Sink the derrière, don't lean

  

 

Hello everyone, 

Here’s some information on really getting your Tai Chi posture right. Master Stephen Hwa explained it, and it totally clicked for me, so I wanted to share it with you!

Way back in the early 2000’s we made a video, “The Tao of Martial Applications”. He talked to one of my students as we were doing push hands about  "folding the Kua".   He pointed his finger and told Tom: “…you want a crease in your trouser clothing there…”! 

Basically, it's all about how your hip joint folds when you "sit back" into a posture. And here's the brilliant part: he uses your trousers as a visual guide!

Take a moment now and imagine you're wearing those loose pants. When you sink into a stance, your hips should DROP, creating a deep fold right where your leg meets your body (that's your Kua, or inguinal crease). 

If you're doing it right, your pants will actually bunch up and form a clear crease right there! It's an instant, honest signal from your clothes.

* **You aren’t leaning: ** It stops you from leaning or tipping backward, which can throw off your balance and alignment. No more looking like you're falling over!

* **Your knees are safe:** This move sends your weight safely into your hips and glutes, taking the pressure off your knees. Very important for long-term practice!

 **You are connected:** You end up engaging those deep hip muscles, linking your upper and lower body so you move as one smooth, coordinated unit.

 **Happy spine:** By getting this fold right, your lower back stays nice and relaxed and neutral, instead of getting stiff or over-arched. Hello, comfortable spine!

**Now this is power:** When you fold correctly, your body loads up like a spring, ready to release powerful, effortless movements. It's not magic, it's just good physics!

So, how do you know if you're actually doing it? Master Hwa's method makes it super easy:

1. **Wear comfortable pants:** 

2. **Sink your derrière, don't lean:** 

3. **Look for a horizontal fold/crease in your clothing across your pants at lower pelvis!** 

Once you've got that trouser crease down pat, Master Hwa suggests taking it a step further. You should start to feel a complementary stretch or opening in your lower back, specifically around your "Mingmen point." 

It's like the front fold gently rounds and opens up your lower spine, connecting everything from front to back and top to bottom. It’s all about creating that total body connection and flow!

Hope this helps clarify things a bit! It's such a practical, concrete way to approach Tai Chi, and it really shows how Master Hwa makes complex ideas easy to understand.

Happy practicing!