I. Mok Lik - Literally translated as eye power, think of mok lik as an engaged intent. Not adhering to Mok Lik will sacrifice the other five elements of good form with a top down effect. In applying Mok Lik the focus should be between the opponent's eyes; the so called third eye. By focusing on this point the head is held upright promoting proper structure and awareness. With practice the practitioner can learn to view their opponent through peripheral vision.
II. Jung Dao - Head Up and shoulders relaxed down. How the head is held determines the posture and the effectiveness of motion and reaction. Keep the head upright as if a string through the top of the head is suspending the entire posture. By keeping the shoulders down the trapezius muscle can relax for full-body movement as well as cultivating proper rooting. The shoulders should be relaxed sinking naturally downward. Properly relaxing the shoulders allows for the promotion of independence between the axial and appendicular skeletons.
III. Mai Jeong - Elbow inward toward the center and elevated to the thoraccic plane, which divides the upper body into top & bottom halves. Once in position, the elbow is considered immovable. Sink the elbow and drop the shoulders; Guarding the centerline to protect both flanks. Once proper elbow position is cultivated the concept of the immovable elbow is used to cause all action to rotate around this point. This allows the elbows to protect the dynamic centerline as it rotates around the practitioner. Here the energetic nature of Cho Keu (elbow too close) and Fay Jeong (elbow too far away) invites violation energies which destroy the other elements of good form. To avoid these deficiencies one should be continuously mindful of the elbow position.
IV. Ting Yu - The pelvis must be curled up under the body removing the lumbar curve. This straightening of the spine helps to connect the shoulders and waist allowing force to be transmitted to and from the ground.
V. Kim Sut - Knees pressed together to form the spring of the lower body allowing nearly complete lower body protection along with forward motion. This also cultivates your root applying resistance in the form of an arc against the ground. The knees should sink in and downward and not be pulled together. This pinched knee stance or grabbed goat stance helps to grip the ground forming a rooted base. With this stance the knees assume the job of shock absorption normally handled by the spine.
VI. Lok Mah - Lowering the stance. Maintain a posture as low as possible while supporting the weight by skeletal alignment, not by muscular stress. To maintain good balance of strength, grip the ground with the toes. In Wing Chun, stability is not found on top of the ground, but extends into the ground while the feet grab holding with the toes. Having a strong rooted base allows the upper body to remain light and nimble.
Tai Chi Orange County
