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Therapeutic Exercise
Patient Education
Instructor Training

Rokukan Tai Chi - Movement #9

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THE NINTH MOVEMENT
White Crane Spreads its Wings

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Preliminary Considerations

1. WHITE CRANE - This is a defense against an assailant who attempts (at the same time) to swing at - and kick - the disciple.

2. This movement is based on the image of a bird (a white crane) that is spreading its wings.

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The image of the crane appears repeatedly throughout all styles of the Oriental martial arts.

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3. In this movement, the disciple deals with a fifth agressor.

The fifth agressor is the only opponent in this movement.

4. This movement simultaneously blocks both a swinging punch and a kick.

5. This movement continues the balanced back stance, wherein all of the body weight is on the back foot. The front foot is lightly balanced on the ball of the foot, and is capable of being lifted up, or of kicking, without a resultant loss of balance.

6. There are two versions of the White Crane Spreading its Wings:

The first version is where both "wings" rise equally up to the sides (see the photo, above).

The second version is where one "wing" rises up to block a swinging punch, while the other "wing" sweeps down to "brush the knee" and deflect a kich.

Our movement #9 utilizes this (^) second version.

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WHITE CRANE

(Turning left 90º to face the West).

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The disciple is approached by a fifth and final agressor from the West who attempts to simulaneously chop at the disciple's head with his left hand and to kick the disciple with his right foot.

He or she counters by executing the famous White Crane Spreads Its Wings movement :

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The disciple shifts his or her back foot from stepping stone #3 to join the front foot over stepping stone #5 and then the back foot makes an "L" turn to the left and comes lightly to rest on the ball of the foot on stepping stone #6.
The weight does not shift - it remains over stepping stone #5.

(A 90º shift in direction)
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The disciple is approached by a fifth and final agressor from the West who simulaneously chops at the disciple's head with his left hand and kicks at the disciple with his right foot.

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1. The left foot moves forward so that both feet are over stepping stone #5.

2. The left foot then makes an "L" turn to the left and steps out on the ball of the foot to rest on stepping stone #6.

3. At the same time, the right hand rises up, palm outward, in front of the forehead (to block the chop), and the left hand swings down, palm outward (facing left) in the "Brush Knee" maneuver to block the incoming kick.

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Common Mistakes

1. Putting weight on the front foot in the "crane" posture.

The front foot must be lightly balanced on the ball of the foot so that it can kick, or be instantly lifted, without losing balance.

Sometimes the front foot is lifted up and held above the floor.
(See photo below)

2. "Brushing" (pushing) the left hand too far to the left when sweeping aside the opponent's kick.

The left hand stops right at the left edge of the left knee. This is adequate to deflect a kick just past the body. Pushing further outward only serves to open up your defenses.

3. Straightening the back leg when executing the White Crane.

If the body weight is not supported on the bent left knee, a loss of balance will occur.

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You may wish to tell your patients that :

A) This movement is relatively simple.

B) The White Crane is legendary and can be associated with:

The singing (whooping) sound produced by Bruce Lee in his movies. This is based on the sound made by a Whooping Crane.

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The stance developed and utilized by Ralph Macchio in the film, The Karate Kid.

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The Crane gesture in the Karate kata "Gankaku" (Crane on a Rock).

This gesture is reminiscent of our Tai Chi movements #9 White Crane Spreads its Wings, and #11 Straight Punch.

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