Gilman Studio On-Line Lessons

Yang Style Long Form

Tai Chi Chuan

Lesson 64:

This Lesson Contains:

Movement# 65 – Grasp The Bird’s Tail

This is a long lesson. Grasp The Bird’s Tail is comprised of four separate movements. This is the same sequence of movements as Movement # 35. Since I modified the first part of this sequence, Right Push Upwards, I have decided to show the entire movement again. My opponent grabs my left wrist with his left hand. I circle to close him using the replace step again, and then apply an arm bar. Roll Back, Press Forward and Push have the same applications as before.

Right Push Upward

Yoshi grabs my left wrist with his left hand. I withdraw and start to circle him, counterclockwise, in order to close him up.

Shift the weight back onto the right foot and pull in the left foot to touch the toe. As you do this, the torso turns to the right until it faces the same direction as the right toe.

The left arm starts to circle up to the right, before it circles to the left. The arm actually stays at about the same place in relation to the opponent, but my body moves backwards, creating distance. If I pull the left arm back with the body, the opponent has more notice of what I am about to do.

The right arm relaxes and stays by the right hip.

Focus on the left wrist.

I am closing the opponent up, using replace step.

Sink deeper into the right leg as you start to replace the left foot. The torso turns to the left to make the step easy.

The left arm continues its circle up and to the left. The palm turns down. The right hand moves to the left with the torso turn.

Focus on the left palm for sticking and the left foot for possible kick.

The close up is complete.

Replace the left foot. The toe faces north. Roll up onto the right toe. The torso turns to face halfway between north and east.

The hands end up in center position.

Focus on the left palm for grabbing.

I attach an arm bar.

Step ahead with the right heel. The toe faces slightly to the right of east. Don’t put any weight on the foot yet. The torso stays facing half way between north and east.

The right arm comes up so the forearm is touching the opponent’s elbow (your upper chest on the right side). The left hand remains on the left side of the chest, palm facing the right arm.

Focus on the left hand to stick and press down, and the right forearm for attaching to opponent’s elbow.

Note: It is important to keep a firm, consistent pressure down with the left and up with the right, or else the opponent can easily escape. When trying this with a partner, be careful. It is easy to damage the elbow joint.

Yoshi is quite flexible, so my arm bar didn’t hold. I was lucky I stepped behind him with my right foot, so I could use my position to trip him over my leg.

Shift the weight onto the right foot and turn the torso until it faces the right toe direction. At the end of the movement, pivot in the rear toe.

The two arms move with the body to the right. The right arm is in front of the right shoulder, and the left palm is in the center of the chest, facing the right elbow. Keep the elbows and shoulders drooped.

Focus on the two arms applying Lieh Jing (the right presses inward and the left presses outward).

Roll Back

This movement application does not follow the previous one. Here, Yoshi attacks with his left fist. I neutralize by rolling back.

Shift the weight back onto the left foot and, as you do, turn the torso to face the same direction as the rear toe (halfway between north and east).

The two arms move with the body to the left. The left hand revolves counterclockwise to end with the palm facing up by the left side of the waist. The right stays by the right shoulder. The palm turns to face to the left.

Focus on the left palm for sticking and the right forearm for pressing outward.

Note: Here again I use Lieh Jing to control the opponent’s arm.

Press

I send Gee Jing (Press energy) into Yoshi.

Shift the weight back onto the right foot and as you do, turn the torso until the nose points to the right knee.

The left hand circles up to end by the left side of the chest. The right arm makes a round structure in front of the center of the chest with the palm facing inward. The left palm faces the right wrist/forearm.

Focus on the left palm and the back of the right wrist/forearm.

Note: Ghee Jing is the most powerful for striking. The two arms send a powerful force into the body of the opponent. When aimed downward, it hits the ground and bounces back up into the body. When done by a skilled practitioner, this force can really do internal damage.

Push

The opponent pushes inward. I neutralize his force and allow him to move too far forward for his comfort. His root is now in his forward toes.

Shift the weight straight back. Do not lean back. Take the energy of the opponent into your rear Kua for later release.

At the end of Press/transition into Push in the form, the two arms relax and move forward until the two palms face down. Then as the body shifts back, the two arms move with the body. The elbows relax somewhat, but do not let them get behind the body.

Focus on the two wrists for neutralizing.

I push Yoshi away.

Shift the weight back onto the right foot.

The two arms move with the body and extend slightly. Do not straighten the arms, or lock the elbows. The elbows need flexibility.

Focus on the two palms.

Note: Remember that it is really the legs that are pushing. The hands only make contact with the opponent. Also, in order to push easily, we first borrow the energy of the opponent by taking his pushing energy into our rear leg. He is then over extended, and most probably, out of his root.

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