight back into/over your right leg. Release
the right fist and bring the right hand (under the left arm)
toward the left shoulder. Lift the toes of your left foot (just
an inch or so) and pivot anti-clockwise on the heel until the
toes and knee point SW.
Turn your upper body anti-clockwise to align your shoulders
and hips left/SE right/NW. Keep your right arm outstretched
and lift it a little higher as you turn your body so that the
whole of the arm, including the fingers point up to your top
left (high SW). The palm of your right hand faces SE.
Look up towards your right hand - which is by now positioned
high on your left hand side. Slide your left hand (palm inward)
inside the right forearm to your shoulder. Then slide it (like
a snake) under the right armpit and up the shoulder finishing
fingers up and palm facing away from you (NW). With your weight
still in the right leg and with the toes of the left foot raised
off of the ground, pivot on the left heel and turn your body
clockwise to return to face W with shoulders and hips aligned
again left/S right/N.
As you turn to the right point your right elbow N and draw the
right arm and the hand further in that direction out from under
the left forearm - which has remained in position with the palm
(of the left hand) facing E over your right shoulder. Turn the
right palm outward, so that both palms now face W at a shoulder
width apart and at shoulder height. Bring your left foot (back)
to alongside the right with the toes only touching the floor
(Cat Stance left).
Step W with your left foot and shift 70% of your body weight
into/over that leg. Push both hands forward from the shoulders;
elbows bent and close to your sides. |
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65.
CROSS HANDS |
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Raise your right foot and step back (E - just a few inches)
and reposition it with the toes pointing N and heel pointing
S. Shift your body weight into/over that right leg.
Lift the toes of your left foot and pivot anti-clockwise on
the heel until the toes and knee point N; then lower your toes
to the floor. Turn your shoulders and then hips clockwise to
align your shoulders and hips left/W right/E. Turn your head
to your right to face directly N.
Lower both arms (from your left) in an arc to a position in
front of the thighs (palms facing the thighs). Shift your body
weight back over the left leg. Leading with your wrists/knuckles,
raise both (soft and relaxed) hands up the body centre-line
to shoulder height. When your hands reach about shoulder level
- raise your wrists and fingers up so that your palms face N.
Move both hands outwards and describe two outward and then downward
inward arcs and bring both hands back down towards your waist.
Continue circling both arms and as you begin to raise them up
again - cross your wrists with your right hand under the left
hand and with both palms, just for now, facing up. Raise both
hands up further to form a cross over the chest area with your
left arm inside of the right arm. Lift your right foot (just
and inch or two) and place it alongside the right with the toes
only touching the floor. (Cat Stance right). |
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66.
CONCLUSION |
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Lift your right foot (just an inch or two) and place it parallel
to the left foot - a shoulder width apart with your knees
slightly bent and your body weight equally distributed in/over
each leg.
"Separate Hands": Leading with your wrists (elbows
relaxed beneath), draw the left hand out towards W and the
right towards E - to about a shoulder width apart, palms down.
Slide the flattened (soft and relaxed) right hand over the
left forearm and wrist. With the palms continuing to face
down until completion of this final "Balancing the Chi"
or "Closing of the Grand Terminus" phase: Lower
first your elbows then forearms and allow both hands to fall
to along side the body and hang relaxed at your sides with
the palms facing back (S). As the arms and hands are lowered,
'sink' (bend your knees a little) to lower your body weight
or centre (of gravity).
Stay relaxed in this position for a while. You have
now completed the entire Long Yang Form. The next stage is
to start from the beginning again… |
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| previous ten moves |
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