The three tips align with each other

太極拳 三尖相照
Taijiquan
The three tips align with each other 1

“The three tips align with each other(三尖相照)” is one of the important teachings of traditional Chinese martial arts. However, I feel that its essence has not been known in general.

 

At the moment of hitting, the ground and the fist hitting point should be connected directly.  In this reason, it is the rules of posture that must be taken. Let me explain it.

“The three tips align with each other” の続きを読む

Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg

太極拳 金鶏独立
Photo 2; Taijiquan Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg

“Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (金鶏独立)” attacks the lower body with the foot at the same time of attacking the opponent face with the same sided hand.

Although I used the word of “same time”, there is a time lag. The hand is the first attacking that draws their intention, and the foot attacking is following, but it is the main.

“Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg” の続きを読む

Low Single Whip

太极拳 单鞭下势
Taijiquan Low Single Whip 3

The single whip basically attacks on the face. But, a “Low single whip (単鞭下勢)” is a technique to hit the palm like a whip, aiming at the groin.

Let’s explain the usage. You are taking a left leading stance (See Photo 1 below).

The opponent strikes the right fist to your face in the order of the right shoulder and the right leg forward.  With deflecting their right hand with your right hand, you are stepping to the left side (See Photo 2 below).

“Low Single Whip” の続きを読む

Like Sealing Like Closing

楊式太極拳 如封似閉 杨式太极拳 如封似闭
[Photo 1]  Like Sealing Like Closing – Yang Style Taijiquan
“Like Sealing Like Closing (如封似閉)” describes a guard posture to freeze the opponent movement with keeping the distance.

[See Photo1]

In Chen-style Taijiquan, it is called “Six Sealing Four Closing (六封四閉)”.

As a result of the battle by hand tangling techniques, open the both arms of the opponent and enter into inside the guard, paste the both open-palms on the chest. It is the moment when a chill runs down their spine.

“Like Sealing Like Closing” の続きを読む

Single Whip

太極拳 単鞭 太极拳 单鞭
Taijiquan Single Whip

“Single whip (単鞭)” is a technique to let a hand fly like a whip, and smash on the opponent’s face with the open-palm.

It is named because that the left hand is controlled with the right hand just like one long single whip. “Single Whip” の続きを読む

White Crane Spreads Its Wings

太極拳 白鶴亮翅 太极拳 白鹤亮翅
Taijiquan, White crane spreads its wings

“White crane spreads its wings (白鶴亮翅)” is a technique to open the opponent’s body and enter into an attackable position.

The posture succeeded in entering the attackable position (see photo) may be resembled to the gesture that the white crane spreads its wings.  The name comes from this.  What an elegant naming for a martial art. “White Crane Spreads Its Wings” の続きを読む

Taijiquan Beginning

太極拳 太极拳 起势 气沉丹田 含胸拔背 虚领顶劲
Taijiquan Beginning 1

Beginning (起勢) is the first movement when playing the simplified 24-form taijiquan (太極拳). First of all I should say that it is not a fighting technique.

Placing internal energy (気) in the body center, letting the back free, making the mind (意) to penetrate to the head top, which help you to become united with the surrounding space.  Stretch your fingertips downwards and inject internal energy (気) into your fingertips. See the top photo.  “Taijiquan Beginning” の続きを読む