Chen Taiji Cloud Hands

For students wishing to practice at home, here some resources to help. In the Chen style Tai Chi movement "Wave Hands like Clouds" (Yun Shou) this uses the double arm silk reeling movement with a side stepping action. The side stepping Chen style cloud hands movement, found in the short and long forms is based on the Chen Tai Chi silk reeling foundation drill called 'double arm front silk reeling' where both arms follow a positive/yang circle.  The hands and arms rotate and move in a circular pattern and is likened to the weaving motion of a silk worm. Practice the side stepping, front cross step and back cross stepping movements to develop your stepping and turns.

In the cloud hands silk reeling drill, the side step, back cross step and front cross step can be performed right to left, and left to right. In the Chen Tai Chi 18 form and 74 form (Laojia Yi Lu), cloud hands is performed from right to left. In the Chen Tai Chi Cannon Fists form (Laojia Er Lu), cloud hands is performed both ways.

To change direction, there is a foot work technique to turn around and face the other way, using a toe / heel pivot method.

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Side Step

When side stepping, the feet step together between each stepping motion. The foot on the advancing leg is angled outwards.

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Back Cross Step

When side stepping, step the foot behind at an angle, like a curtsy step, to aid a backward turn. Initially keep the weight on the front leg, then slowly shifting weight to the back cross step to continue side stepping.

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Front Cross Step

When side stepping, step the foot in front, like a forwards curtsy step, to aid a frontward turn. Initially keep the weight on the back leg, then slowly shifting weight to the front cross step to continue side stepping.

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View the following youtube clip from 3.16 minutes to 3.30 minutes for an example of the movement looking from behind.