February 1980

Do not straighten the leg at any stage, keep the angle of the knee bend and lift the front of the foot off the floor if necessary.

In drawing back the fist before forward punch, let there be an expansion of energy between the legs: not by a crude movement of all the weight onto the back foot, but at a more subtle level - at the level of breathing - and also by a very slight forward movement of the hips and erect spine. Miss Li said I have this a bit, but in going too far too soon I am curving my upper spine forward too much.

"Kai-he", opening and closing, is the expansion and contraction of the shoulders, not alternating regularly like the breath, but depending on which particular form you are in. Thus in some cases there is expansion-expansion-expansion, while in others there is repeated contraction.

Imagine a connection between the two hands: to move in harmony imagine they are connected by a fine thread which you do not wish to break, so you have to move slowly and steadily, and be aware of the full stretch. Some teachers would say to look at this thread between the hands: this is not wrong, but Miss Li prefers to look over the top of it, so as to begin to develop an open and unconcerned attitude, which she feels is more meditative.

Developing power is not through external muscle strength, but through the power of correct movement. Power is the result of being aware of the three movements of the legs and the four directions of the arms and hands:

a) legs forward step, as in brush knee
b) knees and legs equally apart, as in wide arch
c) one knee a bit more out than the other, as in many other postures

a) hands push forward
b) push down
c) push up
d) push sideways

As we develop a constant awareness of these movements, our body will develop power.

In Tai Ji the energy is never extended outwards (as in Xing Yi), but rather flows like a tide: out to the limit of a stretch, then back to the centre point. Always flowing in and out.

The more advanced the Tai Ji, the lower and slower it will become. But, as it gets lower and slower, we must be careful not to let the flow stop, either because we are trying to be slow and consequently jerking or pausing, or because bending our knees too much makes our legs less mobile. Miss Li said she usually takes 40 to 45 minutes to do the full long form herself.