Issue 78 - Tse Qigong Centre

Hands or Circle Hands. The pronunciation in Chinese is very
similar, particularly in the dialect of Chenjiagou. So it is easy
to use a different name without realising it. This is particularly
true in the old times and martial arts skills were not written
down in books or notes, they were only passed down by listening
to the teacher.
In the movement, one hand circles clockwise and the
other anti-clockwise. So it covers all angles of attack and, of
course, the movement can also be used to attack our opponent
as well. The poem of the movement says, “Upper hand covers
the eyebrow level and the lower hand covers the Dantian.” If
Fig 77
Fig 77 (back)
13. High Pat on Horse
Fig 75 Fig 76
i. Keep the same position with the body and the weight on
the right leg, but rotate the hands so the right hand circles
down and the left hand circles up. Fig 75
ii. Turn the body to face the left, but keep the weight on the
right leg. Let the left hand drop down so that it is in front
and level with the left shoulder. Meanwhile, lift up the
right hand so that it is behind your head. Fig 76
iii. Shift your weight on to the left leg and turn the body 180
degrees, so that you are now facing the opposite direction.
your level is good enough and you know how to use Circle
Hands you can apply it to any attack that comes to you.
In the Chen family’s Laojia and 19 movement forms
the stepping in Circle Hands is the same as in the Yang style.
One foot steps out and the other then moves next to it. You
can actually step either to the left or right when you need to
apply it, but in the form we go to the left. In the Xinjia (New
Frame) the feet cross over in Circle Hands. This makes it
convenient to turn the body, however, we should be careful
crossing our legs when we are fighting at close distance as this
is dangerous.
Fig 78
Fig 78 (back)
Bring the right leg next to the left, at the same time, bring
the left hand in a little and move the right hand so the
palm is next to the right ear and the elbow is above the
left palm. Fig 77
iv. Change your weight from the left leg to the right, push the
right hand out to the side and withdraw the left across the
chest finishing on the left side. At the same time allow the
weight to sink down a little. Fig 78
Qi Magazine Jan/Feb/Mar 2006 page 37