Tsaifucius Tai Chi Notes: Skirt out in Prana Dynamics

Skirt out in Prana Dynamics

The “skirt out” method in Prana Dynamics is a subtle yet powerful expression of using the hips and space awareness to connect with your opponent and disperse their force effortlessly. Let’s break it down in a way that’s practical and aligned with internal principles.

🌀 Skirt Out Method (Prana Dynamics Style)

Using the Hips to Connect & Swing the Opponent via Space

🔑 1. Establish Internal Connection

Stand with song (松), letting the body settle from head to toe.
Your Dan Tian, hips, and sacrum should feel suspended and alive, not locked or collapsed.
The key is to maintain a central pivot, like a gyroscope, while being free to spiral.

💡 Mindset: “I am the center of the space, not just a body standing in space.”

🔗 2. Connect to the Opponent (Ting + Nian)

Place your palm or forearm on your opponent lightly.
Relax and extend Yi (intent) from your Dan Tian to your point of contact, then into their center.
Feel for their tension and center of mass—not pushing or resisting.

🧭 3. Rotate the Hips to Change the Direction of Force

With contact established, rotate your hips (kua) subtly, like swirling water in a bowl.
The hips don’t shove or shake—they pivot gently, changing orientation without breaking structure.
Let the force you received from the opponent "skirt" around your body, rather than go through it.

🌬️ Think: “Like spinning silk” or “redirecting wind around your body.”

🧘‍♂️ 4. Skirt the Force Out Through Space

Instead of pushing against the opponent, let the hip spiral cause your whole structure to tilt the field of connection.
The opponent loses balance as their own force gets “spilled out” through the altered field.
Your movement unlocks space, not muscle against muscle.

🌀 Visual: Like wearing a flowing silk robe and spinning—the robe swings and flicks the opponent away without direct impact.

🧠 5. Whole-Space Awareness: Swinging Without Pushing

Your attention must include not only the opponent but also the surrounding space.
Feel like your movement is curving the space around both of you.
The hips lead the space to move, and the opponent is caught in that movement.

🧊 No force. No resistance. Just a change in spatial orientation that leaves the opponent “hanging” and swept away.

🛠️ Drill: Skirt Out Spiral Practice (Partner or Solo)

Solo

Stand in Wuji. Gently open and close the kua (hip joints) while keeping the spine upright.
Imagine spiraling force from the Dan Tian through the hips and out through the arms.
Add arm movement like cloud hands, letting hips lead the motion, not the shoulders.

Partner

Let them press into your chest or arm.
Without resisting, let your hips roll like a ball, gently tilting your structure.
Their pressure loses contact with your center and spills off the curved path you created.

✅ Summary of Internal Keys

Element	Action
Dan Tian	Center of movement and intent
Kua (Hips)	Steering wheel of the spiral
Spine	Axis of suspension and neutral transmission
Yi (Intent)	Bridges your center to theirs
Space	Medium in which you swing the force out

In Prana Dynamics (as taught by Master Jerry Alan Johnson and rooted in Daoist martial arts), the hip movement is critical for generating whole-body power, connecting with an opponent’s center, and manipulating space (e.g., the "skirt out" method). Below is a breakdown of how to use the hips to swing, uproot, and redirect an opponent while staying connected to the entire space around you.

1. The Role of the Hips in Prana Dynamics

Hips as the "Engine" – Power comes from the Dantian (lower abdomen) and hips, not the arms.
"Skirt Out" Method (裙力 Qun Li) – A spiraling hip motion that disrupts the opponent’s root while maintaining your own.
Connection to Space – The hips move in a way that engages the environment’s energy, making your movements fluid and expansive.

2. How to Use Hips to Connect & Swing Opponent Away

Step 1: Establish Rooting & Connection

Stand in a stable stance (e.g., Bow-Arrow or Horse Stance), knees slightly bent.
Sink Qi to the feet—feel "heavy" but not stiff.
Light touch on the opponent (hand, forearm, or even clothing) to "listen" (Ting Jin).

