I’m sure most of us have done things the same way we were taught for many years and never questioned why! This is why I so appreciate my “engaged” students asking questions in class. It makes me (and everyone else) think!!
One of my students recently asked why we started Tai Chi forms with our left foot! Good question! This woman is thinking and yet, after teaching more than 20 years (and learning under several different Masters), I didn’t have an answer! I don’t lie nor make up things, so said that I didn’t know, but what a great idea for research and a blog. A lively class discussion followed. We discussed many possible reasons, such as writing in Chinese, dominant hand, etc.
Evidently, an Instructor at Brighton Centre, had the same question and after researching, sent out numerous queries to “experts”. Answers ranged from stating that many Tai Chi and Qigong forms start on the right. OK, but that’s not an answer why at least the majority of forms start out on the left, is it? This comment followed with a few ideas but no real plausible answer.
My favorite response from one expert: “Lots of things in life have no real answer.” OK, the message here is that you can’t have everything and you need to practice acceptance of the unknown. Hmmm!
Another answer: “Taiji and Qigong movements both originated from martial arts.” My comment: Qigong is much older than Tai Chi! Originally, Qigong strictly involved meditation with little to no movement. Martial arts movements enhance Qi, so do Qigong movements. Today, most martial arts are practiced primarily for health, however, we should not forget that the martial “underpinnings still prevail.”
Another expert talked about martial arts attacks usually coming from the right side and the fact that most people are right handed, so prefer punching with their right hand. In Tai Chi, the left side is considered defensive. Also, keep in mind that Tai Chi practitioners usually do not initiate fights. The same expert reminds us that martial-arts salutes usually cover the right (aggressive) hand with the left. This implies respect, humility, and friendship. The same expert states that Yin is left (in this case) and “always takes precedence” over Yang (the right). I have to add another “Hmmm” here!
Last, but not least, a well-known Master, whom I very much respect, commented that left stepping out has to do with old Chinese culture. I quote: "nan-zuo-nu-you’, means man on the left-side and lady on the right side, and means left is superior to the right.” This is certainly discriminatory (no surprise there), as well as confusing when you read what is stated in the paragraph above. Of course, the above paragraph does state “in this case”.
History tells us that in the Chen village (over 400 years ago), only males were allowed to learn Tai Chi. The fear was that the daughters (when they married) would reveal Tai Chi secrets to their husbands, who were non-Chen family members. Therefore, Tai Chi would be taught outside the family! For more information, see my Blog on this history of Chen Family Tai Chi.
Like everything, there are certainly more theories on why the left foot moves first. However, after a pretty thorough search, I could not find more answers to this question. I’d love to hear from others who might have some additional ideas or theories on this subject!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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