Move · Videos · Tai Chi · 14 min

Sun Style Tai Chi Lesson: Brush Knee, Play the Lute, Parry and Punch

Sun Style Tai Chi Lesson: Brush Knee, Play the Lute, Parry and Punch — video by Internal Tai Chi Play · 14:10

Video by Internal Tai Chi on YouTube · Open on YouTube

A tai chi teacher breaks down a Sun-style sequence with its typical follow step and higher stance: brush knee, play the lute, parry and punch, and receive the tiger and push the mountain, pointing out common mistakes, then links them together. Best if you already know some tai chi.

  • 14 min
  • Intermediate
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment
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Step by step 9

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Brush knee, left: turn up to 90 degrees, take a small step, shift your weight, follow step and deliver. 1:07
  2. Brush knee to the right, keeping the elbow in front of your side seam instead of drawing it back. 3:03
  3. Common mistake: turn the whole body as one unit, like a revolving door, instead of reaching with the leg. 4:11
  4. Play the lute: a small step back, guide the incoming arm, slide your hand up it, follow step and press down. 6:20
  5. Parry and punch: step through twice, switching the hands, then make two fists, follow step and punch. 8:29
  6. Receive the tiger, push the mountain: step back to absorb a push, then step forward and push. 9:22
  7. Breakdown: link parry and punch into receive the tiger, push the mountain. 9:48
  8. The whole sequence with cues, from brush knee through play the lute and parry and punch to the push. 10:52
  9. Run through the sequence twice more with minimal cues, finishing back facing the front. 12:05

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Turn the whole body as one unit and let the foot go with it, like a revolving door
  • Take a small step rather than reaching with the leg; shift your weight, then follow step
  • Keep the elbow in front of your side seam instead of drawing it back

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movespush, play the lute, punches
  • Hips movesturning the body, weight shifts
  • Knees movesfollow steps and turns in a high stance
  • Ankles & feet movesfollow steps, pivots
  • Standing on one leg. Keep a chair or a wall within reach.

Easier option from the coach: Turn less than 90 degrees if it bothers the knee; step round instead of pivoting

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Internal Tai Chi; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety