SEQUENCE:Commencement of the whole series is repeated 1 time in the form.

POSTURE: Traditionally first seen as posture number 1 in the Long Form it is also translated as Beginning, Qǐ shì 起式.  See video 001.  This sequence follows ‘Preparation’ and is performed with 3 breaths.

IN BREATH 1: With the heels close together find a bouncy springy sensation in both legs.  Move your centre of gravity so that you flex or sink down into the spring of the left leg.  Let the right knee float up.  The thumbs turn outwards rotating the palms towards the body.  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 the first awareness of movement and separation.  A change from feeling the bouncy springy sensation in both legs to feeling it clearly in one defined leg.  

ROOT: This is perhaps the most pivotal movement in the Tai Chi form but often overlooked in the desire to ‘get into’ the main body of the practice.  Here we move from a state of stillness or Wu Chi into experiencing the physical sensation or manifestation of opposites Tai Chi.  We feel the force of gravity in the bouncy springy sensation of the left leg.  At the same time the right leg becomes free to float upwards.  The left leg is said to be ‘full’ or ‘Yang’ while the right leg is referred to as ‘empty’ or ‘Yin’.  However, these are not Western mutually exclusive opposites but should be understood from the Eastern concept of mutually inclusive and dynamic opposites encapsulated in the yin yang symbol.

OUT BREATH 1: Step to the side placing the right heel on the floor.  Turn the right foot in on the heel and place the foot down transferring the bouncy springy sensation to the right leg.  The thumbs turn inward rotating the palms 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: ‘Brush the Grass Away’.  The Embodied Tai Chi soft intention can be thought of as stepping through a field of waist high grass.  The rotating palms flex the elbows outward brushing the grass aside with your forearms.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and may be seen as a way to break free from an arm lock applied from your rear.  The spiralling arms disrupt a hold with the same effort as brushing grass stems aside.

IN BREATH 2: ‘Lift Yourself off the IKEA Sofa’.  Let go of all intention and flexing.  Lift the left toes off the ground and turn the left foot clockwise pivoting on the heel.  Place the left foot down sensing the bouncy springy sensation is in both legs.  At the same time press down and away from the body with the heel of the palms.  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 the hands lifting you up from a seated position like a low sofa or bed.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as a strike behind with the heel of the hand. 

OUT BREATH 2: ‘Hands Float Up’.  Let go of all flexing.  Keeping the bouncy springy sensation in both legs let the backs of the wrists float upwards.  The thumbs turn outwards rotating the palms in.  The upward movement of the hands must stop before the shoulders start to lift.  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 balloons tied to each wrist floating upward lifting the hands.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied perhaps to a deflection away.

IN BREATH 3:  Let go of all intention and flexing.  Keep the bouncy springy sensation in both legs.  Lift the fingers turning the thumbs inward so the palms of each hand draw back and face forward.  Then lower the hands and continue to turn the thumbs inwards rotating the palms so they press down and away from the body with the heel of the palms.  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 rolling the hands back over a barrel then pressing down as though lifting you up from a seated position like a low sofa or bed.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as a strike behind with the heel of the hand. 

OUT BREATH 3: ’Shoo the Cat off the Sofa’ and ‘Hands Move Like Windscreen Wipers’.  Let go of all flexing.  Relax the hands turning the right thumb outward and the left thumb inward flexing the arms and rotating the back of the hands to face diagonally to your right.  Lift the hands away to your right keeping the flex in the arms. Stop before the shoulders lift.  The elbows remain in that position as the hands circle anticlockwise away from the body.  The right thumb stops in front of the face and the left hand stops facing away off to the right side of the body around chest height so both the palms to face to your left.  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 starting with gently shooing a pet off the sofa with the backs of the hands.  The hands then move across the front of the body like a vehicle windscreen wipers or perhaps swatting away small insects.  The martial application must be applied with compassion and would be applied as sweep or block to the right then a deflection or strike to the left.