Chang Taiji Palm Shape

[johnwang]

In Chang Taiji, the palm shape may be different from the other Yang Taiji. In Chang Taiji, the palm shape is like the "clay roof tile" that

- 4 fingers touching to each other,
- all fingers bend slightly inward, with
- tiger mouth open wide.



This is a very important guideline used in Chang Taiji for the following reasons:

- Your 4 fingers are unified as 1.
- It's harder to have individual finger to be jammed.
- That's exactly how you will grab on your opponent's wrist.

Do you think this guideline is also important in your Yang Taiji? Your thought?

[Ralteria]

I've been taught several hand positions for Taiji, but not that one. I can see why that position would be important in Chang's Taiji as it emphasizes throwing applications, no?

I was taught several hand shapes. Some emphasized grabbing, others hooking, smashing, chopping, etc. All had at least a slight curve to hollow out the hand in someway which is very good for grabbing. Most (not all) had the fingers spread at least slightly. I've found that spreading the fingers is good for developing hand and forearm strength. Good tendon strength for opening the hand helps to balance the strength in closing the hand and keeping the wrists healthy.

[yeniseri]

In order to grasp, prevent from grabbing, having a strong "bridge' that can counter grabbing, one needs hand positiong to hit, throw, maneuver, etc so any palm shape that can counter or incorporate such strategy should be the template. When I first learned Yang style "form" then a few years later learning a 2 man paired training, I noticed the latter had more pivoting, moving out of way and more importantly. stepping up movement (as in Sun shi taijiquan) so I patterned what I do now based on those movement than what people do in form. I still do the form but with a different mindset.

Keep in mind that I now have a big belly, a bald head and use a walker or crutches!

[Ron Panunto]

It sounds like the Chenjia palm, i.e., roof tile palm. In your Changjia palm do yo bring the base of the thumb over to form a hollow palm? It fits the opponent's elbow perfectly.

[ittokaos]

It sounds like the Chenjia palm, i.e., roof tile palm. In your Changjia palm do yo bring the base of the thumb over to form a hollow palm? It fits the opponent's elbow perfectly.

yeah, what Horshack said.

[SCMT]

It sounds like the Chenjia palm, i.e., roof tile palm. In your Changjia palm do yo bring the base of the thumb over to form a hollow palm? It fits the opponent's elbow perfectly.

yeah, what Horshack said.

yup

Also seen that in something similar in a version of Bagua, sorry I do not remember the style

[edededed]

Liang bagua uses walongzhang (瓦攏掌), i.e. "rooftiles together palm." Seems quite similar in a lot of ways.

[Pennykid]

Fu Style bagua also uses that palm.