| Diagonal Single Whip |
| a. |
Shift weight back to left foot; turn body to left 90°(east), pivoting on right heel (toes slightly off the ground), right toes turn left; place right foot flat - both feet are flat on floor; arms move with turn of body.
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| b. |
Weight remains on left foot, body turns more to left, right hand forms hook.
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| c. |
Weight shifts to right foot; pick-up left heel to enable pivot on toes.
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| d. |
Turn body to right 45°, arms move with turn of body, bringing hook across from right shoulder; left hand circles down in front of body and to the right, palm upward, left fingertips point at right forearm.
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| e. |
Keep right arm positioned; body turns to left 45°, left hand moves with turn of body, palm facing you.
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| f. |
When body turned 45° to left, turn palm outward, step to left 45°; shift weight to left foot.
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| g. |
Right toes 30° to right; left hand/arm/nose/tan tien/left toes all 45° to left; you've made 90° (east) directional turn from "Grasp Birds Tail - right side" posture.
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| Wave Hands like Clouds |
| a. |
Shift weight to right foot and open right hand hook, palm curved.
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| b. |
As you turn body to right 45°, left hand circles down and in front of body, palm moving
upward, until both hands gently extend to right 90° - left palm upward, right palm downward.
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| c. |
Simultaneous with "b", as you learn to move body in one unit, bring left toes to right instep,
then step, parallel, to left; shift weight to left foot.
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| d. |
As weight shifts with "c", right hand floats downward (tan tien height), left hand floats upward,
approximately throat height (do not change position palms are facing).
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| e. |
Body turns 45° to left, arms move with turn of body, relaxed, circular; eyes watch left hand pass
in front of you; with left foot rooted, arms will extend gently 90° left - right palm upward, left
palm downward.
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REPEAT:
Step parallel to left, follow "c" through "h" 3 times; posture is played 4 times, although 3-5 repetitions is also common.
TIP:
When higher hand passes in front of you, turn palm outward so that when it positions on opposite side it will be in correct downward position. This will happen with each "Cloud" movement; as you become more proficient, the movement of the waist will accomplish this.
Place right foot next to left; shift weight to right foot.
Simultaneous with weight shift, left hand drops to tan tien height, right hand floats up approximately throat height.
Body turns 45° to right, arms move with body; eyes watch hand move in front of you; hands stop, extend gently, curved 90° to right; left palm up; right palm down.
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| Single Whip |
| a. |
From the last "Cloud" movement, continue to turn body more to left (90° from where you were facing during "Clouds"); left hand slowly drops no lower than waist level; right hand floats to shoulder height, making hook; weight on left foot.
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| b. |
Body still facing left, shift weight to right foot; lift left heel off ground.
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| c. |
Turn body 45° to right, as arms/hands move with body - right handed hook, shoulder height, across from right shoulder, left hand circle down in front of body until left finger tips point to right forearm, palm upward.
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| d. |
Keeping right hook positioned, turn body 45° left, pivoting on ball/toes of left foot, left palm/arm follows turn of body, palm upward and towards your face.
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| e. |
Turn palm outward; step to left 45°; shift weight to left foot, smoothly, levelly; keep arms positioned.
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| f. |
From "Clouds" you've completed a 90° (north) directional turn. (North; you're facing same direction as in "Commencement").
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| High Pat on Horse |
| a. |
Shift weight to back right foot as you open hands, palms 45° upward, fingertips face 45° at either side (10 o'clock & 2 o'clock); simultaneously, body has turned forward (12 o'clock); weight firmly rooted on back right foot. (When you become more proficient, the movement of your body will enable the hands to position correctly).
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| b. |
Pads of left toes rest on ground, brought midline in front of body (12 o'clock); heel slightly off the ground.
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| c. |
Body turns 45° left (10 o'clock) as right hand turns over at wrist, left hand slowly drops to left hip level (a "hold the ball" posture), palm upward.
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| d. |
As body returns forward (12 o'clock), right hand moves with body in front of body, palm 45° downward; right hand comes to rest, with fingertips forward approximately in front of heart or throat level; eyes looking at right hand.
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| e. |
Left arm remains in position, curved as if to "cradle the ball"; weight firmly rooted in back right leg - you feel power surge from back right leg, through body & waist and expressed in hands - not with force, with chi/qi.
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| Separation of Right Foot |
| a. |
Step left 45°; as you shift weight to forward left foot, left hand, moving with body, forward, palm upward, until left wrist crosses over back of right wrist.
