Song

The word „song“ is often translated as “relaxed”. However, with regard to Taijiquan this translation is not sufficient. The quality of song is one of the most important aspects, and therefore needs to be understood and practised. Song can be described as a combination of calmness, being clear-minded and relaxed, free from disturbing thoughts, being able to focus on the inner self as well as on the outside world. The body may be imagined to be held upright be a tiny silk string, allowing it to expand in all directions at the same time. The attributes of song are not be mistaken for slackness or limpness. The song’s deep relaxation forms the basis for an unhindered flowing of the energy which moves the body without using external strength.

Rooting

The assumption for rooting is the correct positioning of the legs in all postures. This means to be able to hold a "sitting" posture during the whole movement. While sinking, the bottom is slightly opened outwards so that the spine can be stretched naturally. The horse stand (mabu) and the bow stand (zhengbu or gongbu) with their parallel direction are mostly used for positions in Chen Style taijiquan. Another important point is to fold the hips. If they are stretched, it will be impossible to hold a sitting position and it is also loosing its functionality. Avoiding high positions, the stretching of the knees an the turning the waist to much. Most positions have an alignment to the side with the hips in the centreline. While stepping in another position, don´t slide the feet, move them easy and naturally relaxed from heel to tip. The step is like a bow, it´s starting by an active hip movement and it´s ending by a slight unroll of the feet.

Fullness and roundness

Full and round belong together. To be full but not round leads to stiff movements and straight lines. To be round but not full doesn´t opens the body. Both together will open the joints, stretch slightly the muscles and tendons and they will optimise the flow of qi and blood. Then there will be bows everywhere in the body, like if the legs, arms and waist are holding a big ball witch can be stretched endlessly.

To hold the feeling of full and round during the change of all movements is a big challenge and can´t be done without the right attention. Roundness belongs to the kind and direction of the arm and leg movement. When the body moves, the round movements of the arms and legs can produce a spiralling feeling.

Chen Xin (1849-1929), 16th Generation of Chen Clan (Lineage of xiojia style), said in his manuscript (Illustrated Explanation of Chen Family Taijiquan):
"Taijiquan is spiral force, Changfa. If you don´t know spiral force, you don´t know taijiquan and original Qi (Zhong Qi)."

These dynamic spirals ate a mirror to the own roundness and are important as the static roundness in the end position or beginning position of every movement.

The flow of the movements

To keep it simple, the flow of the movement is the ability to synchronise the whole body without a break from the beginning to the end of a position. An often used quotation in taijiquan is "Yi Dong Bai Dong" : when one part moves, everything moves. Nothing is isolated and everything appears together, there have to be single actions in the different body parts. To move in many details but appear as one unity, is a quality witch is not easy to gain, there for big softness and flexibility in the joints are needed. The joints of the feet, the knees, the hip, the shoulders, the elbows and the wrist should rotate constantly without a stop. Nothing is stiff or fixed, it´s a connected movement, witch lets one action flow into another.