Hanky Panky? There’s No Hanky Panky In Tai Chi!

Let me begin by saying, that emphatic statement is not entirely true.  Before I tell you why it’s not really true I’d like to explain what I’m getting at.  Later I’ll let you in on what got me thinking about this.

When playing tai chi the movement of the shoulders through space has little or nothing to do with the shoulders.  When beginners watch their teachers and then mimic a move they invariably twist their bodies to get their shoulders into what they believe is the proper position.  The movement of the hands and shoulders is distracting them and what’s missed, almost without exception, is the turning of the waist.

The upper body is strongest when the shoulders and hips are in alignment with one another.  When movement is controlled by through the waist, there is power.  When there is proper, alignment, and only as much tension as necessary to maintain alignment, there is movement of energy.  When there is controlled movement of energy, there is increased power.

Practice keeping your shoulders over your hips and use your hips to turn your shoulders.  Your tai chi will improve dramatically.

When I said that there really is hanky panky in tai chi, what I was referring to are the hidden movements designed to surprise opponents, and occasional misdirection through extending one hand to distract the opponent while striking with the other.  There is also the use of the efu, or uniform, to hide the subtleties of movement from the opponenent as well as bystanders.  So yes, there is hanky panky in tai chi, just as in other martial arts.

Now, the not-so-little-known fact that got me thinking about this comes from the practice of magic.  Specifically sleight of hand.  I found this reference in the book Who Knew?, by David Hoffman.

The term “Hanky Panky” stems from the magician’s practice of using a handkerchief in one hand to distract the audience from noticing what he is doing with the other.

Your thoughts?

John

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