The Two Positions

There are 2 basic positions in tai chi, the 100% position and the so-called 70/30 position. Although the form is made up of continuous movements, it is the continuous flowing together of only the 2 basic postures. The comments below are overly simplistic, but a good starting place.

The 100% Position
All of the weight is in one leg. This may be practiced by sitting down into one leg, remembering ALL of the principles, and allowing the other leg to be so empty (but heavy) that it can float up off the ground without ANY movement in the rest of the body. Be sure that you are careful NOT to twist or torque the knee in any direction. It must only hinge.(see taiji and knees)

The 70/30 Position
Conceptually this stance is far more difficult to understand, since the weight is distributed 70% in the front leg and 30% in the back leg, BUT the function is 100% differentiated.

• The 70/30 position is sometimes referred to as the archer's stance.
• To get into this position, start with feet shoulder distance and truly parallel.
• Turn one foot out 45 degrees, transfer the weight into this foot.
• The other foot steps directly in front of itself, heel where to toe was, so that shoulder distance is maintained.
• Be sure that the front foot points exactly forward.
• Transfer the weight into the front foot, being VERY careful that the knee is brought directly over the toe, and not beyond.
• Now fold the front hip and do NOT twist the spine. The nose and navel are to point the same direction as the knee and the toe.
• Be sure that the front leg is fully responsible for the support of the body and that back leg just hangs empty from the hip.

Now, check the principles: are you relaxed...sit down into the front foot. Is the body up-right...check the sacrum, should be relaxed and sinking, due to that 10,000 pound weight. Are you differentiated? This is the complicated part if this position. Because the physical body is arranged so that the knee is over the toe, the weight distribution is 70% in the front and 30% in the rear. But, the function is fully differentiated. The rear leg is to be empty and the front is to be full, and the front leg, although it may have only 70% of the weight, is never-the-less fully responsible for supporting the body!

• Qi avoids strength. Therefore, the smooth flowing of qi requires that you be completely relaxed, letting go of force.
• Qi follows the mind. The postures happen first in the mind, then in the body. As the postures become more known "at a cellular level", the qi will follow the mind intent and fill out the postures.

Practice of tai chi helps cultivate qi.

"Allow your mind to keep company with your qi in dan tian."(your center just below the navel, about 3/7 from front to back.)

And...........an absolutely essential aspect of tai chi practice must always be:

USE MIND NOT STRENGTH.

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