SEQUENCE: Close the Door is repeated 1 time and marks the completion of each of the three parts of the Yang Family long form.

POSTURE: Traditionally first seen as posture number 13 in the Long Form.  Close the Door is also translated as Cross Hands, Shí zì shǒu 十字手.  This sequence follows ‘Step Up Press Down, Parry and Punch Sequence’.  See video 010.  Close the Door is performed with 2 breaths;

IN BREATH 1: ’Push to the Corner’.  Let go of all intention and flexing relaxing the fingers of the left hand.  Let go of the fist turning the right thumb outward rotating the right palm to face up as you lift the right hand so that it is above the left hand. Turn the waist clockwise transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the right leg.  The waist turns the hips and shoulders drawing the right hand back across the top of the stationary left wrist.  The right hand fingers lift as the right thumb turns inward rotating the palm of the hand to face away.  The left hand fingers lift as the left thumb turns inward rotating the palm of the hand to face away.  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 turning away to the side or corner.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied deflection away with both hands.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the left hand and right leg.

OUT BREATH 1: ‘Shut the Door’.  Let go of all flexing relaxing the wrists.  Turn the waist anticlockwise transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the left leg.  At the same time the fingers lift with thumbs of both hands turn inward rotating the palms to face away.  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 pushing a door with your hands through the movement of your body forward.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as a push with both hands. The cross lateral action / intension is through the right hand and left leg.  ROOT: Although shut the door is a push an the upward raise is less obvious.  As the thumbs turning rotate the palms, elbows, shoulders and shoulder blades the spiralling effect or chan ssu chin 缠丝劲 movement creates a lifting in the base of the palms.

IN BREATH 2: Retaining the flex in both arms. Lift the toes off the ground in the left foot rocking back on the left heel allowing a bouncy springy sensation to transfer to the right leg.  Turn the left foot clockwise pivoting on the heel turning the hips and shoulders.  Place the left foot down allowing a bouncy springy sensation to transfer to the left leg. 

Move your centre of gravity over the left leg allow a flexing or sinking down into the leg.  Lift the right knee and step back placing the right foot parallel with the left foot.  The distance between the feet should allow your best bouncy springy sensation to remain in the left leg.  At the same time turn both thumbs outward rotating the palms toward each other while circling the hands out and down.  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 running the palms of the hands around a large ball scooping or collecting up a bunch of long stemmed flowers in your forearms.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as catching and deflecting.  ROOT: Here the ‘Roll Back movement of lui is less obvious.  It’s ‘Receiving’ action becomes a turning, circling stepping back with a less obvious association with the directing down element EARTH.

OUT BREATH 2: ‘Cross Hands’.  Let go of all flexing.  Move your centre of gravity to allow a bouncy springy sensation to transfer to the right leg.  At the same time let the hands continue their circling motion floating up as you turn the thumbs of both hands further outward rotating the palms to face up.  The left hand circles up closest to your body while the right hand circles up further away coming to rest as they cross.  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 lifting with the hands.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as a lifting uprooting movement.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the left hand and right leg.  ROOT: Cross Hands may be associated with a vertical application of an   ‘Upward Raise’ ‘Push’.  It may also be possible to include the element of FIRE as the upward circling palms burst up like flames.