First look to the feet...

In Taijiquan, there is a saying: "Look first at the feet, then look at the hands”. 

Footwork is considered the foundation and precursor of Taijiquan proficiency.  Most people are concerned about the hand placements and often overlook the importance of foot placements.

Taijiquan emphasises that power is initiated from the heels, through the legs, controlled in the waist, expressed in the hands.  From the feet through to the hands,  the upper and lower parts are coordinated and completed with unbroken momentum (in one breath or one qi as often explained). The integrity of the lower plane determines the upper plane, therefore only if the  footwork is correct then body method is right. If foundation is unstable it is likened to the earth shaking the mountain that sits above it. Therefore, it is very important to strengthen the gongfu of the legs (feet) and pay attention to Taijiquan footwork .

So how to practise footwork? 

To begin, understand the different stances and steps, for example, horse stance, bow stance, T-shaped stance, empty stance, crouching stance, single-leg stance, forward steps, backward steps, horizontal step, oblique step, follow step, cover step etc. Be precise with each during training and not glance over them with an approximation.  Also build a good foundation by strengthening the legs and their capabilities to weight bear,  support and stabilise (through standing pole or single movement training) as well as increasing flexibility and pliancy.