Open/Close! A pretty simple concept, right? You open a door or drawer and you close it! So how does that translate to Open/Close as a concept in Tai Chi? Many practitioners are familiar with the term “Open/Close as it relates to SUN-style Tai Chi. However, Open/Close is an essential concept for practicing most, if not all, forms of Tai Chi.
Let’s look at how this concept relates to Tai Chi: In Tai Chi, Open means opening, usually joints (some call them hinges)! When we Open, we move a particular body “part” away from the center of our body and outward. In Closing, we close the hinges, bringing the body“part” inward, towards our center.
Open/Close is also known as Kai-He (开合) and is usually translated “Open Close”. “Kai” means open, while “He” in Kai-he is usually translated as “connect”, bring together” or to “correlate”. Kai-He could also be called “disconnect-connect” or “loosen up to stabilize”. The “Kai”movement opens the body and allows Qi to flow. “He”means connecting the body to let the Qi flow to and through the limbs.Simply stated, they mean: “Open the flow and connecting it”.
As you might expect, there are many methods, techniques, and interpretations of practicing Opening and Closing. It often depends on the lineage of the form you are learning, the purpose of your particular form, your instructor (their background and training), your skill, your understanding, etc. There are also many different steps, stages, and routes to practicing Open and Close. What may be appropriate for one person may be inappropriate for another. This can make learning difficult for a student who learns from different teachers.
Another way of explaining this concept is viewing Kai as internal tissue stretching and He as contracting. You should be able to feel a sensation when this is done correctly. This expanding (stretching) and contracting cause Qi (or energy to flow). The slower you do these movements, the “stronger you feel the resistance coming from opening and closing the joints”, giving your body an “internal workout”!
When Opening or Closing, your breathing can be “normal”. However, if your breathing is matched (or synchronized, if you prefer that term) with the movements, you will probably feel a deeper level of connection! In this case, breathe in when you Open and out when you Close.
Be sure you are using proper alignment and that your stance is strong. Starting with Wu Chi (Wuji) would be ideal! It is essential that you be Song (or loose if you prefer that term) to ensure that there is no stiffness and that the whole body is involved in the movement. It is also beneficial to be in a semi-meditative state with your mind focused on the joints (or hinges) that you plan to Open and those that you plan to Close. You should feel continuous joint resistance when you are either Opening or Closing. Does this make your Tai Chi experience more intense? Absolutely!
By now you probably appreciate that Open/Close is NOT as easy to understand as it sounds! in Tai Chi, when one body part Opens, another Closes. Remember that alone, Open or Close do not mean anything. One needs the other. Opening motions (and Closing motions) can be either upward or downward, forwards or backwards. In other words, they are complementary or opposites (yes, just like Yin and Yang). In fact, if a practitioner has a high level of skill, the Opening and Closing can be a combination of both internal and external. Opening can be external with the Closing being internal or the opposite can be true.
Let’s talk about Open/Close in the SUN-style Tai Chi: When you exhale, you Open your body/spine (as your hands come back to center), which condenses and gathers Qi, letting it sink in. When you inhale and Close your body (namely your spine), as you open your arms/shoulders. However, your Qi opens and moves. When turning, we use an “Open/ Close” hand movement to show transitioning (usually changing direction) and linking (or connecting). Like other styles of Tai Chi, Sun-style is “gentle, smooth, and soft”. The movements are brisk and fluid, and one uses the mind (intent) instead of physical force, to direct the Qi (energy) and to move the body.
Another explanation of Open/Close: When you Open in Tai Chi form, you physically Open your shoulder socket/blades (and sometimes pelvic joints or Kua) outwards and away from your center. Obviously, Closing means moving back towards your center. This explanation addresses many of the Tai Chi movements where we Open and Close our joints and body parts throughout many different forms.
Another interpretation (Open & Close Dantian) brings the hands in the area of the Dantian. In this method, when you exhale your spine Closes from the top down and you lower your gaze to no more than 45 Degrees below the horizon. During your exhale, your weight shifts toward your heels and your palms “coil back to back” in front of the Dantian, approximately a fist’s width apart. Be sure not to coil closer than one fist, which is felt to “oppress the heart and lungs”. When you inhale, raise your crown and your weight now shifts to the Bubbling Well. This separates the palms to the width of the body, gently facing the thighs. This Opening action will naturally separate the palms to the bodies width but the gaze will rise to not more than 45 Degrees above the horizon . This is considered one cycle. It is recommended that you do this 7 times.
It is hard to explain but let me simplify it: Imagine inhaling and scooping hands in from sides but turning them back-to-back before they touch. Then turning palms out and pushing out as you exhale. I think this video might make it easier. https://zhongdingtaichi.com/open-close-dantian-and-heaven-earth-sink-float/
If you are a Tai Chi practitioner, I imagine you can think of several postures where we open and close the body! Opening movements, expand the body outwards. Closing movements contract the body inwards. They actually happen simultaneously and continuously. When one opens, the other closes! For example, how about Ward-Off? Opening? How about Roll Back? Brush knee? Bow stance? Just about every Tai Chi movement involves Open/Close!
As requested by several readers over the last couple of years, I am enclosing several examples of YouTube videos. Disclaimer: These are just examples of “what is out there”. I am not suggesting they are great, mediocre, or lacking. You be the judge!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRD-2aYE9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKUn7F5VJKg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7_4zojQP8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7_4zojQP8
Here is what we need to remember when we are practicing Tai Chi: When Yin closes, Yang opens. Keep this in mind when you are practicing Tai Chi. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvement in your form!
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