Tai Chi is, well, it's complicated. However, I think that it gives me some semi-unique perspectives on movement.
One of the main points to develop in Tai Chi is fluidity, and for me, this has been a particularly interesting study.
For example, say that you begin in Position A, and need to end up in Position B. Even if you have a great instructor, he or she is not going to be able to describe to you every single detail and muscle movement that defines the motion between the two states.
This is where some basic principles come into play. Ultimately, the student needs to work out the most efficient or proper path.
Silk Reeling: This concept is very basic, and defines how to position your hands during motion. In brief, consider the tail of a kite as it flies through the air. The tail flows effortlessly behind the kite, no matter which direction the kite is flying. This is a basic visualisation of how the hands should generally move in tai chi (unless the posture specifies otherwise).
Smooth Curves: In general, there aren't straight lines in Tai Chi. In fact, there aren't straight lines in human motion. Motion is a sum of the motion of all of the axes involved, and Tai Chi very specifically makes use of this by combining rotation produced by the legs, hips, and spine, with various motions of the shoulders, elbows, hands. In the end, all of the motion is curved, or circular. From the very beginning of Tai Chi practice, focus is placed on flexibility and flow.
Motion from the Ground: The legs drive the hips, and the hips drive the upper body. The upper body is essentially relaxed, and this allows for incredibly fast motion. The arms essentially become like whips, and very small upper body muscular controls allow for a wide range of movement.
... more later...
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