Analyzing Movements

The best way to analyze how a student moves is to make sure he or she has the right concept of how to move. If a student is not ‘flowing from the center’ or moving as if slow-motion in a dream then there is very little chance that the individual movements will be technically correct.

Working through the principles that govern a particular movement, great attention should also be placed on the shifting of the weight, softness of the knees and spinal alignment. It must be emphasized that T’ai Chi Chih practice is not just a matter of remembering to place the hands and feet in the ‘proper’ place. The movements must be supported by the flow of the CHI, and this can only be accomplished by moving properly according to the principles of T’ai Chi Chih.

Once it has been determined that the student is moving properly, then minor problems related to stance, alignment and so forth can be easily corrected. When making such corrections, it is recommended that teachers begin by reviewing the stance and then work their way up by examining the legs, spine, arms, and hands.

For example, if a student is having trouble reaching too far in ‘Push Pull’ the best way to approach the situation may be to start with the stance and make sure the student has placed the feet in the appropriate position. If the feet are too narrow or out of alignment, this will hinder the student’s ability to shift the weight fully and may cause one to reach or lean forward to attempt to compensate for the situation.

T’ai Chi Chih is done mostly from the waist down, so unless the foundation (stance, legs, spinal alignment, etc) is solid, yet soft, there is no way to build anything of value on top. It is usually a mistake to attempt to correct the arms first as they are a reflection of the legs, and will convey a symptom of the real problem. Until the underlying cause is addressed nothing can come into balance. However, once these problem areas are addressed students should experience a greater ease to the movements and will often be more receptive to future corrections.

[Excerpted with permission from the newly-revised T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Training Manual by Justin Stone and Ed Altman. See “News Shorts” for more information.]