The 'stages' that one must go through from Beginner to Advanced is simply a matter of time, and dedication, and practice, and [self] discipline. It's one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration, and the only short cut is to just 'be yourself' from the start and let the movement, or posture, or tao - find you! This last description is I suppose that of Tai Chi at the spiritual level where discernible or actual physical movement may not be at all apparent or necessary, yet the form is being followed, without thinking!
Is this the tao you have been looking for? The greatest impairment is looking too hard.

The most noticeable refinements in a well practiced form is that it becomes smaller and close to the body, less flamboyant, more relaxed and 'softer'. If you are at the early stages of refinement try to at least keep your elbows down and keep your weight plumb center of the area defined by one foot at the axis and the other at the radius ... and make no stride greater that a shoulders width ... and bear in mind the fact that any Tai Chi 'strike' requires in theory only one once of force.

When standing before a group of Tai Chi students to demonstrate and teach any posture I adapt my movements - and the 'size' (and at first speed) of that posture to ensure that all of the movement that I make are discernible to the viewer. In application the opposite applies! The video animation's within this site are provided for your use and as visual reinforcement and we of course hope that these may help many people, especially those that do no have the benefit of a regular 'in-person' master. However, given all that has been said to date I do stress that those pictures that you see of me 'doing it' are by no means the be all and end all - and a long way from the 'finished product' (wrong words ... but you know what I mean don't you?). Clearly, for the purposes of that exercise (filming the form) all of my movements were exaggerated and 'bigger' than those that I would do 'privately'; when nobody were watching me - with no one there for me to show off too, to impress or educate. The pitfall to avoid during 'private' practice is still - if not more - the Ego. With no one else to impress we are inclined to take to trying to impress or 'educate' ourselves! With the job as such "well done" (who is to know how 'well' or 'well-not' done anyway?) we reward ourselves with at least compliments and some small self-praise ... or more. "Self Discipline" is not encouraged by self-praise - Self-praise encourages laziness ("You do this ... this happens. You do that ... ... ..."). Those that 'practice' in this manner should expect their Tai Chi form to advance none and go nowhere.

You should note from the video animation of Cross Hands in the Net Guide that from the highest 'crossed' position to the lowest (when Wrestle Tiger commences) my hands 'fall' straight downwards as the elbows - in effect - open and raise.

Click here for Windows Media Player video animation clip "Cross Hands One"

When the hand/arm movements are held close to the body the efficiency of the posture as applied to beak free of an opponents grip on your forearm is greatly increased.
The wrists coil inwards and 'flatten - right palm on the back of the left hand - at the bottom of the journey; just as they do at the top before 'Withdraw and Push'.

Click here for Windows Media Player video animation clip "Cross Hands Two" (Refinement)

Application Effect

With this 'rolling inwards' of the wrists (as in animation two), the palms face downward and are more suitably positioned to make a grab - slightly behind yourself, waist high. The posture continues with 'pivot' footwork pattern to face that opponent behind and follow through to push or grip with the left hand at shoulder/neck/face level. If a grip is taken with the left, the grip with right is maintained and "Return to Mountain" may throw the opponent or cause loss of balance in avoidance of lock etc. Note that if a grab is applied with both hands the effectiveness of any subsequent lock or throw is dependent upon how far apart your own hands (the two-handed grip) are.