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In T’AI CHI, December 1982, Erle Montaigue has correctly pointed out that unless one does Taichichuan with all hands and feet on the ground, one cannot point the end of the tailbone to the ground. This nullifies one of the justifications for always keeping the trunk vertical in order that the tailbone may be perpendicular to the ground.

But we cannot find in the classics that the tailbone should be "plumb and erect," as quoted by Mr. Montaigue. and this interpretation is exactly how the erroneous justification started. The exact wording used in the classic for the tailbone are chung and cheng. Chung means centered, and cheng, according to our interpretation, means facing the correct direction so that the spine is not twisted. When the end of the tailbone points to one direction but the trunk faces another direction, the spine and trunk are twisted and the tailbone is no more cheng. A triangle, a pentagon, or any irregularly shaped article may be placed cheng without being straight or vertical.

Mr. Montaigue has introduced a new factor. He said, by turning the buttocks under, "the five lumbar vertebrae are in a straight line rather than naturally curved." This statement is entirely different from making the tailbone straight. But then why does the classic use the term tailbone?

It is unknown if the lumbar vertebrae may be completely straight. If one bends his both knees forward, half squatting, with the trunk perpendicular to the ground, and with an intentional effort to straighten the lumbar vertebrae, the curvature of these vertebrae may be reduced. But this posture is different from the Taichichuan forward archery stance when one leg is at the front and one leg at the rear. In such a stance, when you apply forward strength which reaches both forearms and make an effort to straighten the lumbar vertebrae, a forward inclined trunk can straighten such vertebrae just as easy as, if not easier than, a vertical trunk. This can be tested.

Even with Mr. Montaigue’s revised statement, it still cannot justify the vertical trunk posture. In Yang Cheng-fu’s and Wu Chian-chuan’s forward inclined trunks, they also tuck in their buttocks and keep their trunks almost "straight," through the lumbar vertebrae, in line with their rear legs. (See figures in T’AI CHI, August 1982 and January 1983) Tucking in the buttocks, relative to the lumbar vertebrae, is a general principle applicable to all styles of Taichichuan, and not a special characteristic of a vertical trunk. There is no implication that, by tucking in the buttocks, there must be a break of the straight line with the rear leg to the back.

There could be a possible reason for keeping the trunk vertical. Not every beginner can properly imitate Yang Cheng-fu’s forward-inclined trunk, forming a straight line with his rear thigh and calf. It needs very careful instruction and correction by the instructor. Such careful teaching is difficult in the hasty learning of modern ages. Failure to do it correctly may result in protruding the buttocks rearward. A sure way to tuck in the buttocks is to sacrifice part of the strength transmitted forward from the rear leg by bending the hips or rear knee forward to break the straight line between the trunk and rear thigh or calf. Of course, it is better to reduce the forward inclination of the trunk than having the buttocks protruded rearward, if one must choose between the two. But one should not misinterpret the classic to justify the vertical trunk.

Although Taichichuan is an ancient exercise, revision may still be considered if we have a sound and indisputable reason for improving it. But we must make a thorough study to justify the proposed revision before we take any action.

Taichichuan consists of continuous interplay between yin and yang. When you become yin to loosen your joints and round your arms to store up your energy, your trunk is, in most cases, almost vertical. When you step forward, line up your joints, apply your integrated supple strength starting from your rear foot through your calf, thigh, waist, and back to your forearms for an attack, you become yang in your reaching forward. Such interplay is the essence of this exercise and self-defense system. You do not continuously maintain either a perpendicular posture or a forward inclined posture.

It is incorrect to avoid applying strength in Taichichuan, which means being purely yin. Strength is very much emphasized in Taichichuan classics. One can easily quote from such sources dozens of references on strength. The key is when to apply strength and what type of strength is applied to meet each situation.

Mr. Montaigue compared certain postures of Shaolin with Taichichuan. If we look at the many photographs in periodicals such as "Inside Kung-fu" and "Black Belt," we will find that most of the other martial arts have a much more vertical trunk than the forward archery stance of Yang Cheng-fu and Wu Chian-chuan. To compare with Shaolin, readers might also read the quoted comments of Cheng Chiu-yin in T’AI CHI, October 1982.

Mr. Montaigue wrote, "if the body is vertical then the muscles of the back are in a state of balance and are not tense." But in the classics, there is a sentence "issue strength from the spine (back)." The back is relaxed when you are in a state of yin. But when you become yang to issue your forward strength, the strength is issued through your back. this issuance of strength is immediately released after such a posture.

Mr. Montaigue said, "Shaolin animal forms are the ones which have the backbone in a straight line with the back foot, i.e., they gain strength from the direct connection." In T’AI CHI, February 1981, one will find the following translation from Chen Wei-ming explaining this point in Taichichuan. "...when you attack your opponent, every part, from your feet to your legs, waist, shoulders, elbows, and hands, is joined together so that you may shoot like an arrow. You must be able to disintegrate, be able to integrate, be able to be soft, be able to be hard, be able to retreat, be able to advance, be able to be light, and be able to be firm. These are the subtleties of Taichichuan."

As a matter of fact, Taichichuan experts who do their one-person exercise with vertical trunks still incline their trunks forward in their forward attacks, just like the forward archery stance of Yang Cheng-fu. This can be illustrated in the photographs of Cheng Man-ch’ing in Robert Smith’s "Chinese Boxing," p. 37. Although Cheng does his one-person Taichichuan with a vertical trunk, he uses exactly the strong stance objected to by Mr. Montaigue in his attacking an opponent, with the "backbone in a straight line with the back foot." In fact, from the picture, one may see that his trunk was inclined more forward than Yang Cheng-fu’s.

One more word needs clarification. Mr. Montaigue wrote that the son (Yeung Sau-chung) "said nothing of bending forward." But his father never bent forward. In a forward archery stance, Yang Cheng-fu let his trunk follow the naturally inclined forward straight line extending upward from his rear leg. Without a break in between, there is no bending either forward or backward. In fact, keeping the trunk vertical is actually bending backward at the hips (or at the rear knee) in a forward archery stance.

Mr. Montaigue also wrote, "If the body is bent (leaned) forward, then extra muscles must be used to hold the upper body up, whereas, if the body is vertical then the muscles of the back are in a state of balance and are not tense." This depends on the length of the foot step and the shape of the posture. In Yang Cheng-fu’s forward postures, his foot step is very long and his front knee generally does not surpass the ball of his foot. His forward inclined trunk is therefore well centered and balanced and he does not need special effort. Once a person is accustomed to such a posture, he will find it very natural and comfortable. In fact, if you imitate Yang’s latest feet position, with the rear foot pointing to the side, the front foot pointing to your front, the front knee bending much more than the rear knee and with a very long foot stance, a vertical trunk will strain your rear leg. When other martial artists use such similar foot stance with a vertical trunk, the difference between the bending of the two legs is not so great.

I appreciate the thoughtful and stimulating note of Mr. Montaigue. Starting from divergent emphasis and viewpoints, minds may not easily meet. But with an objective attitude, a reasoning mind and study of facts, it is hoped that thinking may gradually become closer and closer and approach the truth. Of course, like most arts and certain sciences, full agreement on every aspect is not expected and not always desirable.

Wu Ta-yeh teaches in Palo Alto, CA, and is a regular contributor.