Yang Chengfu summarized the practice of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan into ten essentials: "Empty the mind and top up the energy, contain the chest and pull up the back, relax the waist, distinguish between solid and empty, sink the shoulders and drop the elbows, use intent not force, coordinate the upper and lower body, harmonize the inside and outside, continue movements without interruption, and find stillness in motion.
Tung Ying-Chieh (董英杰) was a prominent figure in the world of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), celebrated for his profound contribution to the martial art's development and dissemination. Born in 1897 in Ren County, Hebei Province, China, Tung was introduced to martial arts at a young age. His dedication and talent in martial arts led him to become one of the most respected Tai Chi masters of the 20th century.
In the words of Grandmaster Yang Chengfu in "Ten Essentials of Taijiquan": "Sink the shoulders and drop the elbows. To sink the shoulders means to relax and allow them to hang down. If they cannot be relaxed and allowed to hang down, then the two shoulders will lift up, and the qi will also rise, causing the entire body to lose strength. To drop the elbows means to let the elbows hang down loosely. If the elbows are raised, the shoulders cannot sink, and the opponent can easily break your structure, similar to the external martial arts' concept of breaking power."