In Ancient Taichi  there are certain fundamental structural and mechanical principles that must be understood and mastered before facing the more complex practices such as forms -Taolu - or "push hands" exercises -Tuishou.

In this first course os the series, we begin to develop the two most important ones.

 

The first one is the principle of the "Five Arches" .

These are composed by our two legs, two arms and the spinal column, which is our "Master Bow or Arch".

In this course you'll learn how to work with these five arches in different ways, until their particular mechanics are joined together, to form an integrated force, much larger and more efficient than its parts - always using the spinal column as the means to generate and guide the movement of the other  parts of your body as arches.

 

Chansijing is the second fundamental mechanical concept.

It is usually translated as "Winding the silk thread", giving the idea that the movement must be even, subtle and circular - as if handling a delicate silk thread, which if it is treated roughly, breaks.

This type of spiral circular energy perfects the union of the entire body structure and provides a continuous, powerful and relaxed movement at the same time.

 

Once these two fundamental principles are understood and developed through specific exercises, we expand their practice through particular movements that are carried out in the manner of "walks".

 

These movements make up the basic elements necessary to learn the form - Taolu - that is taught in the third program of this series of courses: "Essence of Taichi".

 

This first level includes a total of 29 exercises divided into 10 weekly classes.