Tai Chi Long Form - Brush Knee and Twist Step

1 July 2024 Brush Knee and Twist Step

  Turn your waist to the left. Keeping your arms and torso linked, let your arms rotate left at the same time. Both of your arms will be moving in fairly big circles; your left arm is making a clockwise circle, your right moves counterclockwise. Your goal is to interweave those two circles in front of your body as your waist is turning left and right. Note that neither hand moves through a complete 360 degrees. Your left hand will conclude its circle approximately two fists distance from your right armpit, your right hand will finish approximately two fists distance from your right ear, with the palm facing forward. This entire motion can be thought of as a transition – allowing you to execute Brush Knee. Step forward into a 60/40 stance with your left foot while simultaneously pushing forward and slightly down with your right palm. Your left hand, fingers forward and palm down, moves to the left and down in a sweeping motion to your left side. Your left hand completes its motion at your left hip about one fist distance to the left of and in front of your left hip flexors.

From Boonchai

“Step left push right. Brush Knee Twist Step. Again. Push from the ear, don’t push from the shoulder. If you push from the shoulder you have to bend your elbow to the maximum that’s not tai chi. A little room – a little black in the white. Again. Switch hands left. Don’t lean back. Lift toes up, don’t lean back turn to toes out 45 degrees. Look far through the fingers. Never push higher than shoulder. Straight. Towards the middle. Never push straight like this. Not in front of the shoulders. Again. Doesn’t matter if it’s complicated or not try to get used to. Don’t shift after you finish. Once you finish don’t shift. Just let it be there.”