Ep 22: Graham Barlow on the Tai Chi Classics. Part 1

In the latest episode of the Tai Chi Notebook podcast host Graham is left all on his own without a guest, so he’s decided to pick up a book and read it to you! He’s gone for The Tai Chi Classic, one of the core works which make up a collection known as The Tai Chi Classics. Graham goes through the text a paragraph at a time and gives his interpretation of what the classic is saying. We hope you enjoy! The Tai Chi Classic In motion, the whole body should be light and agile,with all parts linked as if threaded together. The chi should be activated,The mind should be internally gathered. The postures should be rounded and without defect,without deviations from the proper alignment;in motion, your form should be continuous, without stops and starts. The jin should berooted in the feet,generated from the legs,controlled by the waist, andexpressed through the fingers.  The feet, legs, and waist should act togetheras an integrated whole,so that while advancing or withdrawingone can take the opportunity for favorable timingand good position.If correct timing and position are not achieved,the body will become disorderedand will not move as an integrated whole;the correction for this defectmust be sought in the legs and waist. The principle of adjusting the legs and waistapplies for moving in all directions;upward or downward,advancing or withdrawing,left or right. All movements are motivated by Yi,not external form. If there is up, there is down;when advancing, have regard for withdrawing;when striking left, pay attention to the right. If the yi wants to move upward,it must simultaneously have intent downward. Alternating the force of pulling and pushingsevers an opponent’s rootso that he can be defeatedquickly and certainly. Full and emptyshould be clearly differentiated.At any place where there is emptiness,there must be fullness;Every place has both emptiness and fullness. The whole body should be threaded together through every jointwithout the slightest break. Long Boxing is like a great riverrolling on unceasingly. Peng, Lu, Ji, An,Tsai, Lieh, Zhou, and Kaoare equated to the Eight Trigrams. The first four are the cardinal directions;South; Heaven, North; Earth, West; Water, and East; Fire. The second four are the four corners:Southwest; Wind, Northeast; Thunder,Southeast; Lake, and Northwest; Mountain. Advance, Withdraw,Look Left, Look Right, andCentral Equilibrium are equated to the five elements:Metal,Wood,Water,Fire, andEarth Taken together, these are termed the Thirteen Postures