Qilin Palm Change of Sun Style Baguazhang
How to Perform the Qilin Palm Change
The Qilin is associated with the Kun trigram. Kun represents the Earth and is the mother of the trigrams. Kun is pure Yin, represents the receptive and service. In the body, it is the belly, and in the martial arts it is the Returning Palm.
Begin with the initial toe-in step of the Single Palm Change.
Turn the left palm up and continue with a toe-out step of the left foot. The right hand begins to travel under the left elbow as you make this turn.
Toe-in with the right foot while maintaining the position of the left hand. The right hand slides under the elbow of the left arm.
Perform a large toe-out with the left foot so that the heel of the foot is opposite the heel of the right foot. The hand positions do not change; maintain focus on the fingers of the left hand.
Bring the right foot next to the left foot, but do not put it down on the floor. It should be near the ankle of the left foot, as in the Double Palm Change.
Pull the right hand back down to the right side of the waist as you shrug with the left arm and shoulder. The pulling down of the right hand, the shrugging of the left arm, and the right foot arriving at the ankle of the left foot all happen simultaneously. All movement comes to a momentary stop.
After spinning rapidly through the previous postures, this stop can cause you to lose your balance, so it is acceptable for beginners to drop the right foot momentarily to maintain balance. The goal is to be able to stop firmly on the fixed foot without becoming unbalanced.
Without putting the right foot down on the floor, bring it around and toe-in with the right foot as you pierce the right hand past the left arm. The left arm wraps up and draws in as you toe-in. The posture is now like the closed form of Single Palm Change, except the arms are flat. Imagine you are striking your something a long tounge.
Complete a Single Palm Change and begin walking in the opposite direction.
Essential Points of Qilin Palm Change
Kun is the opposite of Qian. Earth is under Heaven. Where the Lion Palm Change is force, the Qilin Palm Change is flowing. Qilin is a mythical beast sometimes identified as a unicorn. The Qilin, however, has horns like an elk and a tail like a dragon. When spinning imagine you are a cat playing with a yarn, or a bird spinning in the air.
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I don’t understand how this palm change has any martial applications, but I don’t care, I love the quick circles and the challenge of stopping on one leg!