July 1986

Talking mainly to the junior members of the class, she emphasised the need to “stretch in full”.

The stages of learning Tai Ji are:
The Form (the mechanical part)
Getting the Form Flowing
Stretching in Full.

When stretching, usually on the outbreath, the arms should be relaxed. “Strength spreads to the fingertips” is an old saying with many interpretations, but note that the fingers are weaker if the arm is tense: the arm has to relax for the fingers to be strong. Also, practicing internal martial arts will build up the muscles of the legs much more than the muscles of the arms: when “stretching in full”, you should also sink down more and open your arch more.

Miss Li still tends to emphasise the teaching of the form and the correct movement of the muscles. Qi will circulate of its own accord and does not need to be forced. When you feel it circulating it will not be dramatic: not like a wind blowing round your body. It is more that you will be able to tell which areas are blocked and where the qi is not flowing. She commented in this connection that at the higher levels Tai Ji is a very beneficial form of exercise, but left that vague ... “as you will discover” ...

35 minutes is a good time to take for the long form; 40-45 minutes is very good for more advanced levels.