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What is Embracing the Tiger?

Cem Batırbaygil


In the Yang form of Cheng Man-Ch'ing, one of the basic postures is called “Embracing the Tiger and Turning to the Mountain.” To step into this posture correctly – while adhering to the basic principles – requires hip mobility, balance, and focus.

As for the tiger that gives this movement its name, in Taoist thought the tiger is courage, ferocity, beauty and the harmony of opposites. The tiger is full of life and represents the spirit and drive to achieve and progress. It appears as both yang and yin. Hard and soft, light and dark, full and empty, active and inactive, fire and water, wild and gentle.


To embrace the tiger is to know and embrace all aspects of ourselves, to not demonize any part of ourselves, to return to the mountain. The mountain can be seen from many perspectives; it represents stillness, peace, our true power, our majesty.


The teaching in this movement is to be balanced and find our balance. This balance varies from person to person, the main thing is not to imitate someone else, but to find your own balance.


Taichi's spirit is a tiger roaming the forest. The tiger has all its power inside it, and can release that power at any time, but it is still peaceful and calm. A tiger cannot be alert and angry all day long. It needs balance.


The teaching that comes from this stance and its name, and the ability of Tai Chi practitioners to be anywhere on the yin yang spectrum. To be the softest of the soft or the hardest of the hard. Every energy always contains the seed of its opposite. To have the ability to express the energy that any situation requires without becoming unbalanced. To be as hard as necessary and as soft as necessary.

This balance extends to every aspect of our lives. Embracing the tiger is simply about finding your own balance in your life. In your education, in your work, in your relationships. It is about being honest and true to yourself. Some people may need very little yang energy or activity in their lives to feel balanced, happy and healthy, while for others the opposite may be true.


Embrace your own tiger, in all its aspects. Only you know what a tiger is. Only when you embrace yourself can you find balance, peace and joy.



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