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| b. |
Bring right toes to left instep as palms turn outward; circle arms/hands sideways, down and back in towards body - when hands midline of body, cross hands at wrists (right hand closest to body so that it can "lift left).
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| c. |
Raise hands in front of right shoulder, palms angled 45°; weight still on left foot (if you are able, raise right foot with raising-of-hands-to-shoulder so you are balanced and rooted on left - this IS NOT necessary & only for those ready to do so).
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| d. |
Body sinks; arms drop slightly ( as if coiling a spring), knee like hydraulic-system.
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| e. |
Eyes look 45° right (2 o'clock), as weight comes upward (but do not completely straighten left knee - stay rooted), body turns 45° right (2 o'clock), opens arms, curving out and sideways (in a contained circle - not high over head) and kick to right; right arm and leg should be in line, 45° right; left arm/hand 45° left.
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TIP:
It isn't necessary to kick high - more important to be balanced first; added height to your kick will come in time.
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| Double Dragon |
| a. |
Keep weight balanced on left foot; bring right foot to midline of body (raised, not touching ground), simultaneously, bring both hands, palms upward, in front of each shoulder (slightly higher than shoulders).
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| b. |
Step to right 45° (2 o'clock) and shift weight to forward right foot.
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| c. |
Hands raise slightly, then slowly drop to hip level; form loose fists; move arms sideways and back (with comfort) in circular motion, coming up and around until fists approximately temple height.
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TIP:
Knuckles slightly turned inward to face each other, approximately 6" - 8" apart; inner arms turned outward 45° either side; look at right fist, arms/elbows/shoulders downwardly relaxed.
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| Seperation of Left Foot |
| a. |
Open hands, palms curved downward; shift weight back to left foot.
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| b. |
Keeping arms in position and curved, turn body 90° (9 o'clock) (west) to left; right toes slightly off ground, pivot on right heel.
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| c. |
Place right foot flat on ground & shift weight to right foot.
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| d. |
Pivot on left foot, with turn and shift above toes/ball of foot resting on ground (or lifted, as ability allows as with # 13), as arms circle sideways, downward and in towards body, midline; wrists cross - left hand closest to body so that it can "lift" right hand.
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| e. |
Raise hands in front of right shoulder (do not touch body); body sinks, arms drop slightly, (as if coiling spring); look to left 45°ð; as body rises turn body 45°ð to left; simultaneously, open arms and kick 45° left - left arm/leg in line; right arm/hand 45°ð to right.
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| Snake Creeps Down - Left |
| a. |
Lower left foot - toes/ball of foot rest on ground, near right instep, left knee softly bent; weight remains on right foot.
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| b. |
With hands still positioned from "Separation of Left Foot", turn body left 45°; make hook with right hand.
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| c. |
Turn body to right 45° (arms/hands remain positioned, move with turn of body); left hand in front of right shoulder, palm facing right, fingertips upward, arm curved/relaxed.
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| d. |
With weight still on right leg, step parallel left as far as possible, with comfort, while remaining rooted on right foot (sink weight down - the more proficient you are, the lower you'll sink; if able, also slide left foot for further extension, toes facing same direction as nose/tan tien - now forward; use good judgement, don't overextend).
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| e. |
Circle left hand downward and across body, toward tan tien and left thigh; body begins to turn left 90°, toes begin to turn left 90° - body moves as one unit - weight is still on RIGHT foot. (Although left toes turn left 90° with body, you may turn them further if able - 135° or 45° left, when your body has made complete 90° turn to posture Golden Cock Stands on One Leg).
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| f. |
As body completes 90° left turn, weight shifts to left foot; right hook drops behind right hip (Do NOT touch body); left hand floats up approximately shoulder height, fingertips forward; fingertips/palms gently curved.
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| g. |
Shift weight to left foot; open right-handed hook; raise right knee/foot (foot flat - parallel to ground), as right hand follows, until right knee approximately waist height (if you're able), leg bent inward from knee (foot/leg does not cross left leg).
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| h. |
Simultaneous with "g", right arm upward - knee and elbow almost touch (if able): right arm in line with right leg; right palm facing left 90°, fingertips upward; left hand has floated downward from approximately shoulder height to position at side of right knee, protecting genital area, palm downward, fingertips forward, arm curved. There is a bend in left weighted leg.
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| i. |
You have completed 180° (south) directional turn from beginning of form.
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