Training from Square to Round

One of the lessons Master Chen elaborated on at the recent New York workshop was the principle in taiji of training from ‘ Square to Round ‘. This is an abbreviation that describes the difference in the body ( and the resulting changes ) that are the result of training the foundational method of Yilu vs. Cannon Fist , which is the implementation of foundation , applied in martial technique.

The more full expression of ‘ square to round ‘ , that was discussed in the workshop, was that, in the Yilu, ” …..the inside is ‘ square ‘ and the outside is ‘ round ‘….. “, meaning the inside linear movements apprear as a circular move on the outside, and that in Erlu ( cannon fist ) , ” …..the inside is ‘ round ‘, and the outside is ‘ square ‘…..”, meaning the rotation of the inner core, is circular, but the outside of the body must have the ability to fold or ‘wrap’ around corners ( square ).