Step 2: Initiate Hip Rotation ("Skirt Out")

Imagine your hips are a spinning wheel or a swinging skirt (hence the name).
Spiral the hips (either horizontally or vertically) to generate a whipping force.
- Example: If opponent pushes, rotate your hip back and out (like drawing a semicircle), pulling them off-balance.
- This creates a "vacuum effect"—your hip movement drags their center into emptiness.

Step 3: Connect Hips to Opponent’s Structure

Hip movement dictates their fall – Your rotation should align with their weak axis (usually their kua 胯/hip joint).
Use minimal arm force – Arms just guide; the real power comes from hip torque.
Timing: Rotate hips just as they commit force (classic "borrowing energy" principle).

Step 4: Swing Opponent Away Using Space

The "skirt out" motion should feel like swinging a heavy object in a wide arc.
Your hips open space behind you, making the opponent overextend into emptiness.
Advanced: Use environmental awareness—feel how your hip movement interacts with the air, ground, and opponent’s energy.

3. Key Prana Dynamics Principles

✔ "Hips Lead, Hands Follow" – Power comes from the core, not limbs.

✔ "Spiral Force" (Chan Si Jin) – Hips rotate like a corkscrew for maximum efficiency.

✔ "Empty & Full" (Xu & Shi) – One hip loads (full), the other releases (empty).

✔ "Stick & Follow" (Nian & Sui) – Maintain light contact while moving hips to disrupt.

4. Drills to Develop Hip Power

A. Solo "Skirt Out" Hip Rotation

Stand, place hands on hips, and practice spiraling them in circles (forward, back, sideways).
Imagine brushing away an opponent with just hip motion.

B. Partner "Hip-Uprooting" Drill

Have a partner push lightly at your chest.
Rotate hips (skirt out) while keeping upper body soft—watch them lose balance.

C. Silk Reeling + Hip Waves

Perform Chen-style silk-reeling exercises but focus on hip-driven spirals.

5. Combat Applications

Against a Punch: Rotate hips to "skirt out" of the line while deflecting.
Against a Grab: Spiral hips to break their grip and swing them past you.
For Throws: Use hip rotation to load and unload their center (e.g., Hip Throw with internal power).

6. Common Mistakes

❌ Over-rotating (losing root).

❌ Using arm strength instead of hips.

❌ Tensing up—stay relaxed to maximize spiral power.

Final Insight: The "Dragon Body" Concept

In Prana Dynamics, the hips are part of the "Dragon Body"—a fluid, coiling structure that moves like a wave. When mastered, the "skirt out" method makes your body a living pendulum, using space and opponent’s energy against them.

In Prana Dynamics, the use of hips to connect with an opponent and employ the "skirt out" method to connect with the whole space for swinging them away involves a sophisticated interplay of body mechanics, energy awareness, and intention. Here's a breakdown of the principles and how to approach this:

1. Using Hips to Connect with the Opponent:

In Prana Dynamics, the hips are considered a crucial power center and a key to establishing a deep connection with your opponent beyond just physical contact. This connection is energetic and structural:

The Command Center: The hips are seen as the "command center" for transmitting force and sensing the opponent's structure and intent. Any movement or force from the opponent will register in your hips if you are properly connected.
Peng Jin (Ward-off Energy): The hips play a vital role in maintaining your Peng Jin, an expansive and supportive energy that allows you to maintain your structure while feeling and responding to the opponent's force. A stable and aware set of hips allows your Peng Jin to be more effective.
Following and Sticking: By being sensitive in your hips, you can better follow the opponent's movements and "stick" to their energy. This means maintaining contact without resisting or pulling away, allowing you to feel their center of gravity and potential imbalances.
Rooting: Strong and connected hips are essential for rooting, which provides stability and allows you to generate and transmit force effectively. When your hips are rooted, it's harder for the opponent to uproot you, and you can use the ground more effectively.
Whole Body Connection: The hips act as a bridge connecting the upper and lower body. Engaging the hips correctly ensures that any force you apply or receive is distributed throughout your entire structure, making you more resilient and powerful.

