Taiji 24 Form - Section 5 of 8

      BY KELLY MACLEAN

Before continuing into section 5, you must be sure to have learned and practiced sections 1 to 4 correctly. These instructions assume SOUTH as the starting direction.

Right Heel Kick

Stepping to the left with the left foot, heel touching the floor first, thread the left hand over the right wrist. Twisting the left hand palm out, shift forward.

Continuing to shift onto the left leg, separate the hands out to the sides, palms facing outward. Continue circling the hands downward, until the right leg is empty.

As the hands gather upward to cross at the wrists, palms facing inward, and right hand outside, extend the left leg until it is almost straight and raise the right knee as high as possible, the toes of the right foot pointed. Look to the southeast.

Separate hands to the sides, palms facing outward, sitting wrists, and kick to the southeast with the right heel, knee straight, foot flexed. Ideally, the heel of the right foot should be at least waist level.

The right arm and right leg should go in the same direction, and the eyes should be focused over the fingertips of the right hand.

Double Wind Blows at Ears

Gradually sinking down again, the left hand swings toward the right hand, until the hands are about shoulder width apart, and then both hands draw into the waist palms facing upward.

Step southeast with the right foot, heel touching the floor first.

Both hands form fists, and shifting to a right bow stance, the arms circle outward and then inward, the fists striking to temple level, eyes of the fists looking downward diagonally.

Look between the fists.

Left Heel Kick

Shifting to the left leg, open the fists and separate the arms to the sides. Turn right leg inward so the toes of the right foot point northeast.

Shifting back to right leg, arms circle downward.

As the arms gather upward to cross at the wrists, palms facing inward, with the left hand outside, extend right leg until it is almost straight, and raise left knee as high as possible, the toes of the left foot pointed. Look to the northwest.

Separating the arms to the sides, palms facing outward, sitting wrists, kick to the northwest with the left heel, knee straight, foot flexed. Ideally, the heel of the left foot is at least waist high. Left arm and left leg go in the same direction, and the eyes are focused over the fingertips of the left hand.

This concludes Section 5.