Sinclair Martial ArtsSchedule Appointment
  • About
  • Videos / Lessons
  • Membership
    • Join Today!
    • Manage Account
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • Location
  • Schedule a Lesson
Join Today!

Sign in.

Help keep this site alive.

Donate

Recent Posts

  • True power is integrative, not distributive
  • Don’t call it “chi”. Call it subtlety.
  • Questions, questions, questions. Students must ask more questions. (video)
  • “The technique is not about the technique”
  • “Internal Power Contains External Power”

Non-members:

Sign up for the free newsletter.

* indicates required
Email Format

Sinclair Internal Artslogo

13 – Elbow / 肘 zhǒu

Posted on 7 September, 2020 by Sinclair Martial Arts6 April, 2021
Private: Basic movements 13 – Elbow / 肘 zhǒu

Elbow strike is one of the basic secondary techniques in tai chi, and represents one of the 8 fundamental “energies” or dimensions of martial applications.

While this particular movement is archetypal, it is not the only way in which elbows can be applied. Any number of elbow strike, press, throw or joint control techniques can be used that conform to tai chi principles.

The knee strike is also and expression of the “elbow” energy, the knee being the elbow of the leg.

An important thing to remember is that the power for the elbow strike comes from the legs, and not from movement of the shoulder or arm. It can be very tempting to try to add shoulder muscle to the action. But this would be counterproductive. The arm holds the shape. It does not contribute to the motion.

Elbow Right: (Front view and follow view)

Elbow Right:

Elbow Left:

Previous Lesson
Back to Course
Next Lesson
GoToOlder PostNewer PostAll Posts

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Cookie Policy

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
Membership website powered by MembershipWorks