Teaching Pulling Taffy Perpetual Motion

Justin said that the best way to teach T’ai Chi Chih’s Pulling Taffy Perpetual Motion is to demonstrate it rather than discuss it. That works for some learners, but most of my students need more concrete information to help them to feel comfortable doing the movement. I’ve realized that Pulling Taffy Perpetual Motion is smaller than they think it is. The step to the side is smaller, and the crossing and opening of the arms is smaller too. This is because the hand swings under to catch the turn of the t’an tien before the weight-shift is complete. I tell my students to think small and feel a few things:

• Focus attention on the soles of the feet (duh). When you begin to feel the weight shift into the foot that is stepping out, notice that the palms will be crossing for a moment of polarity.

• As the waist turns and the weight flows into the other foot, the hands reverse their positions. The arms pull apart in time to the turning of the t’an tien. The top hand floats across and sweeps under the opposite elbow as the waist finishes its turn. At the same time the bottom hand sweeps to the side and over the top arm.

• Once the weight has filled the opposite foot and the hands have reversed their positions, pull up the toe of the empty foot and touch the ground with the heel. That heel touch starts the weight shift to the opposite side.

• The phrase “pull, reverse, heel touch” as we move helps students remember the order of the movements. But it’s the heel touch beginning the new weight shift that I feel is the key to the perpetual motion. Some students have referred to that as “stepping on the gas” to begin the next part of the movement.

I remind students to use a smaller step and keep the hands’ pull smaller too. I lead them to notice that the elbows stay close to the body, acting as pivots for the arms to pull apart and circle over or under. The bottom hand comes across and sweeps up and over, and the other comes across and sweeps under, each making a half circle. They eventually recognize that their hands and arms are tracing the yin and yang of the Great T’ai Chi, and that makes them smile.