In the Tai Chi Chuan movements, the style of practicing Cloud Hands varies greatly. However, all Tai Chi schools refer to Cloud Hands as the “Mother Form,” indicating its extraordinary position in the Tai Chi technical system. This article analyzes the typical issues of Cloud Hands to provide some useful insights for fellow practitioners.
1. The Name of Cloud Hands
Regarding the origin of the name Cloud Hands, Mr. Hong Junsheng in his book “Practical Method of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan” suggests that the name “Cloud Hands” comes from its resemblance to clouds. Chinese paintings often depict clouds with spiral shapes to represent their rotation with the wind, and the alternating rotations of the hands in this move are similar to drawing clouds. Additionally, there are very graceful “Cloud Hands” combinations in classic dance movements, which may have inspired the naming of this circular movement in martial arts.
Chen Xin once said: Martial arts techniques often use left and right sides, so various routines still retain the prototype of Cloud Hands. In “Illustrated Explanation of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan,” Chen Xin refers to groups of Cloud Hands as “upper, middle, and lower,” with slight variations in footwork and hand techniques. In the Cannon Fist form, “single Cloud Hands” appear multiple times. Clearly, Cloud Hands, as a basic technical form of Tai Chi, remains independently present even though it has been integrated into various boxing forms.
2. The Spirit of Cloud Hands
In both civil and martial arts, the spirit is of utmost importance. Practitioners must maintain the Tai Chi spirit of neither resisting nor letting go. Guiding the entire body with the spirit and following the rules will lead to a state of “Tai Chi everywhere in the body.” Since Cloud Hands is the “Mother Form” of Tai Chi, its spirit embodies the spirit of Tai Chi practice and application.
Under normal circumstances, the focus of the spirit is divided into internal and external aspects. Internally, it is the random adjustment of internal force; externally, it is the timely observation with the eyes.
“Following the principles of Yi (Change), conforming to the rules of boxing, and governing the entire body” is the true state of the spirit of Cloud Hands.
3. The Trajectory of Cloud Hands
Although Cloud Hands is a simple circular movement, the requirements are strict and difficult to grasp without personal instruction. Moreover, different styles have different requirements. Here, taking Hong’s transmission of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan as an example, the trajectory of Cloud Hands is explained.
Generally, solo practice of Cloud Hands starts with single Cloud Hands because double Cloud Hands are merely an alternation of the two hands. Understanding single Cloud Hands naturally leads to an understanding of double Cloud Hands. Single Cloud Hands can be practiced with fixed steps or moving steps. For beginners, fixed steps reduce difficulty and make it easier to learn. Traditional single Cloud Hands practice can be divided into forward and reverse forms. The following explains the movement trajectory of fixed step right single forward Cloud Hands.
Preparation: Horse Stance Opening Hand
Stand in a right-side horse stance, eyes looking forward to the right, left hand on the waist with the elbow slightly forward and down, right hand extends forward and rightward, elbow slightly sunk, right arm slightly bent, palm facing diagonally forward and downward, fingers at a height between the shoulder and the eyebrows. The right hand and right foot coordinate up and down.
First Move: Elbow Withdrawal and Hand Coiling
Eyes look forward to the right, internal qi slightly relaxed and sunk, waist and hips move with lifting and sinking force, body turns left, right elbow withdraws to the right rib, right hand coils and withdraws simultaneously. Palm facing diagonally forward and downward, fingers at a height between the shoulder and the elbow. Fingers lead the force, elbow should not be tight but relaxed and drooping.
Second Move: Combining Hand Press and Lean
Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body continues to turn left, elbow slightly sinks, right hand coils and withdraws to about ten centimeters in front of the chest. Palm does not cross the body’s midline, facing diagonally leftward and upward, fingers leading the force. The right shoulder and elbow generate pressing and leaning force, maintaining a central and upright posture.
Third Move: Right Turn and Press
Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body turns right, elbow slightly sinks with a reverse coil of the hand, right hand positioned about twenty to thirty centimeters in front of the right shoulder. Palm facing diagonally forward and downward, fingers leading the force. The elbow should be relaxed and sunk, generating pressing and leaning force, with the outside of the palm intended to move to the upper right. Maintain a central and upright posture.
Fourth Move: Right Turn and Press and Pluck
Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body continues to turn right, right hand reverse coils, right hand positioned about fifty centimeters in front and to the right of the shoulder. Palm facing diagonally forward and downward, fingers leading the force, finger tips align with the right toe. Right forearm and palm generate pressing and plucking force, maintaining a central and upright posture.
Key Points:
Throughout the forward Cloud Hands process, maintain the body method of “upper leading, lower sinking, middle rotating.” Eyes look forward to the right, with “hand leads elbow” when extending and “elbow leads hand” when withdrawing, coordinating up and down, staying relaxed with internal force neither resisted nor let go, showing a state of yin and yang balance. The trajectory of the right forward Cloud Hands is a clockwise path, with a diagonal outer large and inner small “duck egg shape.”
Correct fixed step Cloud Hands practice should be focused on the spirit, with even speed, smooth movements, and coordinated opening and closing. Drawing circles involves the proper rotation of the three sections of the arm and the whole body, which is the essence of Cloud Hands practice.
4. The Practicality of Cloud Hands
As the Mother Form, Cloud Hands naturally contains the offensive and defensive meanings of boxing techniques. The process of drawing circles with Cloud Hands represents an ideal model of integrated offense and defense. The coordinated operation of the three sections of the arms and the torso and lower limbs forms the best dynamic structure for human offense and defense. Every point should be in a Tai Chi state, combining offense and defense, and integrating opening and closing.
For example, in the first move of forward Cloud Hands, “elbow withdrawal and hand coiling,” if the opponent presses my right wrist and elbow with both hands, I relax and sink my right shoulder and elbow while withdrawing the elbow inward, drawing an arc with the right palm pointing outward and downward. The simultaneous withdrawal of the elbow and hand completes the movement. The coiling of the palm and fingers is a tight release of the distal section, while the withdrawal of the elbow is a neutralization of the middle section, putting the opponent in a difficult position of “falling into emptiness” and “being countered,” leading to their defeat if they are not highly skilled.
Of course, the ideal Tai Chi state is relative. We cannot ignore the importance of technical refinement and mental cultivation. Practically, as long as the concept is correct, practicing any form can achieve a Tai Chi state. Conversely, practicing Tai Chi without understanding its principles is blind and self-deceptive, with no practical use. Therefore, we should start with Cloud Hands training, learning by analogy. Only through persistent and correct practice can we achieve a state of “Tai Chi everywhere in the body,” gaining advantages in push-hands and real combat.