Notes:
Parry and Punch
3 Weight Transfers + 1 Follow-Step
Use intention.

Rolling pin
Parry 1. Step with Left foot (in place and angled out) as you roll the pin upside down, and then push bottom palm forward.
Thumbs to the Right.

Parry 2. Step with Right foot angled out as you roll the pin over, and then push bottom palm forward. Thumbs to the Left.

Fist / Block
- Turn left hand around and make a fist, as if making a block
- Bring Right hand down to your hip and make a fist - thumb is up.
- Right fist goes over left wrist and punches forward to middle of forearm.

The importance of Play the Lute and Parry and Punch is to point the Lao Gung to the center of the elbow (3 acupuncture meridians running through the elbow) and to connect them and increase the energetic effect.

Gently squeeze the ball
- Elbows on armrest and press down
- Pet the kitty or Massage the forearm

In Traditional Family Sun the ONLY time the toes are pointed out is when there is no follow step. This is demonstrated in the parry, parry part BEFORE the punch is delivered. The steps with the toes pointed out are referred to as a walking steps in the Sun System. The toes are pointed out to assist with structure, somewhat like a foot tripod. But, the Na (block down) with the left arm where the right punch goes over the forearm has a follow step, therefore the feet at that point are straight ahead. I believe this is consistent with Dr Lam's usage of this technique in the TCA. **

I think the best answer to that question is to set the foot in the position that provides greatest connection with earth qi and provides greatest stability AND is comfortable for ankles, knees, and hip. Toes straight or slightly turned outif for the player to ascertain for her or himself

The answers you have, provide enlightened responses, that you can then use for your students.

I look at TC differently, more as martial, thats where it comes from. If you do this move, quickly, it becomes very obvious why the feet are turned out. Pure and simply balance and the ability to alter the following hand punches to suit a moving opponent.

The vertical fist is used, as it is aimed at the chest, where horizontal rib bones are present. Pure physics determine this, as the energy is applied to the rib cage as, high force on less area of resistance.

**** These are my thoughts. Others will probably post and maybe have a different idea. I’ve always thought that by turning the foot it gives a little more stability and better balance when shifting your weight and doing the parry.

That is my understanding as well. The front foot is already empty so easy to place for good support, slightly angled out when the weight shifts into that foot. ***

The vertical fist/punch is the one most often used in Chen, Yang and Sun yet, WuHao does the horizontal fist in it's form. What makes that interesting is that Sun Lutang's first Taiji system was WuHao. Let's also not forget that Sun Lutang was a highly skilled fighter that incorporated XingYi Lieu He Quan and BaguaZhang into his Taijiquan for combat purposes. If you read some of the quotes from Sun JianYun and Sun Cunzhou they comment on how they could hear challengers to Sun bouncing off of walls utilizing Taiji combat. Sun Cunzhou himself was quite the fighter utilizing Sun Taiji techniques. Health purposes were somewhat of a perk or side effect in Sun's day. There purpose for enhancing health was to have a strong, relaxed body to use in combat back in the day. They didn't really have a "Kumbaya "attitude back then. 😉 As the expression goes, "no one wants a weak, unhealthy warrior". ***

Great question and observation! I'm not a Sun Taiji specialist so I can only provide my own insight. The stepping is more of a "twist step" type of move. Several things are happening. First, when walking forward, (think any type of tai chi walk exercise), you begin by turning the waist (from the tan tian) and folding (closing) the pelvic joint or Kwa, up to 45 degrees. This twist starts to turn the legs and if you allow the legs and feet to follow, they will naturally turn as much as the waist directs them to turn. This is all a large, tight, spiral movement. With the palms and arms remaining along the center line, the twist will also turn the upper body and subsequently push one hand/arm forward and one hand/arm back. Think of reaching for something just out of your grasp. This spiral energy is drilling both into the earth (rooting the feet) while also drilling out through the arms, palms and fingertips. If the body is Song while moving and expanding, energy will fly out of the center, spiraling out through the hands and feet. The stepping style also reflects more of the Hsing I influence that Sun Lu Tang infused into his set.

As for the type of punch used, I can only guess that this is to continue the intent of letting energy being released. It's a more relaxed way of punching. There is still energy being spiraled out through the arm and fist but it's looser and easier to release. The "palm down" type of punch can and should also release energy but the focus is creating a bigger spiral and twist into the target. It also tends to drop down upon impact (not an absolute). In my Sil Lum style of Gung Fu, we favor this type of fist as performed in the Sun set. It's accompanied with what we call Fi Luk, or flying energy. The energy can fly through the person's body and organs. Because the Sun set is about healing, the punch should be done with intent of opening your own heart and gently connecting to the patient's heart with an intent to heal. I don't need to say what the fighting intent would be should the punch be aimed at the heart.

In today's class I was discussing the 2 different punches and the feel of them. If you punch with the palm down, back of the hand upwards, you'll find the the forward range tends to stop. If you punch as in the set, you'll find that the arm can keep on lengthening. Looking at what happens at the shoulder joint explains this. Twisting the palm down closes the joint. Keeping the palm pointed to the side keeps the joint open and the elbow down allowing for greater flexibility and extension. You can change the punch and see the difference. Ultimately it's up to the individual's preference to attempt to understand the originators intent and to decide which makes more sense to them.

I feel the personality of the Sun set dictates the type of punch used. Sun Lu Tang clearly stated he wanted people to learn for the health benefits. Hence, you would choose a more relaxed free flowing punch vs one that tends to be a bit more power and external oriented. If I wanted to hammer into something, then the reverse punch would be favored. ***

Re :Punch, since the punch begins at the hip, powered by the forward wgt shift, the fist would move forward more powerfully, and with greater support in the palm sideways—thumb on top position. Martially the fist is in a better position to grasp in the open Tiger Mouth position when executing the next grab and pull movement of Retreat to Mountain. ***

Subject. Technical point on parry and punch from Sun Taiji.

De >>>> I pulled some videos on parry and punch in TCA and Sun style. I was especially interested in the lineage holder Sun JianYun demonstration of Sun97 on YouTube. Then I went through several rounds on Sun parry and punch with the right fist, first rounds with parallel feet not turned out. Then went through subsequent rounds with the right foot turned out for a punch with the right fist in vertical orientation. My observation was that parallel feet would limit some motion range in the waist, effectively blocking or locking some motion in the waist or turning in the hip. The second observation was that the turned out right foot in the preparatory stance would allow more hip motion during the right fist punch. *****

As one might call it, shooting from the hip or transfer of Chi energy and momentum from the waist and hip motion to the punching fist. The Chi energy is coming off the hip like a fly wheel, or for the example of a linked locomotive engine wheel. Takes a little practice in timing and coordination, but this type of waist motion is seen in Yang24 as Pat Horse and Needle in Sea, both in low stances. During the right fist punch in Sun parry and Punch, the hip bone only moves at most, 5 to 10 centimeters, converts to 2 inches to 4 inches. ***

In the Sun JianYun demonstration of Sun97 on YouTube, Master Sun JianYun definitely turns her right foot out and quite striking visible turn out. I do not have all the answers, I could not really discern waist and hip action through the full padded coat of Master Sun JianYun. But I think one would need to use a lower stance to exaggerate the waist turn. ***********

pix. Master Sun JianYun definitely turns her right foot out in Sun97 Parry & Punch and quite striking visible turn out. ***