Square Form saves Tai Chi

 Square Form as epitome of Yin and Yang 

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Mr. Shang Lee said:

"The square form is the first form I learned in Tai Chi. It brings back many memories, although, with my current understanding, I believe the square form may block the learning of the transitions, which are essential if we apply Tai Chi. But I do understand where you're coming from."

Dear Mr. Lee:

Based on your statement, it is reasonable to think you practice large circle/frame Tai Chi. Your statement about the interference of Square Form practice with transitions in large-frame/large-circle Tai Chi does not apply to classical Tai Chi, the original martial art aspect of Tai Chi has been overshadowed by its holistic and health-focused benefits, which, while valuable, may not fully capture the intricate balance of yin and yang. The complexity of Tai Chi's philosophy, including the dynamic interplay of yin and yang, is often simplified or overlooked in modern practice, leading to a loss of the deeper understanding that was central to its origins.

If Tai Chi is such that it does not rely on the internal discipline of a small frame/small circle, then it certainly may be true.  One can readily understand where the small frame/small circle square form overlap would naturally interfere with “transitions.” It would interfere with movement transitions primarily dependent on the external movements of arms and legs. This is germane to Large Frame/Large Circle Tai Chi.

 Large Frame square form relies on outstretched arms, large swings of the arms at the shoulders, and pushing with the legs.  Large Frame round form also depends on those same outstretched swinging arms and going with the legs with no attendant circulation of internal energy.  However, what can be internal in Large Frame anyway?  As Wu Chien Chuan said, Every movement in Tai Chi Form has to have two complementary parts of the body: a moving part (Yang) and a stationary part (Yin).  When the yin-yang junction is located in the torso of the body, it is an internal move.  When it is outside the torso, it is external,

Compact square form practice has other roles that are not concerned with transition. The primary purpose of the compact square form is to teach the student how to delineate yin and yang in the body. That is to teach the student how to hold one part of the body still while the other part moves. As we have said in this article and others, the extraneous motion of arms and legs is another word for nerve signals along the path of qi.  A minor role of Compact Square form partly concerns movements that call for steadying arms and hands subject to localized nerve impulses.  

Indicative of localized nerve impulses is students' natural and more effortless tendency to move extraneously from the arms and shoulders and push from the legs.  This easier tendency fits nicely within the domain of large-frame Tai Chi with its external motions, but it is still not internal.  Qi, of course, traverses the torso and the arms and legs.  With internal motion, where the yin/yang junction is located in the torso,  and there is no attendant motion at the joints,  the qi will traverse the body unimpeded.  With external motion, the qi will be impeded at the localized yin-yang junctions of the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, etc.  

Practicing transition with transition in mind is a minor Compact Frame round form task.  The primary role is to develop the practitioner's internal energy.  Only when external movements are truly minimized, as in the Compact Frame round form, does an internal movement flourish.    Only then will such playing of the form result in seamless transitions.   This is because the internal energy continuously circulates in the body without any break. 

Certainly, Tai Chi form movements, along with the transitions between them, make more sense if they are corroborated with the martial art origin of the movements.  The student understands why there are such sequences and transitions and why the body must be concerned with positioning and impeccable timing.   Further transition, positioning, and timing studies can be relegated to push hands and sparring exercises.  Once internal energy is attained throughout the body, however, there is no concern with a transition accompanying a Large Frame because the energy circulates continuously in a Compact Frame.  

What most often happens is that students, by habit, move from the individual joints, e.g., the shoulder. Teaching students to keep a shoulder still, an elbow, or a hip isn't easy. The movement at these joints "muddies" the overall quality of movement and, in many respects, drains off the power that could have been generated had it remained still. Correct Tai Chi thus becomes difficult to teach because the nerve impulses that govern movement from the joints have been cultivated over a lifetime. It is no wonder that students struggle with learning, thinking of the wrong reasons for their difficulties.