Suggested Reading
From time-to-time we find articles or social media posts that truly capture the essence of our own Tai Chi philosophy and provide useful insight into many of the concepts that we focus on in class - from beginners to those with years of Tai Chi and martial arts experience. We appreciate and give credit to the work that others are doing to promote Tai Chi and are pleased to share their voices and insights here.
The Importance of Opening the Kua
Courtesy of Pampamisayoc Qi Gong/Facebook
If you practice Qi Gong, Tai Chi, or other Martial Arts… I’m sure you have heard about the Kua…
And the importance of training and opening the Kua…
The kua, the groin/hip juncture where the legs meet the pelvis, is a pivotal structural and energetic hub in Qi Gong and Tai Chi…
Functionally it links the rooting of the feet to the rotational and spiral power of the waist, enabling weight transfer, balance, and coordinated whole‑body movement…
An open, responsive kua receives incoming force, lets the weight settle, and transmits intent from the legs into the torso without rigid gripping…
This coordination underpins stable stances, fluid stepping, and the internal silk‑reeling mechanics that produce efficient movement and fa jin…
Training the kua emphasizes relaxation, sensitivity and integrated movement rather than brute strength…
Practices begin with breath‑linked awareness… placing hands lightly on the upper inner thighs while breathing to invite softening and release…
Standing practices such as zhan zhuang cultivate passive strength and receptive tone… standing with knees soft and attention at the kua teaches the area to bear weight without tension…
Small pelvic rotations and silk‑reeling exercises develop spiral connectivity… make very small waist‑led circles so the inner thighs and groin trace the movement…
Dynamic drills reinforce functional transfer…
Slow step‑and‑settle walking teaches how weight lands in the kua… stepping deliberately and pausing to feel the weight settle trains neural patterns for balance and rooting…
Single‑leg balances stress the kua’s role in support… practising micro‑bends and relaxation in the supporting hip helps stabilise the pelvis without locking the knee…
Partner work or gentle push‑hands allows application… when receiving, direct force into the kua and ground it through the feet rather than meeting force with arm strength…
Progress is gradual… initial focus is awareness and gentle mobility, advancing to integrated movement and resistance…
Common mistakes are gripping the groin, collapsing the knee, or pushing from the shoulders… these indicate poor kua function and should be corrected with reduced range, relaxation cues, and guided practice…
Trained kua yields better balance, fluidity, and efficient internal power in both Qi Gong and Tai Chi…
Consistent practice over weeks improves the kua’s openness, enhancing stability, posture and resilience while strengthening subtle energetic connections central to regular daily Qi Gong and Tai Chi practice…
Do you open your Kua in training and practice?
No Resistance - The Invisible Strategy
Note from Sifu Bearg: This is written about Akido but could just as well be abou Tai Chi.Courtesy Facebook: Akido San LuisBecoming Shodan
Courtesy: Akido Advice for Women…and a Few MenMark Wiley interview with Master Alex Dong on what actually changes physically through the practice of Tai Chi.
innerlifewithmarkwiley.com (Video and transcript included in link)
Long-Term Health Preservation Through “Opening the Three Gates”
Theory and Practical Application in Tai Chi Chuan
Courtesy: Tai Chi: Beyond the HealthTraditional Tai Chi Basic Curriculum
Tai Chi Beyond The HealthThe Training Philosophy of Master Dong Yingjie in Taijiquan
Tai Chi Beyond The HealthGran Master Alex Dong’s Father performing the Slow Set.
What really is JIN in Tai Chi?
Damon Bramich, Educational Resource Center