T'AI CHI SAN SO

Version of Robert Cheng as taught by Dr. Greg Mucci

I. General Principles:

1. Postures remain the same as in doing T'ai Chi Ch'uan and T'ai Chi Twei So.

2. Basic position also remains the same as in doing T'ai Chi Ch'uan and T'ai Chi Twei So.

3. The three basic principles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan applies to T'ai Chi Twei So as well as T'ai Chi San So:

A) Every movement originates from the feet, travels through the legs, and depends on the waist (the "center"). Whatever happens in the arms and hands is simply an expression of what's going on from the feet-legs-waist.

B) Every movement goes along with breathing, inhale and exhale are performed through the up and down movement of the diaphragm.

C) Every movement coincides with the T'ai Chi "yin/yang" concept. The constant shift of body weight from one foot to the other, and the constant twist of the waist to the right and left, express the "firmness" or "lightness", the "solid" or "void" in body movements.

4. The basic principles of T'ai Chi Twei So are crucial and essential to the successful learning of T'ai Chi San So.

A) To receive: staying, listening, following, and directing following-controlling.

B) To react: relaxing, non-resisting, correct timing, sticking and sticking-encountering.

5. T'ai Chi San So is a sequence of reacting movements performed by two people (A and B). Literally, "San" means dispersed, loose, or some sort of appearing-disappearing movement, "So" means the hands. Another name for "San So" is "Da So" which means "hitting hands".

6. In doing "San So" or "Da So", attention should be paid to the hands, eyes, torso, feet, and methods. These five elements should work together, move collectively, and concentrated as an arrow flying to its target.

7. San So method involves the study of the timing, direction, and speed of movements. For example, when "A" is acting toward "B", "B" has to make judgements in regard to:

A) Where is "A" coming, and with what?

B) What is "A" aiming at?

C) What speed is "A" taking?

D) When is "A" going to reach?

And then, "B" may decide on how to react.

8. In San So, the principle on how to react lies in three key words:

A) "Hwa" -- means to follow, deflect, and direct the opponents "Da".

B) "Na" -- means to take, grab, or control the opponent.

C) "Da" -- means to react, counterattack, hit, or punch back at the opponent.

9. This "Hwa", "Na", or "Da" should be followed strictly one after the other. Never "Na" unless you have "Hwa". Never "Da" unless you have "Na". Through the whole San So movement, there are only a few instances that you "Da" right after "Hwa". And, of course, you don't "Hwa" unless there is a "Da" coming toward you.

10. The continuous, flowing relationship between "A" and "B" should be maintained through the whole San So movement. Whenever there is a pause or disconnection, ask yourself: "What went wrong with my feet, legs, or waist".

Form sequence follows

As taught by Dr. Greg Mucci who learned from Robert Cheng

T'AI CHI SAN SO

( A )

1. Step up, punch

2. Step up, parry, and punch

3. Step up, left shove

4. Hit with left elbow

5. Left unfolding strike

6. Retreat step, hit tiger left

7. Raise hands, step up

8. Unfolding strike

9. Right horizontal swipe

10. Step back, hit tiger right

11. Step up, left shove

12. Part, and kick

13. Step up, draw, right swipe

14. Left deflect, right strike

15. Step up, left shove

16. Turn body, push and twist

17. Step up and push

18. Single push, right arm

19. Following push

20. Follow and push

21. Step in, draw, right swipe

22. Hit tiger right

23. Step up, press left

24. Change step, part, right shove

25. Hit with right elbow

26. Retreat step, follow

27. Step back, turn body, step up, shove

28. Turn body, change step, separate leg right

29. Turn body, change step, separate leg left

30. Change hands, right shove

31. Step up, stroke bird's tail left

32. Step up, stroke bird's tail right

33. Right open, left deflect, right unfolding strike

34. Step up, high pat horse, and left kick

35. Turn body, lotus swing

36. Snatching hand, snake body, low

37. Hit tiger left

38. Retreat step, repulse monkey

39. Retreat step, repulse monkey

40. Retreat step, repulse monkey

41. Needle to the bottom of the sea

42. Hand strums the lute

43. Turn body, single whip

44. Step up, thrust hand

45. Turn body, retreat step, follow and twist

46. Step up, turn body, ride tiger

(B)

1. Raise hands, step up

2. Remove and punch

3. Hit tiger right

4. Right push

5. Change step, right shove

6. Right unfolding strike

7. Turn body, push

8. Open up, remove, and punch

9. Change step part horse's mane

10. Turn body, retreat step, follow

11. Turn body right and push

12. Ward off and punch

13. Change step, push shuttle

14. Stork spreads wing, kick left

15. Retreat step, break left arm

16. Fists strike ears

17. Remove and punch, low position

18. Right scissors arm

19. Follow and right slap

20. Follow, hit with right elbow

21. Change step, break right arm

22. Turn body, retreat step, follow

23. Press back

24.Change step, turn body, left shove

25. Turn body, rooster stands on one foot

26. Parting, step up and kick left

27. Step up, break left arm

28. Parting, brush knee right

29. Parting, brush knee left

30. Shove back right

31. Right cloud arm

32. Left cloud arm

33. Turn body, diagonal strike and twist

34. Stork spreads wings, overlay left leg

35. Flying oblique left

36. Flying oblique right

37. Turn body, strike

38. Step up, slap left

39. Step up, slap right

40. Step up, seven stars

41. Fan through the back

42. Curve bow, shoot tiger

43. Fist under elbow

44. Carry tiger, return to mountain

45. Step up, turn body, follow and twist and twist

46. Turn body, step back, ride tiger