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Therapeutic Exercise
Patient Education
Instructor Training

Rokukan Tai Chi - Movement #11

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THE ELEVENTH MOVEMENT
Straight (Reverse) Punch

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Preliminary Considerations

1. STRAIGHT PUNCH - This is the final defense against an attacker who needs to be disabled in order to cease his aggressive behavior.

2. In this movement, the disciple is still dealing with the fifth and final agressor.

The fifth agressor is the only opponent in this movement.

3. This movement shifts from a back stance, wherein 70% of the body weight is on the back foot, to a front stance, where 60% of the weight is on the front foot.

4. This movement introduces the full focus, a phenomenon wherein every muscle is simultaneously contracted and then immediately relaxed.

5. Note that this movement (#11) Straight Punch, and the previous movement (#10) Sword Circle, flow together in one continuous motion :

But the maneuver is complex, and so we study it in two parts.

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STRAIGHT PUNCH

(Still facing West).

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The disciple disables the agressor by delivering a straight punch with full focus.

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The disciple shifts the entire body weight forward and focuses.
The weight shifts forward to #6 and comes into focus.

(No change in direction)

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The disciple disables the agressor with a straight punch

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The circling sword-hand has continued around in a full counter-clockwise circle and comes to rest in front of the solar plexus with the palm facing up as though it were holding a bowl of soup.

1. As it comes to rest, the left hand reaches out (in a "cross-over" of the right wrist) to grasp the agressor's left wrist or forearm.

2. The right hand draws back toward the right hip in a fist with the palm facing upward, and the hip cocks back like a spring.

3. The disciple then pulls back with the left hand, drawing the agressor forward. At the same time, the right hip rotates forward, the weight shifts forward, and the right hand punches straight forward into the agressor's floating ribs - or into the temple - on the left side.

4. At the point of contact, every muscle in the disciple's body contracts and then immediately releases.

This is called Full Focus. It is the only point in the linked form where flowing motion is momentarily fixed.

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Common Mistakes

1. Confusing the timing of the "crossover" at the beginning of this maneuver.

2. Not pulling the right fist fully back toward the right hip into a "cocked" position.

3. Failure to initiate the punch with a forward rotation of the right hip.

4. Failure to pull back hard with the left hand and arm while keeping the right hand and arm loose.

5. Partially contracting all the muscles at the point of full focus.

All of the muscles in the body must simultaneously contract and then immediately release.

 

Question #9

What is the term for simultaneously contracting all of the muscles in the body?

Write " full focus " on your Course Project Form.

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You may wish to tell your patients that :

A) This is the final movement (except for the closing).

B) This is called a "Reverse" punch because it is delivered on the side of the body where the back foot is rooted.

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