氣出三寸必收回
1. The saying
以意導氣，以氣運身“Lead the qi (氣) with the intention (意), move the body with the qi.”
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意 (Yi): your mental focus or intention — it directs energy.
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氣 (Qi): the internal energy that flows along meridians or through the body.
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身 (Shen): the body — limbs, trunk, kua, etc. — which moves because of qi.
This is the core of internal movement: mind → energy → body.
2. The warning
氣出三寸必收回“If qi goes out more than three cun, it must be drawn back.”
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Three cun (寸): roughly the width of your own hand across your fingers, but symbolically it means don’t over-extend your energy.
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If you let qi “leak” too far, your body becomes unstable, overextended, and vulnerable.
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Tai Chi emphasizes reserving qi — keeping it circulating internally, ready to express, not wasted.
3. How to “reserve” qi in practice
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Focus your intention (Yi)
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Before moving, clearly intend where the qi should flow — e.g., from dantian to the arm or hand.
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Think of the qi as elastic, not spilling water.
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Small controlled movement
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Move slowly and lightly; your limbs should follow the qi, not push with muscles.
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Only allow qi to reach the distance necessary for the technique (the “three cun” limit).
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“收氣” (Drawing qi back)
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After expressing energy (pushing, pressing, spiral, etc.), pull it back to the dantian.
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Example: in a push, after the palm reaches the opponent’s chest, don’t let your qi leak past your own elbow or shoulder. Instead, gently reel it back via forearm → upper arm → shoulder → dantian.
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Continuous circulation
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In Tai Chi, qi is always moving in a loop: dantian → limbs → dantian.
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By reserving qi, you maintain internal readiness and structural integrity.
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4. Visualization
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Imagine your dantian is a battery, your qi is the electric current, and your limbs are wires.
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You send current to the hand to express power, but immediately return it to the battery to avoid short-circuiting or burning out.
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This makes your movement powerful, sustainable, and elastic.
Do you want me to make that diagram?
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