How to Train Hip Connection:

Sensitivity Exercises: Practice feeling subtle shifts in weight and pressure through your hips with a partner.
Pushing Hands (Tui Shou): Focus on maintaining connection through your hips, allowing your hips to lead your movements and sense the opponent's changes.
Form Practice: Pay attention to how the hips initiate and guide movements in your Prana Dynamics forms. Emphasize smooth transitions and maintaining a connected feeling in your hips.
Rooting Exercises: Practice stances and movements that emphasize grounding through the feet and engaging the hips to create a stable base.

2. The "Skirt Out" Method and Connecting with the Whole Space:

The "skirt out" method in Prana Dynamics is a concept that goes beyond simply moving your limbs. It involves using the energy and momentum generated from your center (often involving the hips) to expand outwards and connect with the surrounding space, allowing you to "swing away" or displace your opponent.

Expanding Energy: Imagine your energy extending outwards from your center like a skirt billowing outwards. This isn't just a physical movement but an energetic projection.
Spiral and Circular Movements: The "skirt out" often involves spiral and circular movements originating from the hips and core. These movements generate centrifugal force that can disrupt the opponent's balance.
Connecting with the Space: By expanding your energy and movement into the surrounding space, you create a larger "field" of influence. This allows you to affect the opponent even if the direct physical contact is minimal.
Using Momentum: The momentum generated by the hip-driven "skirt out" movement can be used to swing the opponent away from your center or to break their structure.
Whole Body Integration: The "skirt out" is not just about the hips; it involves the coordinated movement of the entire body, with the hips acting as the engine. The arms and legs follow the lead of the hips, extending your reach and influence.

How to Train the "Skirt Out" Method:

Large Circular Movements: Practice large, flowing circular movements originating from your hips, allowing your arms to extend naturally as a result of the momentum.
Spiral Energy Exercises: Explore movements that emphasize spiraling energy from your Dan Tian and hips outwards through your limbs.
Partner Drills: With a partner, practice receiving their force and then using a hip-initiated "skirt out" movement to redirect or displace them. Focus on using minimal muscular force and maximizing the effect of the spiraling momentum.
Visualization: Visualize your energy expanding outwards as you move, connecting with the space around you and influencing your opponent's stability.

Connecting with the Whole Space to Swing Away the Opponent:

This takes the "skirt out" concept further, emphasizing a feeling of being connected not just to the opponent but to the entire surrounding environment.

Expanding Awareness: Cultivate a heightened awareness of the space around you. Feel the boundaries of your personal space extending outwards.
Using Ground Force: The connection to the ground through rooted hips is crucial for generating the force needed for a large "swinging away" movement.
Intent and Projection: Your intent plays a significant role. Visualize your energy encompassing the opponent and the space around them, allowing you to move them as if they are within your energetic field.
Yielding and Redirecting: Before "swinging away," you might need to yield to the opponent's initial force, using your connected hips to sense their direction and momentum. Then, the "skirt out" movement, powered by the hips and connected to the ground and surrounding space, can be used to redirect their force and move them away from your center.

Important Considerations:

Relaxation (Sung): Tension will restrict the flow of energy and limit the effectiveness of hip movement and the "skirt out" method. Maintain a relaxed but connected state.
Intent (Yi): Your mind leads the Qi. Focus your intention on connecting with the opponent's center and expanding your energy into the space.
Structure: Maintain good postural alignment to allow for efficient transmission of force through the hips and the rest of the body.
Practice: These are advanced concepts that require consistent and mindful practice to develop the necessary sensitivity, coordination, and energetic awareness. Seek guidance from a qualified Prana Dynamics instructor.

In essence, using the hips to connect and the "skirt out" method to connect with the whole space in Prana Dynamics is about cultivating a deep energetic and structural connection, generating spiraling momentum from your center, and expanding your awareness and influence into the surrounding environment to effectively manage and displace an opponent.