Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts Blog

Where Does Tai Chi Movement Begin? Geek Out with Me

internal body mechanics internal connections studying tai chi studying taiji Jul 10, 2025

This is the type of question that gets the juices...errr...I mean the Qi flowing.

Are you ready to geek out with me?

Where does movement begin in Tai Chi (also spelled Taiji)?

During my first ten years of Taiji study, I was given abstract, near-mystical ideas of what internal movement was. I have read countless books and magazine articles that describe internal movement in ways that are, frankly, difficult to decipher. In 1997, I began studying Chen style, which takes a less mystical approach that is grounded in good body mechanics. Not everyone approaches it that way -- you'll find a Chen teacher occasionally who loves the woo woo, but as a group, they're pretty grounded, and that's a good term to use for this post.

Everybody has an opinion, and I am not going to say a different way is the wrong way, but I'll tell you what I think based on the past 37 years of my experience.

Let's pretend I am doing Laojia Yilu. I have completed "Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar" and have...

Author - Instructor

Ken Gullette

I have practiced martial arts since 1973 and began studying the internal arts in 1987. My goal is to cut years off your development time by coaching you in the real skills for high-quality Tai Chi, Xingyi, Bagua. To see more about my bio, click the "About Ken" link on the menu at the top of this page.

Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Where Does Tai Chi Movement Begin? Geek Out with Me

Author - Instructor

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