|
Internet-based Lessons |
| Chen
Family style Tai Chi Chuan - beginners |
| Saluting |
| Curiously, the
same saluting procedure is used to both start and end the class,
but the salute follows |
| the bow at the
beginning and precedes the bow at the end. The teacher salutes
first at the beginning |
| and will look at
each student moving the (teacher's) head from his or her right
to left. In this |
| sequence the
teacher is acting as a representative of the art and is checking
that the student is ready. |
| By looking back
and saluting the student confirms this. The difference is that
while the teacher is a |
|
fellow student, he or she is primarily focused at this time on
transmitting, so the salutes acknowledge |
| role. There
really are no ranks in tai chi chuan: one is either a master (or
grandmaster) or a student. |
| The foot
and leg positions are the same as the bow. The right arm is
parallel to the ground and the |
| right hand forms
a packed (tight) fist palm down. The inside tip of the right
thumb touches the |
| middle of the
(closed) third finger. The left hand is held open with the palm
facing toward your |
| center. The
hand is held so the left thumb rests lightly on the heart and if
the line of the fingers were |
| extended it would
pass through the ear. The top knuckles of the right hand fit
with the top of the left |
| palm. The
actual salute is to move both hands (together) forward 3 or 4
inches keeping them parallel |
| to the
ground. When the teacher signals the salute is over return the
hands back to their starting |
| places and then
relax. When two martial artists meet it is customary for the
junior to salute first. If in |
| doubt, salute
first. As a guest, you salute first. Note that the left elbow
stays very close to the ribs. |
 |