What is “Qigong Cloud Hands” ? Is it Qi gong?

Cloud Hands

• It is a very typical move in Tai Chi, considered the “mother move” of Tai Chi.

Basic Technique:

• While integrated into various forms of martial arts, Cloud Hands still exists in its original form.

Characteristics:

• Continuous motion
• Spiraling movements
• Coordination of the body with the waist
• The transformation between solid and empty
• Integration of upper and lower body

Name Origin:

• Derived from its resemblance to clouds.
• In Chinese painting, spirals depict clouds swirling in the wind.
• The alternating rotations of the hands in this movement resemble brushstrokes used to paint clouds, hence the name “Cloud Hands.”

How to practice qigong cloud hands

• Preparation: Horse Stance with Opening Hands
  • Stand in a right-side horse stance, eyes looking forward to the right.
  • Left hand on the waist, left elbow slightly forward and downward.
  • The right hand extends forward to the right, elbow slightly lowered, right arm slightly bent.
  • The right palm faces diagonally downwards to the right, fingers at a height between the shoulder and eyebrow.
  • The right hand and right foot coordinate with each other.
• First Movement: Retract Elbow and Coil Hand
  • Eyes look forward to the right, inner qi slightly relaxed and sunk.
  • Waist and hips generate a lifting and sinking force, body turns to the left.
  • Right elbow retracts towards the right rib, right hand simultaneously coils and retracts.
  • Palm faces diagonally to the right front, fingers at a height between the shoulder and elbow.
  • Fingers lead the movement without losing force, elbow remains relaxed and not tightly held.
• Second Movement: Combine Hands and Press
  • Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body continues to turn left.
  • The right elbow slightly sinks the right coils, and retracts to about 10 cm in front of the chest.
  • Palm does not cross the body’s midline, facing diagonally up to the left rear.
  • Fingers lead the movement without losing force.
  • Right shoulder and elbow exert a pressing force, body remains upright and centered.
• Third Movement: Right Turn, Press, and Push
  • Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body turns right.
  • The elbow slightly sinks, hand coils counterclockwise.
  • The right hand is positioned about 20 to 30 cm in front and outside of the right shoulder.
  • Palm faces diagonally forward and downward, and fingers lead the movement without losing force.
  • The elbow relaxes and sinks, exerting a pressing and pushing force.
  • The outside edge of the palm aims upwards to the right, body remains upright and centered.
• Fourth Movement: Right Turn, Press, and Pluck
  • Eyes continue to look forward to the right, body continues to turn right.
  • Right-hand coils counterclockwise, positioned about 50 cm in front and outside of the right shoulder.
  • Palm faces diagonally downwards to the right front, fingers lead the movement without losing force, and fingers align with the right toes.
  • Right forearm and wrist exert a pressing and plucking force, body remains upright and centered.

Tips for practicing Qigong Cloud Hands

• Key Points in Practicing Tai Chi Cloud Hands:
  • Maintain the body method of “lifting up, sinking down, and rotating in the middle” throughout the entire right Cloud Hands movement.
  • Eyes should focus on the right front.
  • When extending the hand, the “hand leads the elbow”; when retracting the hand, the “elbow leads the hand”.
  • Coordinate the opening and closing of the upper and lower body, remaining relaxed while maintaining internal energy in a balanced yin-yang state.
  • The movement of the right Cloud Hands follows a clockwise trajectory, forming an oblique path resembling a large outer and small inner “duck egg net”.
  • Proper Cloud Hands practice should be focused, with even speed, smooth movements, and coordinated opening and closing.
  • The true essence of Cloud Hands practice lies in the proper rotation of the three sections of the arm and the entire body while drawing circles.
• Practice Requirements:
  • Continuity: Practice continuously, using intention rather than force.
  • Seamless Transition: One Cloud Hand follows another without interruption, forming a continuous cycle.
  • Consistency: Movements should be uninterrupted, like the flowing waters of the Yangtze River and the ocean, with no pauses in between.
• Footwork:
  • Avoid double weighting: Both feet should not bear the body’s weight simultaneously.
  • As soon as one heel is firmly planted, the other heel should lift off the ground, creating a seesaw-like alternation between the feet.
• Hand Movement:
  • Base movements on waist and hip rotations.
  • The waist acts as the axis, with the limbs functioning like wheels.
  • The waist is crucial for adjusting the body’s balance, and stability, and transferring force to the limbs.
• Rotation Technique:
  • Rotate with the waist and spine as the axis, moving slowly without arbitrary swinging.
  • Maintain an upright upper body, avoiding leaning forward or backward, and keeping the “tailbone straight”.
• Arm Coordination:
  • Arms should rotate in sync with the waist.
  • The left turn emphasizes the left-hand lifting, while the right turn emphasizes the right-hand lifting.
  • One hand leads while the other follows, moving up and down, left and right, in coordinated motion.
  • Elbows should not lift; the forearms should rotate softly and maintain a curved shape.
• Uniform Movements:
  • Ensure each movement is even and consistent.
  • When stepping out with the left leg, move slowly and place it gently on the ground.
  • When lifting the right leg, do so slowly, bringing it close to the left with a shoulder-width distance.
• Benefits and Application:
  • Mastering Cloud Hands leads to a natural understanding of using the waist as the central axis for whole-body force.
  • Hand movements, driven by waist rotations, flow smoothly, with the steps following the body’s movement and the form responding to the intention.
  • From a combat perspective, the circular movements of Cloud Hands train an integrated attack and defense mode.
  • In practical applications, movements can be adapted for left or right, advancing or retreating, greatly enhancing combat skills.