SEQUENCE: Step Up Press Down, Parry and Punch is repeated 1 time in the form.

POSTURE: Traditionally first seen as posture number 11 in the Long Form.  Step Up Press Down, Parry and Punch is also translated as Step Forward, Parry, Block, and Punch, Jìn bù bān lán chuí 进步搬拦捶.  This sequence follows ‘Brush Knee and Press Sequence’.  See video 009.  Step Up Press Down, Parry and Punch is performed with 2 breaths;

IN BREATH 1: ‘Point the Fist at the Tea Cup’.  Let go of all intention and flexing.  Lift the toes off the ground on the left foot rocking back on the left heel and transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the right leg.  Turn the left foot anticlockwise turning the hips and shoulders to your left.  At the same time the left hand floats up as the left thumb turns outward rotating the palm to face up.

Roll the left foot down to the floor transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the left leg.  At the same time make a gentle fist with the right hand pointing it at the left hand.  Then move your centre of gravity over the left foot and raise the right knee.  When the hands are in the correct position this movement has the sensation of the shoulders flexing forward opening the shoulder blades.

INTENTION: The Tai Chi soft intention was once thought of as balancing a tea cup and saucer in the palm of the left hand.  However, an embodied interoceptive sensing understanding does not require the left palm to be facing completely upwards.  It is sufficient to rotate the palm so that the left shoulder blade is felt to flex open.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the right hand and left leg.

OUT BREATH 1: ‘Step Down and Press Down’.  Let go of all flexing.  Step down placing the right heel on the floor.  Turn the right foot clockwise turning the hips and shoulders so that the left palm and the back of the right fist turn away from the body.  Then roll the right foot down to the floor transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the right leg.  At the same time the thumbs of both hands turn outward rotating the left palm and back of the right fist to face down.  When the hands are in the correct position this movement has the sensation of flexing the shoulders back closing the shoulder blades opening the chest.

INTENTION: The Embodied Tai Chi soft intention can be thought of as pressing down with the palm of the left hand by sinking the body rather than moving the arm.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied a strike with the back of the fist followed by a push with the left hand.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the left hand and right leg.  ROOT: ‘Step Down and Press Down’ may be interpreted as a vertical application of chai.  Here the ‘Press’ is down rather than forward.  The element WATER suggests unseen depths implemented by the ‘Press’ ‘Hidden’ behind the circling right fist.

IN BREATH 2: ‘Feed the Birds’.  Let go of all intention and flexing including releasing the right fist.  Move your centre of gravity over the right foot allowing a flexing or sinking down into the right leg.  The left foot and right hand circle forward away from the body.  Left toes touch the ground retaining the bouncy springy sensation in the right leg.  The left hand is palm up above the right hand which is palm down. 

The waist then turns clockwise turning the hips and shoulders drawing the right hand back across the top of the stationary left wrist.  At the same time the left thumb turns inward rotating the palm down and away.  The right thumb turns out rotating the palm to face up.

When the hands are in the correct position this movement has the sensation of the shoulders flexing forward opening the shoulder blades.

INTENTION: The Embodied Tai Chi soft intention can be thought of as holding the right palm out as though feeding a pet or birds.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the left hand and right leg.

OUT BREATH 2: ‘Gentle Punch’.  Let go of all flexing.  Again move your centre of gravity over the right foot allowing a flexing or sinking down into the right leg.  Make a gentle fist with the right hand and step diagonally forward placing your left heel down then rolling your foot to the floor transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the left leg.  The waist turns anticlockwise circling the right fist forward.  The thumb of the right fist turns out flexing the fist flexing the right arm.  The fingers of the left hand lift as the left thumb turns inward rotating the left palm to face the right wrist.  When the hands are in the correct position this movement has the sensation of flexing the shoulders back closing the shoulder blades opening the chest.

INTENTION: The Embodied Tai Chi soft intention can be thought of as holding a soft tissue or small animal (fluffy chick) compassionately or gently in the fist.  The fist is not used in the way of a conventional punch using the movement of the arm.  The front of the fist pushes using the circling movement of the waist while moving forward with the transfer of the bouncy springy sensation to the left leg. This push is focused with the flexing towards the right wrist by the left palm.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as a closed fist strike.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the right hand and left leg.  ROOT: Gentle Punch is associated with chai or ‘Press’ and the element WATER as the punch comes from behind, is ‘Hidden’ by the left hand.