Sleeping Dragon

Sleeping Dragon combines the “Thirteen Movements” of traditional Chinese martial arts.  This form comes to us from my studies in Taiji Chuan with Sifu Lily Qin.  The animal movement of Gun Fu has long incorporated these concepts into the foundation skills.  This sequence provides opportunity to focus only on the essential thirteen, and therein lies its value,.

Please DonateIn China, it is taught and believed to this very day these movements represent the true integral nature of all movement.    These moves parallel the evolution of Chinese culture, and its myriad fighting arts.  They are immediately recognizable in arts such as Taiji Chuan, Xing Yi and Ba Gua.  Elsewhere, their influence resonates just the same, whether recognized and understood, or not.  Herein lie the roots of everything internal.  When these movements are understood, all doors are open. 

Ba Men (The 8 Gates) - 8 Fundamental Techniques of Taiji

(Combined techniques and directional movements are sometimes referred to as the Shi(2) San(1) Shi(4), or the 13 items)

Name

Tone

Pronunciation

Definition

Peng

3

pengh

Wardoff.  Number 1 or the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.  Bounces incoming energy back in the direction from which it came.  Denotes strength, power, boundless energy, like inflated ball.

Lu

4

leeooh (or lyu)

Roll back.  Number 2 or the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.  Softness, yielding.  Control/capture incoming attack, offset balance.  Allow opponent to enter, and rotate with his force.

Ji

3

gee (like gee whiz)

Press.  First stick to your opponent, then press before he/she has opportunity to move or adjust.  Like a coin bouncing off the surface of a drum.  Like water penetrating a rock throught a fault in its surface.  Number 3 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques. 

An

4

anh

Push.  The arms and body should move as a single unit.  Number 4 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.

Cai

3

tsai

Pluck. Sometimes referred to as press (as in press down).  Needle at sea bottom.  Bring opponent’s force downward.  Number 5 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques. 

Lie

4

leeyeah

Split or Tear/Rend.  Using opposing forces to off balance an opponent.  This is Number 6 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.

Zhou

3

jou (or joe)

Elbow strike.  Number 7 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques. 

Kao

4

cow

Bump (with the shoulder).  Number 8 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.  In fact, the bump can be with the shoulder, hip, thigh, back, leg, any body part.

Wu Xiang (5 Directions) - The Five Fundamental Directional Movements of Taiji

Jin Bu

1,4

gin boo

Step forward.  Number 1 of the 5 fundamental movements of Taiji.

Tui Bu

4,4

tweigh boo

Step backward.  Number 2 of the 5 fundamental movements of Taiji.

Zuo Gu

3,4

dswaugh goo

Step to the left.  Beware of the left.  Number 3 of the 5 fundamental movements of Taiji.

You Pan

4.4

yoh panh

Right Look.  Look to your right.  "Beware of the Right", after moving to the left.  Number 4 of the 5 fundamental movements of Taiji.

Zhong Ding

1,1

joong ding

Middle spot.  Central Equilibrium.  Number 5 of the 5 fundamental movements of Taiji.

Sleeping Dragon

 

 

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