Song of Form Play (SFP)
1.1 Body still, mind calm.
1.2 Neither left, nor right,
1.3 Front or back;
1.4 Centrally balanced be.
Commentary :-
SFP 1.1 is an essential prerequisite for training the use of intention. This principle is taught at the very beginning of the 108 long form.
Basically SFP 1.1 requires us to take an unhurried approach to learning. Take things slowly so that you can feel better what is happening. If your mind is in a hurry and your body raring to move your mind-body becomes overly attached to certain feelings while missing out on others. It is good to be focused to moving forward but if you cannot feel properly what you are doing then you may actually work against your own progress.
SFP 1.2, SFP 1.3 & SFP 1.4 are meant to be considered together. However, for the purpose of this commentary I will examine each of them in turn and finally together as a one.
Below is a diagram I will use as a reference for this discussion.
SFP 1.2 is asking you to seek your balance by not leaning to the left or to the right. In this way you will be able to centralize your yourself laterally, gaining control of the Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane).
SFP 1.3 continues the exhortation to seek balance by not leaning forward or backward next. The teaches you not to lean forward to the point of compromising your balance in the forward direction. Controlling the anterior-posterior (sagittal plane) is important especially when you are in close proximity to the opponent.
SFP 1.4 states the outcome of achieving SFP 1.2 and SFP 1.3. By controlling your balance in the Frontal Plane and Sagittal Plane you can define a vertical axis. This enables you to rotate your body and / or to displace from Position X to Position Y with minimal loss of balance. In short, you move like a rotating sphere!
Once you grasped SFP 1.1 to 1.4 you will be able to move quickly and easily when you play the solo form. At a later stage you should learn to preserve and maintain this principle of a rotating sphere while playing push hands.
SFP 1.1 - 1.4 should be considered together with Song of Push Hands (SPH) 4.1 to 4.4 as listed in TaijiKinesis Vol 1 : Navigating the Taijiquan Maze (eBook published 2012) on page 101 Appendix B Principles Redefined.