SEQUENCE: Grasp the sparrows Tail is repeated 1 time in the form.

POSTURE: Traditionally first seen as posture number 2 in the Long Form.  Grasp the Sparrows Tail is also translated as Grasp the Bird’s Tail, 揽雀尾 Lǎn què wěi.  While Grasp the Sparrows Tail is often grouped with the subsequent movements here we treat it as a distinct sequence.  See video 003.  This sequence follows ‘Stroke Peacocks Tail’.  This sequence is performed with 1 breath;

IN BREATH 1:  Let go of all intention and flexing.  Turn the waist clockwise sitting back on the left leg sinking down into its spring.  As you turn the waist your left thumb turns inwards rotating the palm of the hand away from your face.  The right hand floats up with the thumb turning outwards so the palms of the hands are level with each other fingers and arms flexed as though you are holding a ball in front of your face.  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 supporting a ball with gently flexed fingers in front of your face.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be a headlock.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the right hand and left leg.  ROOT: ‘Ball in front of your face’ can be related to the element EARTH and the trigram lui, Roll Back, Receiving calmly.

OUT BREATH 1: Let go of intention and flexing.  Allow your weight to momentarily flex the left leg so you can step diagonally forwards.  Place your right heel down then roll the foot to the floor transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the right leg.  The right thumb turns out rotating the palm to face up.  The left thumb turns in rotating the palm to face down with the fingers just above 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 a small bird sitting in the palm of the right hand with its tail feathers resting on the upturned back of the wrist.  The fingers of the left hand are gently pressing on the tail feathers with just enough pressure to stop the bird flying away.  Focused intention using compassion rather than force in order to not harm the small bird.  Another interpretation is found in the story of a Tai Chi Master who would get a bird to land on his hand.  Every time the bird tried to fly away the Master could sense its movement and drop his hand so the bird could not take flight.  Therefore from a martial perspective Grasp the Sparrows Tail can be thought of as developing a controlling neurodynamic sensitivity through the hands.  The cross lateral action / intension is through the left hand and right leg.