14. Transitions As Smooth As Silk

In this lecture, we’ll learn two new movements: turn body and kick with
heel, and needle at the bottom of the sea. In each movement, it’s important
to have all of your maneuvers flow into one another. Think about the idea
of the movements being as smooth as silk. All the movements may exist
separately, but to make a coherent whole, they need to flow like silk strands
being woven together.
Zhuǎn shēn yòu dēng jiǎo (“Turn Body and Kick with Heel”)
● The first movement we’re going to learn is called zhuǎn shēn yòu
dēng jiǎo, which in English means “turn body and kick with heel.”
● Bend the left knee and withdraw the foot, stepping across the
body to the right. Touch the toes of the left foot down on the same
east-west line as the right foot.
● Turn the waist to the right, rotating 180 degrees until you face the
northeast corner, pivoting on the toes of both feet as you go. The
arms maintain their position from the end of the last kick (extended
out 90 degrees to both sides) until the very end of the turn, when
they fold in and cross at the wrists chest high. The right wrist
should be on the bottom.
● Lift up the right knee, and then extend the leg and kick with the
heel to the east. Simultaneously extend both arms out. The right
arm goes to the east over the kicking leg, and the left arm goes
to the north at a 90-degree angle. Remember to keep both arms
rounded.
Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
● The next movement we’re going to learn in this
lecture is called “needle at the bottom of the
sea.”
● Bend the right knee and withdraw the foot. Step
the right foot back a full pace behind the left foot on
the same east-west line, and shift the weight to the
right foot to create an empty step. As you complete
the weight shift into the right foot, lift up the left
heel slightly.
● Turn the waist to the right so the torso faces the
southeast corner at a 45-degree angle. As the
waist turns, the left rounded arm accompanies
the turn, but doesn’t change position yet. The
right hand, however, drops and withdraws to
the right hip, palm up.
● Turn the waist slightly to the left and draw
the right hand up alongside the ribs.
Simultaneously press the left hand down in
front of the torso, withdrawing to the side
of the hip, with the palm down. Keep the
arm rounded.
● Sink the body down over the left
knee, and pierce down with the right
hand—fingers angling downward—
reaching out over the right foot.
The Takeaway
● The lesson you should take
from these movements is
that everything is kind
of like silk: It’s al strung together. When we make silk clothing, the strands become
threads, and the threads become cloth, and the cloth becomes
a suit.
● Every different movement and principle can be picked apart, but in
tai chi they must intertwine. The threads of all the movements, the
threads of the principles, and the threads of the energy and spirit
all weave together to make tai chi a whole cloth.
● Your life is exactly like that, too. Think about the threads of your
family, the threads of your occupation, and the threads of your
community. They may be picked apart, but to make a whole cloth
of life, you have to bring them all together and weave them into a
special suit.