Materials for Course Participants
This page contains links to handouts and videos from the 2021 Taijiquan Core Principles Master Class (Level Two) on ZOOM
Taijiquan Core Principles are descriptions of the essential criteria for practice based on natural laws governing human structure, movement, and function. They are trainable concepts meant to be integrated into any and all taijiquan solo and partner practices. Core-principles exercises can be used in form-practice sessions as warmups or they can be trained independently. One’s experience of the art is enhanced when one practices according to taijiquan core principles.
Session One (Sept 11/21)
Structure and Alignment
In this first session, we look at four topics:
1. The three outer harmonies
2. The three inner harmonies
3. Opening and rising
4. Closing and sinking
Click to download reference material
Taijiquan Core Principles Master Class: Level Two, Session One
In the recording of this lesson there were latency problems which, unfortunately, distort the image and audio/video synchronization.
It is possible, however, to follow the physical demonstrations.
Session Two (Sept 25/21)
The Five Stance-phases
1. The five stance-phases
2. Forward and back: ‘advance step’ and ‘retreat step’
3. Side to side: ‘left-side gaze’ and ‘right-side look’
4. The centre: ‘centre settle’
5. Primary stance review and 'half horse stance'
6. Secondary stance review and 'squatting stance'
Click to download reference material
Taijiquan Core Principles Master Class: Level Two, Session Two
Session Three (Oct 9/21)
The Wuxing and Bagua
1. Correlative thinking
2. The thirteen powers
3. Wuxing—the five 'elements'
4. Bagua—the eight 'trigrams'
Taijiquan Core Principles Master Class: Level Two, Session Three
Session Four (Oct 23/21)
The Eight Energies
1. Classical philosophy as taijiquan grammar
2. The Primary Squares: Peng and An
3. The Secondary Squares: Ji and Lü
4. The Forward corners: Zhou and Kao
5. The Backward corners: Cai and Lie
6. The Forward path and the Backward path
7. Buzheng
Taijiquan Core Principles Master Class: Level Two, Session Four
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