Movement Direction Instructions for Taijiquan and Qigong Forms

In what direction do you face to begin a particular Taijiquan or Qigong form?
In what direction to you point and aim the arrow in the Eight Section Brocade Qigong form?
In what direction do you step when moving into a particular posture?
In what direction does your right arm or left arm move in a particular posture?
When doing the Yang 108 Long Form, in what direction do you face in Single Whip?
When you end the Wild Goose Qigong form, in what direction are you facing?

These, and other directional questions, are an essential part of learning all Taijiquan and
Qigong forms.

In the early morning, I now begin facing west so the sun is at my back. When I practiced the
Yang long 108/88 form at a local gym with others in 2000, we faced east to take advantage of the
longer side of the basketball court. When we practiced Li Ho Ba Fa Taijiquan in 1988, we began
the form facing north. In the hot summer afternoon, I now begin facing east when doing Yang forms,
so that the hot sun is at my back or my left side. At night, in my backyard, I now usually face south
at the start of the form. On my back porch, on rainy days and nights, I begin facing west when
doing Taijiquan and Qigong forms. Some masters recommend that you always try to begin the
form facing north. In my opinion, the direction in which you begin facing at the start of a form is
rather arbitrary, and based on convenience and circumstance. Nevertheless, after choosing
the direction in which to begin facing, all other directions you face in each form sequence
are usually programmed in a established directional sequence. In addition, some
adjustments in the directions for facing and moving must, of course, be modified
depending upon the space available in your practice area and/or the positions of
nearby students in a large class.

It is always difficult to come up with understandable written descriptions for how to position
the parts of the body when developing written instructions for doing a qigong or taijiquan
form. To solve this problem, I have adopted a directional nomenclature relative to a
12 hour clock.

When the center of your chest and navel face the 12 o'clock position, your right side faces
3 o'clock, your back side faces 6 o'clock, and your left side faces 9 o'clock. .

Whatever position you take at the start of the form, whatever direction the center of your chest
and navel face, consider that starting position to be facing the 12 o'clock position.

Key	Clock Hour Direction	Compass Direction A	Compass Direction B	Compass Direction C	Compass Direction D

12	12:00 o'clock	North - Front	East - Front	South - Front	West - Front
1	1:30 o'clock	Northeast	Southeast	Southwest	Northwest
3	3:00 o'clock	East - Right	South - Right	West - Right	North - Right
4	4:30 o'clock	Southeast	Southwest	Northwest	Northeast
6	6:00 o'clock	South - Back	West - Back	North - Back	East - Back
7	7:30 o'clock	Southwest	Northwest	Northeast	Southeast
9	9:00 o'clock	West - Left	North - Left	East - Left	South - Left
10	10:30 o'clock	Northwest	Northeast	Southeast	Southwest

Direction A
Face North

Direction B
Face East

Direction C
Face South

Direction D
Face West

When I first watch and study a Taijiquan or Qigong form, I adopt Direction A, Facing North,
as my standard of interpretation.  I take the center of my chest and navel pointing due north
as the 12:00 o'clock position. My right side faces due east towards the 3:00 o'clock position.
My backside faces due south towards the 6:00 o'clock position. Finally, my left side faces
due west towards the 9:00 o'clock position.  One can easily convert the my starting interpretation
and description into any other cardinal direction using the above charts and diagrams.

Directional Instructions
Key	Clock Hour Direction	Compass Direction A

N 12	12:00 o'clock	North - Front Side of Body
NE 1	1:30 o'clock	Northeast
E 3	3:00 o'clock	East - Right Side of Body
SE 4	4:30 o'clock	Southeast
S 6	6:00 o'clock	South - Back Side of Body
SW 7	7:30 o'clock	Southwest
W 9	9:00 o'clock	West - Left Side of Body
NW 10	10:30 o'clock	Northwest

This method can be used to describe a posture like Single Whip (Chest W 9, R Arm N 12,
L Arm and Palm W 9, Face and Eyes W 9). Or, Diagonal Slant Flying (Chest NW 10,
Right Arm NE 1, Left Arm SW 7, Face and Eyes NE 1).

Remember that "NE 1" is a key, or abbreviation for facing true NE to the 1:30 position;
or "SW 7" is the abbreviation or key for facing true SW to the 7:30 position.

Another way to consider this issue of providing directions is to indicate the direction of the
opponent you are striking. For example, Diagonal Slat Flying is attacking a opponent
who is in the NE 1 position. I will consider adopting this approach in my work on Sun style
internal martial arts forms. When I described the Yang Style long and short hand forms,
I gave the direction the chest faces at the end of a movment. I welcome your comments
and suggestions.

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Cloud Hands
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong

Directional Instructions
Nomenclature for Describing Body Positions
For Taijiquan and Qigong Forms

By
Michael P. Garofalo

Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong

Directional Instructions Nomenclature for Describing Body Positions For Taijiquan and Qigong Forms

By Michael P. Garofalo

Cloud Hands
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong

Directional Instructions
Nomenclature for Describing Body Positions
For Taijiquan and Qigong Forms

By
Michael P. Garofalo