The Tai CHI Space

Learn the forty-two essential principles of Tai Chi & Qi Gong

About the Author
About the Artist
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Michael Mettner
Introduction
All Forms Are Not Created Equal
Myth Is an Image
Journey towards Unity
Through the Eyes of the Ancients
How Principles Are Presented
Three Stages for Embodying Internal Principles
Why Use Tai Chi Postures?
Visual Lexicon
Who Can Benefit from This Book?
Creating a Practice Microcosm
Part 1 Fundamental Principles: Nuts and Bolts
Principle   1: Cultivate the Arts
Separate and Combine
Cyclic Training
Principle 2: The Rule of Third
Principle 3: Become Sung
Principle 4: Build the Pyramid of Giza
11 Steps to Good Posture
Principle 5: Breathe with the Diaphragm
Principle 6: The Mind's Focus
Principle 7: Grow Your Root
Phase 1: Plant Your Feet and Sink Your Qi
Phase 2: Release Tension to Develop Your Root
Principle 8: Moving in Three-Dimensional Space
Principle 9: Arms Are Led by Hands and Wrists
Principle 10: Create Circular Motion
Principle 11: Water Doesn't Flow through a Kinked Hose
Principle 12: Shifting Weight Is Like Walking Upstairs
Principle 13: The Body Turns Like a Revolving Door
Principle 14: The Down Creates the Up
Principle 15: Move Like a Puppet on a String
Principle 16: Don't Play the Juggler
The Five Primary Principles
Part 2 Internal Principles for Connectivity and Flow
Principle 17: Warm Up Body and Mind
Beginning Form
Principle 18: The Body Operates Like the Powertrain of a Car
Peng (Ward Off)
Principle 19: Soften to Close, Release to Open
Lu (Roll Back) and Ji (Press)
Principle 20: The Body Makes Use of Anchors
An (Push)
Principle 21: Opposites Spread Open the Body
Single Whip
Principle 22: Grow Like a Tree
Lift Hands
Principle 23: The Six Connections
Shoulder Strike
Principle 24: Tune in to Heaven Above and Earth Below
White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Principle 25: Create Balanced Openings
Brush Knee
Principle 26: The Continuum of Empty versus Full
Play Guitar (Play the Lute)
Principle 27: All Body Parts Move Like a Swiss Clock
Step Forward, Parry and Punch
Principle 28: Balance Yin and Yang Energies
Apparent Close Up
Principle 29: The Body Moves in Circles
Cross Hands
Part 3 Deeper Principles for Fluidity and Energy Development
Principle 30: Generate Internal Momentum
Embrace the Tiger, Return to the Mountain
Principle 31: Turbine Power Eradicates Inertia
Fist under Elbow
Principle 32: Swing the Pendulum
Repulse Monkey
Principle 33: Spring the Five Bows
Slanted Flying
Principle 34: Unify the Yin Snake and the Yang Crane
White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Principle 35: Sinking Creates Rising
Needle at Sea Bottom and Fan through Back
Principle 36: Energy Moves Fluids, Fluids Nourish the Body
Turn and Chop with the Fist
Principle 37: Balance the Sphere
Lu and Ji
Principle 38: Become a Sandbag
Single Whip
Principle 39: Ride the Wave
Waving Hands Like Clouds
Principle 40: Moving into Stillness
Single Whip
Principle 41: Gather and Bank
Closing Form
Principle 42: Postures Link into Fluid Forms
Afterword
Blood and Qi Are Inseparable
The Fabric of the Internal Arts
Practicalities
To Advance, First Retreat
Moving towards the Tai Chi Space
References