Taijiquan's Three Axes

One of the most basic requirements that Taijiquan players must be aware of is the three axes that support and balance the body when standing - in the up and down direction, in the front and back direction and in the left and right direction.  These three dimensional supports are:

1. An up-down suspend and pull that is created by “ lifting the top”; through the actions of the toes gripping the ground and the mingmen and navel forming a central plate from which the upper and lower parts are “pulled” apart. 

2. A front-back spring load that is created by the actions of drawing in the kua and containing the buttocks;  enabling the pelvis to tilt down and the muscles to be stretched to the right tautness.

3. A left-right complementary opposing force that is created by the action of wrapping the knees and rounding the crotch; the lower part of the legs rotate inwards to allow the knees to wrap and fix, whilst the upper part brace outwards to round the crotch.  

In this way, the body possesses a contradictory yet unified control force in the upper-lower, forward-backward and left-right dimensions.

Four Fundamental Rules

Four fundamental rules of Taijiquan movements are: "With every turning there must be sinking; With every sinking there must be leading; With every rising there must be falling and; With every settling there must be closing”. 

“With every turning there must be sinking”:  Turning refers to transformation, which should include two aspects: one aspect is the transformation of pace, the other aspect is the change of the centre of gravity. Sinking involves loosening (song), letting go of the tension of the hips so that the body drops. Loosening is the action and sinking is the result.  The purpose is so that power can be generated from the ground, which is a fundamental requirement.  All the power source of Taijiquan practice comes from "pushing off the ground", from which the so-called "crotch strength" (dang jin) develops.  Depending on the direction of the waist, crotch actions either take a “downward arc” or a “downward back arc”.

"With every sinking there must be leading”:  Sinking in this case refers to dropping the waist and hips or relaxing the whole body.  “Leading”  (ling) refers to the hands. As the body sinks the hand must lead (upwards) instead of being allowed to drop. The position of the leading hand is not actually moving the hand, but the hand staying up as the body drops.

“With every rising there must be falling”:  the concept is applied in multiple ways  e.g. with every up there must be down;  with every forward there must be backward etc. The concept facilitates and maintains lower plane stability and should be executed throughout the form. For example, whenever a knee is raised the waist and buttocks drop as the kua relax and the leg rotates downwards into the ground.  The opposing energetic strength stabilises the centre of gravity and the stances will not be erratic and energy will not drift and float.

"With every settling there must be closing": can also be understood as "everything must be brought together". There is an obvious settling at the end of each posture that brings into play all the above requirements. The settling facilitates the commencement of the next posture and ensures the link is smooth and everything is in its optimum place. This is important in the process of unbroken intention, continuous strength, and connected postures.