Gilman Studio On-Line Lessons

Yang Style Long Form

Tai Chi Chuan

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Lesson 42:

This Lesson Contains:

Movement# 43 – Left Brush Knee and Movement # 44 – Right Brush Knee

These two movements have the same application, that of stepping inside a foot kick and pushing the opponent off balance. The most effective way to deal with a foot kick is to step inside the leg so the force cannot strike you. When stepping in, grab the leg and the opponent will find it almost impossible to keep balance.

Left Brush Knee Following the Sole Kick, bring the foot back. Then step out with the left foot slightly to the left of east, touching down the heel. The torso turns slightly to the right. The left arm circles down to brush the left knee. The arm is fairly straight. The right hand moves closer to the right side of the chest and relaxes. Focus on the left forearm to join with opponent’s leg.

I have grabbed John’s leg, and now I push him off balance. Shift the weight onto the left foot until the knee just covers the toe. You’ll need to pivot in the right toe to face half way between south and east. The torso turns to the left as the weight shifts. This turning pushes out the right palm to end on the right side of the center of the chest. Keep the elbow drooped. At the same time, the left palm pulls back a bit. This is called “sitting the wrist”. This sitting means you are able to pull something back toward the body to counter balance the force being directed outward by the other hand. Focus on the right palm for pushing and the right hand for counter balance.

Right Brush Knee I now step in to block a kick to my right side. I am going to be turning out the left foot and gathering Chi into the left Kua for later release. This done by keeping the left heel rooted and turning the torso and the knee to the left until they both face halfway between east and north. As this initial turning out and gathering of energy happens, the left hand comes up by the left side of the shoulder and the right arm starts to circle down to the right. The right foot then steps out to the right. The toe faces slightly to the right of east. As the heel touches the ground, the right arm has completed its downward circle and brushes the knee. The left hand stays ready. Focus on energy in the left Kua and then the right forearm for brushing.

After having grabbed John’s leg, I then push him off balance. Shift the weight onto the right foot until the knee just covers the toe. The left toe is pivoted in to face slightly to the left of east. The torso turns to the right until it faces the same direction the right toe is headed. As the torso moves forward and turns, the left palm moves forward to end on the left side of the center of the chest. Keep the elbow drooped. The right wrist “sits”. Focus on gathering the energy into the Kua, then on the right wrist for blocking, and finally into the left palm for pushing.

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