Dan Tian is the core of TaiChi Chuan. Dan means life essence and Tian means field. Some call it "Field of Elixir". It is in your lower abdomen where resides reproduction organ, small intestine and colon. We chinese believe that life starts from here(reproduction organ), health starts from here(small intestine) and death also starts from here(colon). We have a saying: death starts from colon.
DanTian Drill is the best way to cleanse your body. Taichi Chuan is internal organ message and Dantian focused exercise. We call TaiChi internal style because it is inside job. All the movements are from inside, the core area of Dantian. Without Dantian, there is no Taichi but totally external and empty movements.
1) Dan Tian Breathing
Six moves of inhaling and exhaling to complete one cycle.
Inhale: breath in normally and raise hands to TanZhong (Central Altar)
Exhale; breath out reversely and point thumbs to QiHai (Ocean of Qi)
Inhale: middle fingers point to MingMen (Life Gate)
Exhale: squatting down, relax and adjust breathing
Inhale: massage Dantian
Exhale: LaoGong and YongQuan meet
Option one: just do step 3 & 6
Option two: just do step 1,2,3 & 6
2) Dan Tian Rotation
Horizontal circulation: Qi-Hai and Ming-Men
Vertical circulation: Hui-Yi, Ming-Men, Jia-Ji, Tan-Zhong, and Qi-Hai
Diagonal circulation: Figure 8 movement
3) Dan Tian Application
Dan Tian Application is achieved by doing Dan Tian 24 Circling Movements ( 24 Yin-Yang symbol Circling). This drill is designed to co-operate internal Dan Tian movement with external arm movements.
Dan Tian 24 Circling Drills
Holding ball left side and open right side
Right hand clockwise circling
Right hand clockwise plus small circling
Right hand counter-clockwise circling
Right hand counter-clockwise plus small circling
Holding ball right side and open left side
Left hand counter-clockwise circling
Left hand counter-clockwise circling plus small circling
Left hand clockwise circling
Left hand clockwise plus small circling
Double hands cross circling
Figure eight circling
Holding ball both sides
Double hands clockwise circling
Double hands counter-clockwise circling
Open right close left
Open left close right
Left side double hands clockwise circling
Left side double hands counter-clockwise circling
Right side double hands counter-clockwise circling
