This is a snippet of the core of my training, the stuff I do that powers the other stuff, basically. Part of my healing and basic training regiment, not necesarrily "Tai Chi" of any particular stripe. It's just how I wake up my body and get it into a good state for dealing with somebody trying to knock me down. Also REALLY good for my spine and neck issues. When I neglect these I start having neck, back, and shoulder pain. Okay... knees and ankles too, sucks getting old.
When I keep up with them I maintain an ever more refined degree of articulation and strength in my spine and neck.
It is, essentially, a chop suey hodgepodge of methods I've collected over the years to serve my particular needs.
The Yi Quan section is based on postures taught to me by Ray Hayward, plus two from his Bagua mother palms.
The "Jin Gong" (my own term) section is based on what Ray taught as "standing elements" in his teaching of Wai Lun Choi's XIngyiquan. In that you stand in wuji and your upper body does the element. This helps focus on less things at once, isolate then integrate.
I do it a little different, and usually different than here.
Each of the movements is progressive and targets different aspects of movement. The waist turn and leg involvement increases with each evolution of the circles.
Normally, they would be as follows:
1) Up and down
2) Drilling
3) Play Guitar
4) Cloud Hands
5) Fair Lady
6) Brush Knee and Twist Step - Moving Forward
7) Repulse Monkey - Moving backward.
I just went off book a little, I dunno, wasn't intending to share a video but figured why not.