Tai Chi: Kicking in 4 Directions

Video Transcript

"In this sequence, we are going to talk about kicking in the four directions. If you need to, for balance, I highly recommend that you hold onto a chair. Because we are very concerned with the quality of movements. So, you can use a chair for balance. Find one that is not too high, because it will push your shoulder up. So, actually this one, even better if I was a little taller or if the chair was a little shorter, so I can have my hand down a little bit. What we want to do is we are going to kick in four directions. So, we are going to lift our leg. And, I recommend that you kick with the inside leg to the chair. Not to the outside leg. Kick with the inside leg. Use your heel and kick outward. And, because you are holding onto a chair you will have a little better balance. However, if your balance is still trouble, kick down very low. Then, bring the foot in and kick backward. Using your hip joint. Bring the foot in, and then kick across the body using your heel. If you notice, my foot is flexed. My toe is not pointed. So, it is a flexed foot. Then, bring the foot in and kick to the side. Do not kick your chair. Do not want to break your chair. Kick to the side. So, we kick forward, back, across, and to the side. And, you repeat with both legs. But, if you are going to switch the other leg, turn around or move the chair so you are kicking with that inside leg."