Table of Contents
Introduction: Why Cloud Hands? 1
Be Still Like a Mountain, Flow Like a River 6
1 A Study of Commencement in T'ai Chi Ch'uan 11
Center to Periphery Ch'i Kung 17
Earth to Heaven and Heaven to Earth Ch'i Kung 21
2 The Components of Internal Power and Health 25
Cross-Body Turning Power 26
Left-Right Alignment Power 28
Zhong Ding Power 32
Zhong Ding Gathering Exercise 33
3 The Internal Structure of Cloud Hands 37
4 Cross-Body Power in Cloud Hands 41
T'ai Chi Classics: The Defect Lies in the Legs and Waist 50
Bouncing Initiates the Vertical Component of Cross-Body Power 54
T'ai Chi Classics: The Waist Is the Commander 55
The Basic Zhong Ding Stepping Method 63
5 Left and Right Alignment Power in Cloud Hands 65
Health Benefits from Opening and Closing 67
Opening and Closing and the Four Primary Chin 68
Changing Chin in Cloud Hands 69
Changing Chin with Weight Shirting 72
Internal Chin in Fixed Step Push Hands 76
6 Harmonizing Cross-Body and Left-Right Alignment Power 77
Partner Practice Using Brush Knee 77
Generating Left-Right Twisting and Spirals 79
Pulling Silk to Harmonize Power 81
7 Opening and Closing Your Lower Body and Stepping 85
8 Bend the Bow and Shoot the Arrow 87
9 The Internal Practice of Rooting 93
10 Rolling Ball Cloud Hands 97
11 Zhong Ding Power in Cloud Hands 101
12 The Alignment of Your Spine, Lower Tan Tien, and Zhong Ding 103
13 Joining the Internal Ellipses in Cloud Hands 107
14 Song 109
15 The Internal Separation of Yin and Yang 115
16 Harmonizing the Three Components of Internal Power in Cloud Hands 119
17 Storing and Projecting Unified Power 121
18 A Practice Method for Training the Three Components of Internal Power in Cloud Hands 125
19 Moving Your Mind on Your Zhong Ding 131
20 The Four Chin and the I Ching 135
Select Bibliography 137
