shibashi instructions
page 4

Tip:

For more help with basic techniques and the instruction layout go to tai chi instruction

Position check

Cloud Hands in a Horse-riding Stance

overall effect
It looks like you are drawing rounded rectangles with your arms. BUT it only looks as though arms are waving from side to side. You get the effect from turning the waist and letting your arms just follow!

• transition move:

• transfer weight to center
• breathe in
• turn left palm face body in line with center chest at shoulder height
• left fingers point to 3:00 and slightly curved
• extend right arm out at waist height
• turn right palm face down
• right fingers point to 12:00 and slightly curved
• keep elbows slightly curved

• turn to left:

• transfer weight to left leg
• turn body from waist to 10:30
• allow arms to follow turn

• change arm to right on top:

• turn right palm face in to body
• right fingers point to 9:00 slightly curved
• left palm face down
• left fingers point to 12:00 and slightly curved
• raise right arm to shoulder height
• drop left hand to waist height

• return to center from left:

• breathe out
• turn body from waist to 12:00
• transfer weight to center

• turn to right:

• transfer weight to right leg
• turn body from waist to 1:30
• allow arms to turn with waist

• change arm to left on top:

• turn left palm face in to body
• left fingers point to 3:00 and slightly curved
• right palm face down slightly curved
• right fingers point to 12:00 and slightly curved
• raise left arm to shoulder height
• drop right hand to waist height

• return to center from right:

• turn body from waist to 12:00
• transfer weight to center
• breathe in

end of this shibashi instruction

return to shibashi page 4 index or top

overall effect
its like bending down to scoop up a handful of water and raising it to your head before fanning your arms out and down again for the next scoop

• transition move

• transfer weight to right foot
• breathe in
• turn waist left to 10:30
• left foot half step forward to 10:30
• extend arms out and up to shoulder height
• elbows slightly bent
• palms face down at ear height
• fingers point to 10:30

• left bend forwards:

• transfer weight to left foot
• breathe out
• bend at waist drawing both arms downwards and towards left knee
• raise right heel
• cross hands left over right over left knee
• palms face up
• top of the head in line with left foot

• left scoop up

• transfer weight to right leg
• gradually straighten body upright
• breathe in
• bring crossed palms up to forehead
• turn palms to 10:30

• separate hands left:

• separate and extend arms out and up to shoulder height
• elbows slightly bent
• fingers pointing to 10:30 at ear height

repeat left bend forwards thru separate hands left 4 times

• center from left:

• waist turns to 12:00
• bring left foot to right foot; toes point to 12:00
• breathe out
• transfer weight to left foot

• turn to right:

• waist turns to 1:30
• right foot half step forward to 1:30
• breathe in

• right bend forwards:

• transfer weight to right foot
• breathe out
• bend at waist drawing both arms downwards towards right knee
• cross hands right over left over right knee
• palms face up
• top of the head in line with right foot

• right scoop up

• transfer weight to left leg
• gradually straighten body upright
• breathe in
• bring crossed palms up to forehead
• turn palms to 1:30

• separate hands right

• separate and extend arms out and up to shoulder height
• elbows slightly bent
• fingers pointing to 1:30 at ear height

repeat right bend forwards thru separate arms right 4 times

end of this Shibashi instruction

Pushing the Waves

overall effect
imagine that you are pushing forward and pulling backwards so that you can draw circles with the heel of your palm

• center from right:

• turn waist to 12:00
• bring right foot to left foot; toes point to 12:00
• transfer weight to center
• breathe out
• draw arms from the top to the front at waist height
• elbows in line with sides
• turn palms to face down

• turn to left:

• breathe in
• turn waist left to 10:30
• left foot half step forward to 10:30 on left toe
• fingers point to 10:30

• left push forward

• lean forward to 10:30
• gradually transfer weight to left foot
• breathe in
• push arms up to shoulder height
• bend elbows
• palms face 10:30

• left pull back

• pull body back to upright
• gradually transfer weight to right foot
• breathe in
• relax wrist so palms face ground
• draw arms down to waist height
• elbows in line with sides

repeat left push forward thru left pull back 4 times

• center from left:

• turn waist to 12:00
• bring left foot to right foot; toes point to 12:00
• bring left foot to right
• transfer weight to center
• breathe out
• draw arms from the top to the front at waist height
• elbows in line with sides
• turn palms to face down

• turn to right:

• breathe in
• turn waist to 1:30
• left foot half step forward to 1:30 on left toe
• fingers point to 1:30

• right push forward

• lean forward to 1:30
• gradually transfer weight to right foot
• breathe in
• push arms up to shoulder height
• bend elbows
• palms face 1:30

• right pull back

• pull body back to upright
• gradually transfer weight to left foot
• breathe in
• relax wrist so palms face ground
• draw arms down to waist height
• elbows in line with sides

repeat right push forward thru right pull back 4 times

end of this shibashi instruction and end of this group - congratulations

return to shibashi page 4 index or top