In general, the basic techniques of Tai Chi include: peng, lu, ji, an, cai, ba, zhou, kao, fen, yun, tui, lou and other hand techniques, zai, ban, lan, pie, da and other fist techniques, deng, fen, pai, bailian and other leg techniques, jinbu, tuibing, bianxingbu and other foot techniques, wuji, kaihe, jiangsheng, xubu and other stance techniques. These methods constitute the basic skills of Tai Chi training. Practicing the basic skills of Tai Chi can make Tai Chi techniques develop more comprehensively, improve the standardization of movement specifications, and lay a solid foundation for further learning Tai Chi routines.

Basic techniques

(I) Hand shape

  1. Fist: curl the five fingers and hold them together naturally. Don’t hold them too tightly. Use force naturally and stretch them.
  2. Palm: stretch the five fingers naturally and slightly apart, make the tiger’s mouth round, and concave the palm.
  3. Hook: pinch the first knuckles of the five fingers naturally and bend the wrist.

(II) Techniques

  1. Peng: bend the arms into an arc, place them horizontally in front of the body with the elbows hanging down, palms facing inwards, higher than the shoulder level, and the force reaches the outside of the forearms.
  2. Lu: bend the two arms slightly, with the palms facing each other diagonally, and swing the two palms from front to back in an arc to the front of the abdomen.
  3. Ji: bend one arm in front of the chest, and put the other hand close to the inner side of the wrist of the bent arm, with the palm facing forward, and push both arms forward at the same time, with both arms in a circle, not higher than the shoulders, and the force reaches the forearms.
  4. An: bend the two arms and then extend them, push and press the two hands in an arc from back to front, sink the wrists and relax the fingers, with the palms facing forward, not higher than the shoulders, and the force reaches both palms.
  5. Punch: The fist is rotated inward from the waist and punched forward, and the force reaches the fist surface. The fist eye is facing up for a vertical fist, and the fist palm is facing down for a flat fist.
  6. Zai Quan: Punch from top to bottom, with the fist surface diagonally downward, and the force reaches the fist surface.
  7. piercing fist: punch horizontally from the side to the upper side, with the arm slightly bent, the palm of the fist facing downward, and the force reaching the fist.
  8. slanting fist: punch from the upper side to the front, with the palm of the fist facing upward, at the same height as the head, and the force reaching the back of the fist.
  9. split palm: the two hands are separated from the embrace to the front and back or left and right, with the arms slightly bent.
  10. hugging hand: one palm is hugged horizontally from the front of the abdomen through the knees to the outside, with the palm facing down.
  11. pushing palm: push the palm forward from the shoulder or chest, relax the elbow and bend it slightly, the palm facing forward, and the fingertips facing up.
  12. piercing palm: extend the palm along the other arm or the inner thigh, with the fingertips facing forward.
  13. cloud hand: the two palms are in front of the body, and they cross from the inside to the outside and upward to draw a circle, not lower than the crotch, and not higher than the head.
  14. holding palm: bend the arm and raise it, hold the palm above the forehead, and the palm facing outward.
  15. Supporting the palms: Support the palms up and down or left and right, and apply force symmetrically.
  16. Pressing the palms: Thumbs facing inward, palms facing down, press horizontally.
  17. Supporting the palms: Palms facing up, lift from bottom to top.
  18. Lifting the palms: Transition from fingertips forward to fingertips facing up, sideways palms lift from bottom to top, high as eyebrows.

(III) Step type

  1. Bow step: Spread the feet forward and back, bend the front leg, thigh tilted to the ground, toes forward, knee and toes facing up, back leg naturally straightened, toes tilted forward, whole foot on the ground.
  2. Empty step: bend the back leg knees and half squat, toes tilted forward, whole foot on the ground, bend the front leg slightly, and touch the ground with the front foot or heel.
  3. Bow step: bend one leg knees and squat, whole foot on the ground, toes outward; the other leg naturally straightened to the side of the body, toes inward, whole foot on the ground.
  4. Half horse stance: the front foot is straight forward and slightly inward, the back foot is horizontal and outward, the two feet are about three foot lengths apart, and the whole foot is on the ground. The two legs are bent and squatted, the thighs are higher than horizontal, and the center of gravity is biased towards the back leg.
  5. Resting step: the two legs are crossed and squatted, front and back overlapped, the front foot is on the ground, the toes are spread out, and the back heel is raised.
  6. Ding step: the two legs are half squatted and put together, one foot is on the ground for support, and the other foot is on the inside of the supporting leg with the sole of the foot.

(IV) Steps

  1. Step forward: the back foot passes the inside of the front foot (supporting foot) and steps forward.
  2. Step back: the front foot passes the inside of the back foot (supporting foot) and takes a step back.
  3. Follow step: the back foot follows half a step forward, but does not cross the front foot.
  4. Side step: the two feet are parallel and move sideways continuously.
  5. Swinging step: Step forward and land with the toes outward, forming an outward eight-shaped shape with the back foot.
  6. Buckling step: Step forward and land with the toes inward, forming an inward eight-shaped shape with the back foot.
  7. Rolling foot: Rotate with the heel or sole as the axis.

(V) Leg technique

  1. Split foot: Stand firmly with the supporting leg slightly bent, lift the other leg with the knee bent, then swing the calf upward, straighten the leg, stretch the foot flat, and raise it above the waist.
  2. Push foot: Stand firmly with the supporting leg slightly bent. Lift the other leg with the knee bent, swing the calf upward, hook the toes back, push out with the heel, and raise the foot above the waist.

(VI) Body shape

  1. Head: Slightly have the intention of lifting up, do not tilt or sway, have a correct expression, look straight, close the mouth lightly, and press the tongue against the upper palate.
  2. Neck: Naturally upright, flexible in rotation, do not be stiff.
  3. Shoulders: straight, relaxed and sunken, do not shrug, buckle forward or lean back.
  4. Elbows: bend and sink naturally, avoid raising elbows or straightening arms.
  5. Wrists: sink and collapse, concentrate strength, do not be loose.
  6. Chest: relax and slightly contain, do not stick out or deliberately shrink in.
  7. Back: stretch and stretch, do not hunch.
  8. Waist: relax and sink downward, rotate flexibly, do not bend forward or push back.
  9. Spine: straight and upright, keep the body straight and natural.
  10. Buttocks: slightly retract inward, do not protrude outward.
  11. Hips: relax, contain, concentrate strength on the lower limbs, do not twist or push forward.
  12. Legs: stable and solid, bend appropriately, rotate lightly, move smoothly, knees are loose and natural, and the soles of the feet are clearly distinguished.

(VII) Body Technique

Keep the body straight and comfortable, rotate freely, not biased, naturally stable; use the waist as the axis to drive the limbs, follow up and down, and clearly distinguish between the real and the fake. Do not be stiff, soft, or fluctuate; the posture should be relaxed and generous, and complete.

(VIII) Eye Technique

Concentrate your mind and guide your thoughts. When you are in a fixed position, look straight ahead or look at your hands; when you change positions, coordinate your eyes with the hand techniques, footwork, and body techniques. Move with your eyes and be natural.