TCM and Taijiquan's Starting Movement

Following on from the subject of the previous post regarding the requirements of the commencement  movement:  

Why is it emphasised that the starting stance be "feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly wrapped inward?”

From a functional/martial arts perspective, having the feet shoulder-width apart allows for easy movement forward and backward; wrapping the toes inward enables stability, allowing for roots to be established and force to generate from the ground.

As an internal martial art, Taijiquan incorporated some complex principles of TCM to optimise the body’s internal mechanisms besides health preservation. Its commencement or preparatory posture opens up the body's blood and qi circulation, allowing the six major meridians to be unblocked, thus preparing for the next step of training involving “shou yan shenfa bu” - hands, eyes, body method, foot work.

Incorporating a TCM perspective, standing with feet shoulder-width apart helps open the three yin meridians on the inner thighs: Zhu Taiyin ( spleen  meridian),  Zhu Shaoyin (kidney meridian) and  Zhu Jueyin (liver meridian).  The inner thighs stabilise the legs as they swing forward and backwards to walk and run. They are also critical for support and movement for lateral (side-to-side) movements.  For example, strong inner thighs are crucial for sports such as basketball, tennis, squash, horse riding etc.

"Toes slightly drawn inwards" opens the three yang meridians on the outer thighs: Zhu Taiyang (bladder meridian),  Zhu Shaoyang (gallbladder meridian), and Zhu Yangming (stomach meridian):  the proper flow of energy through the Zhu Taiyang  enables the muscles of the back to hold the body upright with ease. The Zhu Shaoyang meridian, translated as The Lesser Yang meridian, covers the largest area on the side of the legs, trunk, and head. When the energy is flowing properly through the meridian there is balance between movement and muscle tone in the front and back of the body. The subtle shift of the transfer of movement from front to back is responsible for balance, coordination, and the dynamic range of motion that is possible with the body.

(May 2024)