The Foot of the Matter

I look at people’s feet a lot when I teach Tai Chi, especially beginners. This is because I believe proper placement of the foot in relation to the knee is the most critical of the many “body alignments” in Tai Chi. Others, such as aligning and coordinating the knees with the elbows, are also important, but if they are off they are unlikely to lead to injury. My own personal experience has proven that not to be true with the feet and knees.

If your foot is pointed out or in at an angle and you move your knee the opposite direction you will feel discomfort. Go further and it’s painful. Go too far and too fast, and you risk injury to your knee. 

I’ve seen this exact thing happen twice during my time as a Tai Chi student. In the first instance, the classmate had to be taken away in an ambulance. In the second, the result was a knee sprain that – fortunately – did not require any drastic intervention. 

Despite these experiences, I still think Tai Chi is orders of magnitude safer than other, more popular forms of exercise; I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve known who severely damaged their knees playing football, soccer, basketball, tennis, etc. (and yes, I know this might just be a numbers game: more people play popular sports than practice Tai Chi, so naturally, more of those people will get injured).

Any kind of joint injury is scary, but knees particularly so because they are vital for almost all aspects of movement. They also take a long time to heal, especially as one ages. Not only do I like practicing Tai Chi, but I also like walking, running, and just generally living my life free of constant pain. 

So I look after my knees, and I try to do the same for my students. 

Just like a tree with its roots, proper Tai Chi structure and body alignment is built from the ground up: focus on the roots before moving on to the branches.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new health practice, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or concerns.

About the Author

LARRY FROST

Larry, a Chi Force Partner, discovered Taijiquan and Qigong during his recovery from illness in 2006, finding his path to Chen style under Stephan Berwick in 2007. His straightforward approach emphasizes consistent, rigorous training as the key to unlocking both practices’ benefits. After 30+ years of U.S. military and federal service, Larry retired to Portugal’s Madeira island where he teaches Taijiquan and Qigong at internalartsmadiera.com