Master Henry Wang’s

Seven Principles for Tai Chi Practice

Based on his 45+ years of study, Master Wang has developed a list of the Seven Principles for Tai Chi Practice. He considers them to be essential and applicable to all styles of tai chi. Regardless of the style in question, whether engaged in form practice, partner practice, or competitive tournament practice, one should seek to simultaneously embody these principles at all times. They are presented here in order of relative importance.

“I consider it essential that tai chi’s Taoist philosophy, tai chi form practice, and tai chi as a practical means of self-defense should all reflect a consistent point of view”. Master Henry Wang

#1 Relaxation

The first, most important, and most repeated instruction heard in any tai chi class is “relax”. Thru relaxation, one learns to achieve a highly refined state of harmonious body/mind balance. A relaxed state includes calm mental focus, correct situational awareness, and tension-free physical effort. A relaxed state is the condition most conducive to the cultivation of one’s chi, the development of internal power, and the maintenance of good health. The Chinese word for this state is “Sung”. Attainment of this profound state of relaxation is the overriding characteristic and quality that the other six principles are designed to foster.

#2 Center

The Center (One Point of Origin) is the foundation that supports your tai chi form practice and form cultivation. One's Center is defined as an imaginary line going through the head, spine, and lower abdomen (lower dan tien) to the feet. It is the hub, axis, or pivotal point in the body from which all the internal spiraling movement originates. The Center itself has both a horizontal and vertical component and they must be unified. During form practice, the Center originates and leads all movement. Under Master Wang's principles, before any weight shift occurs during form practice the Center always turns first. After the Center turns, the trunk leads the way; the arms and legs follow.

“Without Center, there can be no Balance. Without Balance, there can be no power.” Master Henry Wang

#3 Concentration

As a principle for proper practice, Concentration has two aspects: intention and attention. During Tai Chi practice the mind must focus on both what the body is planning to do (intention) and on what the body is actually doing (attention). The two must match. As in meditation, the mind must avoid wandering and continue to concentrate on maintaining proper movement throughout all the postures contained in one’s style of Tai Chi. The form’s postures and transitions must be continuously conducted according to the Seven Principles. In Tai Chi practice one must use the mind/intent (Yi) and concentrate on releasing all unnecessary tension throughout the entire body. The mind itself must also remain calm and focused. When the body/mind has these qualities the internal energy (nei jin) is able to flow more freely.  

#4 Circle

The shape of the circle is present in all tai chi movements. Circles possess immense power. In the tai chi form, the Center turns in a spiral fashion. The chi energy comes up from the ground in a circular spiral around the limbs and trunk in its journey to the fingertips. After years of principle-based practice, the form’s internal spiral becomes more compressed or condensed and the resultant power contained within it increases. Development of the relaxed yet powerful spiral energy assists the tai chi player to connect and circulate the incoming and outgoing chi.

#5 Proportion

One's tai chi posture should resemble a “Globe Shape” or sphere with the lower dan tien as its center point. In practicing the tai chi form, it is important to attain the correct relationship in space and time between the various parts of the body. The right hand is related to the left foot. The right elbow is related to the left knee. The right shoulder is related to the left hip. The same directive applies to the other side of the body. The ability to sense the relative position and rate of movement of neighboring parts of the body in space and the related amount of muscle effort being used is called proprioception.

If we can keep the proper ratios and relationships between the distinct parts of the body as we move through the transitions from posture to posture in the tai chi form, we can generate a harmonious whole. It is that harmonious whole that enables the optimum flow of chi and the maximum expression of internal power.

#6 Balance

At the first and most basic level, there is the act of physical balance, the ability of the body to remain upright in the face of gravity. Balance and Center are two closely related principles. In doing any tai chi form, Balance must be attained without leaning away from the Center. Maintaining the body’s central equilibrium in a relaxed manner allows fluid movement from one tai chi posture to the next.

While doing your tai chi form are you cultivating a state in which the various body parts match and form a satisfying and harmonious whole? Is the position of the limbs such that nothing is out of proportion or unduly emphasized at the expense of the rest of the figure? Is there a consistent equilibrium between the mind and body throughout the execution of a round of form? All of these are other examples of the Balance principle and they are ideas closely linked to the Proportion principle as well. The Seven Principles are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

#7 Coordination

This principle is last on the list because it usually is the last element to be perfected in one’s tai chi form practice. In dictionaries, you will find that Coordination (Whole Body Unification) is defined as the skillful and balanced movement of different parts, especially parts of the body, working together in unison. Achieving a high level of Coordination in tai chi simply takes a long time. It is dependent upon frequent, repetitive practice done in a manner that is consistent with achieving the embodiment of all of the art’s underlying principles. Eventually one makes the transition from feeling that form practice is complex to find it to be very simple. The distinct parts of the body become organized and interconnected in a new way. They are well and truly synchronized. Your chi, your form, your body, and your mind become integrated. As a result of proper tai chi form practice, the overall suppleness and flexibility of your body are increased, you get more chi flowing in the body, and your health is improved.