Tai Chi Walking. Get into a bow stance with the back foot turned out and the front foot straight, with a 1 foot lateral distance between the heels. There are then 5 steps to start Tai Chi Walking:
1. Shift the weight back so that the front toes have no weight on them.
2. Turn the hips so that the front foot turns out.
3. Stand on the front foot and bring the back foot up.
4. Continue to bring the back foot forward and place the heel on the channel line.
5. Land the front straight and continue forward until the knee is aligned directly above the front toes.
Commencement is 2 full, slow breaths. Breathe in and balance on the right leg and step to the left. When the left toes touch, start your exhale. Next, the feet grab the ground a little, and Qi comes up through your legs, buoying up your arms to shoulder height as you inhale; then the body sinks and the arms follow as you exhale.
When Parting the Wild Horses Mane, the Tai Chi Walking steps are the footwork. To add the arms, if the left leg is forward, then the extend the left arm striaght out from the left shoulder, palm up. The right hand will be palm down, just in front of the right hip. Then, the following steps coincide with the Tai Chi Walk leg movements:
1. When shifting back the arms stay as is and simply go with the body moving back.
2. Arms turn over 180 degrees when the foot turns. (Arms do not go up and down.)
3. As simply as possible move the bottom hand under the top hand. (Holding the ball.)
4. Arms compress a tiny amount when the foot moves forward.
5. The bottom hand moves up and out and the top hand presses down (they do not rotate).
White Crane Spreads Wings is what is called a “half-step” move. This means that, directly following the previous move, the weight continues onto the front leg and then the back foot moves diagonally half-way towards the front foot, effectively creating a half channel.
White Crane Spreads Wings
1. Twist to the left and turn the left palm down and the right arm scoops under the left.
2. Take the half-step with the back foot.
3. Shift the weight to the right leg while the right arm comes up quickly as high as it can reach without the shoulder coming up. Left arm and hand stays up and moves right with the body. As this happens the front heel comes up. Do not straighten the right leg.
4. Keep the weight on the back leg and turn the body a little left. The left arm goes back left and angles down to the side with fingers pointing forward.
Transition to, and first Brush Knee and Push
1. Keep turning the body to the left a little; the right hand ends up in front of the forehead and the left hand simply rotates to face it.
2. Start turning the right and drop the right arm to the waist while swinging the left arm up and past the face. Bring left leg in.
3. Continue motion until arms are out to the side with the right palm up to ear height with arm in line with shoulders and the left arm circling until it is in front of the chest, palm down.
4. Step out with the left foot while pulling the right arm in with palm in front of the ear.
5. Push with the right arm and continue to circle with the left arm, brushing by the left knee.
Brush Knee and Push
1. Pull back to take the weight off the front toes.
2. Turn the body out and pivot the front foot on the heel and turn the hands.
3. Continue motion until arms are out to the side with the lower, outer palm up to ear height with arm in line with shoulders and the front arm circling until it is in front of the chest, palm down. Front foot has now become the back foot with all the weight on it. Bring back foot halfway up as it is becoming the front foot,
4. Step out with the front foot while pulling the right arm in with palm in front of the ear.
5. Push with the back arm and continue to circle with the front arm, brushing by the front knee.
Playing the Lute
1. Continue pushing forward with right arm and right side of body until back heel comes up.
2. Take a half-step.
3. Pull back on right side so that the body pivots to the right. Right arm turns so that palm faces left. Bring all of the weight back so that left side is free.
4. Left arm and leg come up.
5. Settle so that left heel touches down and both wrists “sit”. Left fingertips are nose height and crook of right thumb and forefinger are level with crook of inside of left elbow.