內功 Neigong.net

1. Calmness
- use Deep Mind (Xin) to calm and balance the energy.

2. Suspend the head
- empty the neck, send intention (Yi) to top of head.

3. The gaze is level
- use peripheral vision to be aware of left and right.

4. Loosen and open the chest
- ensure breastbone and upper-spine vertical, supporting the hollow space between them.

5. Sink the shoulders, drop the elbows
- shoulder-blades slide down the back to sink the shoulders, shoulder muscles loosen to droop the elbows.

6. Sacrum central and vertical
- lift the perineum slightly, draw the coccyx down and forward and loosen the lower back.

7. Loosen the waist and inguinal regions (Kua)
- waist controls the upper-body, inguinal regions are the base of the waist.

8. Breathe deeply
- breathe in, ribs expand, diaphragm sinks, abdomen in.
- breathe out, ribs relax, diaphragm rises, abdomen out.

9. Three harmonies, internal and external
- internal: Spirit (Shen) with Intention (Yi), Intention with subtle energy (Qi), subtle energy with body energy (Jing).
- external: shoulders and inguinal regions, elbows and knees, hands and feet.

10. Hands follow the body
- use the trunk to yield and neutralise, the hands to follow to protect the trunk and to prepare to attack.

11. Steps respond to body movements
- change the steps to support body movement.
- hands are like swinging doors; whether you win or loose depends on your steps.

12. Differentiate empty (Yin) and full (Yang)
- meet fullness with emptiness and emptiness with fullness.

13. Smoothness and continuity
- one thing moves, all things move.
- co-ordinate upper-body with lower-body.
- Deep Mind (Xin) and Intention (Yi) determine the speed of the movements.
- use Intention (Yi) to naturally harmonise the breath with the movements.

14. Use Deep Mind Intention (Yi), not insensitive strength
- relax the body, use Deep Mind Intention, then the senses and feelings will be very responsive.

Reference: Relax, Deep Mind Taiji Basics Patrick Kelly 2. ed. New Zealand 2004
ISBN: 0-476-00425-x

Red.: The book is rare to find. Patrik Kelly is a student of the late Master Huang Xingxian a famous student of the renowned Taiji master Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man-Ching).

Links:
Master Huang’s 20 Important Points by Wee Kee Jin http://www.taijiquan.co.nz/