If you search “Tai Chi on the internet”, you will most likely see a picture/drawing of a person doing Single Whip. Single Whip (aka dan bian)is a “signature” movement/posture found in just about every Tai Chi form and is probably one of the most repeated. It goes without saying that there are numerous interpretations and applications (particularly martial) of Single Whip.
Single whip is an extending, expansive, and opening type of energy movement. It is also excellent for improving balance and weight transfers.
Let’s first look at how/why the movement got its name. As one would expect, there are several different theories. Here are two theories.
Single Whip looks like someone carrying a yoke, on one side - thus “Single” - and a stick on the other. In ancient times, Chinese carried yokes (basically sticks across their shoulders and back). They usually had buckets of goods hung from the yoke ends. The “whipping motion” is controlled (not wild) and not usually a true whipping power.
Here’s another interpretation supposedly from Wikipedia: The original title of the move was “Carry Baskets” but due to an old translation to English from Chinese, it was misinterpreted to “Single Whip”.
Same name, different interpretation: At the end of the Single Whip posture in Yang and Chen styles, the left hand is usually palm outward (as in a push) and the right hand forms a hook, beak, or even a fist. In Sun and Wu/Hao styles, both hands are open with palms outward.
In last week’s blog, we discussed the confusion and different opinions on how and/or why a move is negotiated a certain way. Of course, Single Whip is no exception. If you want to check out what has been (or is being said) about this posture in the Yang form, check out the Yang Family Bulletin Board! There is always a lively, informative, (and often confusing) dialogue going on. When you check it out, don’t expect to find one “correct” way to do things.
Caution: Let’s be sure we don’t get paralysis by analysis and start over-analyzing every posture we do.
Now let’s look briefly at what practitioners have to say about the application and purpose of Single Whip:
At the beginning of the movement, there is “hooking and pull-down and push” with the right hand.
Potentially this is an opportunity for a covert (hidden) elbow strike when you turn around.
The whip hand points up to grab the “kicking leg”. The single whip lifts the leg high enough to drop your opponent.
The hook “locks the force” which allows the palm to shoot out with more power.
This posture provides “exploding force” through the front palm.
It’s an excellent way to learn fa jin aka fa jing (explosive power).
A few words about the “hook” or “beak”. It’s considered a chin na technique used to control/lock your opponent’s joints, muscles, or tendons. Because they are locked, their fighting ability is neutralized. For instance in Yang, one technique is to grab your opponent’s wrist with your one hand, pull it in one direction, while you strike them in the face with your other hand. You can also use your palm to strike the neck, lock or break an elbow, or even to throw your opponent.
Some practitioners consider the “hooked hand”(or beak) impractical; while most hard (external) martial artists see internal martial arts (aka softstyle) as “obscure, ambiguous and impractical”. The practitioners who actually understand “the hooked fist, with fingers grouped at the tip” realize that it is the most superior fist structure.
What about the internal body mechanics and principles of Single Whip:
It’s vital to be grounded, especially when stepping.
It requires internal strength/power, aka Peng Jin.
As goes without saying, when one body part moves, all body parts move.
It uses spiraling, silk-reeling type energy movement.
The Kua opens and closes.
All movement directed by the Dantian.
Tai Chi Whip examples and interpretations:
https://www.tiktok.com/@arthurtaichi.com/video/6846919492342156549
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dLchY8R6tUV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gRi3bF8sSlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtMsEjbmWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScG6XOkTvjE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVNlIc5ssFM
We’ll look at the fa jing/fa jin in Single Whip in the next blog.
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In case you haven’t seen it:
Artist Ju Ming’s Tai Chi Series, in particular his Single Whip sculpture, is considered his career milestone. His bronze sculpture Single Whip was acquired by the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan, and is still his most famous of his Tai Chi Series sculptures. For information regarding the famous Single Whip Sculpture: https://www.artsy.net/article/tanya-baxter-contemporary-ju-ming-taichi-series-single-whip.
Ju Ming’s Single Whip Sculpture