#05 Principle - The 10 Essential Principles of Tai Chi - Drop the Shoulders, Drop the Elbows

Dropping shoulders and elbows means that both shoulders are relaxed and naturally lowered. If the shoulders are raised, the Qi rises and the whole body loses internal alignment and power. “This causes an unstable posture. Dropping the elbows means letting the elbows hang down naturally. If the elbows are raised, the shoulders will not sink, and the power generated is discontinuous and lacks continuity and depth of Tai Chi force. As such one cannot push the opponent far. It’s very common for tension to accumulate in the shoulders and arms, as a result, the shoulders rise a bit, and the elbows flare out. This is a telltale sign that you are not relaxed. No matter what tai chi posture you’re doing, dropping the shoulders and the elbows will help you to relax. Even if one hand is above the shoulders you can still drop the shoulder and sink the elbow! When you relax, sink your shoulders and drop your elbows, then the Qi will flow more easily. It is still possible to have your shoulders rising with your elbows down, both need to be resting for the Qi to be able to flow. From my experience when the elbows are raised the shoulders will be raised as well so if you start with the elbows it is a good start but you must always check in with your shoulders to make sure they are sinking into their sockets.