28/05/2026
Walk the Line: Centeredness and the Forgotten Principle of Bu Pian Bu Yi
When looking at these stance photographs, it is important to remember that making structurally correct postures on an uneven grass field is far more difficult than practicing on a stable indoor floor.
Of course, training on a solid and even surface is easier. But circumstances are not always ideal, and in martial arts — certainly in real fighting situations — you cannot choose your ground.
That is exactly why this principle remains so important.
The centerline must stay present regardless of the surface beneath you.
At first, maintaining correct alignment requires constant awareness. Over time, however, if practiced correctly and long enough, you no longer need to think about it consciously. The posture gradually becomes part of you.
A mirror can help in the beginning, but it has limitations.
What is truly needed is a good teacher and training partner who can continuously observe and correct your posture over time.
And not only a teacher who teaches choreography or forms, but someone who genuinely understands and applies the structural principles of taijiquan — including all 22 principles and especially the essential condition of bu pian bu yi.
It is also important to ask:
What style are you actually practicing?
And what is the aim of your training?
These questions strongly influence how posture, structure, movement, and body mechanics are approached and developed over time.
Our earlier article,
“Navigating the Three Paths of Taijiquan — Traditional, Competitive and Modern: What’s the Difference?”
can serve as an additional guideline for those who wish to explore these differences more deeply.
But regardless of style or training goal, the principle remains:
Do not lean to one side or the other.
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WEN–WU FIELD NOTES
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