Taijiquan Principles
The student will learn to understand and implement all ten of Yang Chengfu’s Ten Essentials of Taijiquan.
Fundamentals of Taijiquan Postures and Movement: First Stripe
Stance and Rooting Training:
1. Wuji (No Extremities) – 10 minutes
2. Embrace the Moon on the Chest – 5 minutes per side without break
3. Golden Rooster Stance – 1 ½ minutes each leg
4. Four Gates Breathing
Know All Eight of the Eight Basic Taijiquan Patterns
Taijiquan Applications: Second Stripe
Be able to explain and slowly execute the basic application of the each movement of Section I and Section II – Part 1of the Taijiquan sequence.
Be able to explain and execute techniques 1-4 of Double Pushing Hands.
Be able to explain and execute the Yin-Yang Silk Reeling exercise (stationary) with a partner.
Achieve greater speed and facility in executing the five basic techniques of Taijiquan short weapons from Level II.
Be able to explain and execute five more basic techniques of Taijiquan short weapons:
1. Shuai (slicing all the way across the body in a full downward arc, practice singly, then in continuous figure eight)
2. Liao (slicing upward across the body, like a reverse figure eight Shuai)
3. Yun, Zhan (Cloud Block circling upward, horizontal slice or chop, free hand can support wrist or blade during Zhan)
4. Jie, Tuo (block to side, then circle and slice upward attacking the wrist)
5. Jie, Tui (block to side, then push forward with hand on back of blade or shaft)
Achieve speed and facility in executing the following drills and techniqies:
1. Block Brush Knee Drill
2. White Crane Spreads Wings vs. Push Drill
3. Application of Block Brush Knee in the “Feudal Lord Pushes the Caldron” Qin Na technique
4. Application of Deflect Downward and Wave Hands in the “Large Elbow Wrap” Qin Na technique.
Taijiquan-Based Self Defense: Third Stripe
Achieve the reaction, increase the distance, intercept, and redirect, when opponent punches or grabs with moderate speed high or low, left or right.
Be able to follow up with “Large Roll Back" Qin Na techniques versions 1 and 2.
Be able to execute slowly the “Large Roll Back version 2"” Qin Na technique against an elbow or forearm (ward off) to the chest.
Be able to execute slowly the “Wild Chicken Breaks Its Wing” Qin Na technique against a same side grab of your shoulder.
Be able to execute the “Forgive Me for Not Going With You” technique against a forearm grab.
Achieve increased speed and facility with the Self Defense techniques from Level II.
Taijiquan Sequence Section II – Part 2 & Section III – Part 1: Fourth Stripe
Section II – Part 2:
16. High Pat on Horse
17. Left Separation Kick
18. Right Separation Kick
19. Turn and Kick Opponent
20. Block Brush Knee Right
21. Block Brush Knee Left
22. Step Up and Punch Downward
23. Turn and Chop Opponent
24. Deflect Downward, Parry, Step and Punch
25. Kick with Right Foot
26. Strike Tiger Left
27. Strike Tiger Right
28. Turn and Kick with Right Foot
29. Box Opponent’s Ears
30. Kick with Left Foot
30. Turn and Kick with Right Foot
31. Parry, Step and Punch
32. Apparent Close-Up
33. Cross Hands
Section III – Part 1
1. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
2. Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail
3. Diagonal Single Whip
4. Part the Wild Horse’s Mane
5. Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail
6. Fair Lady Works the Shuttle
7. Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail
8. Wave Hands Like Clouds
Know the following Internal Taijiquan and Qigong Concepts:
1. Grand Circulation
2. Five Gates Breathing
3. Fa Jin
4. Skin and Marrow Breathing
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