Clinical Ai Chi | Ai Chi as a sequence of postural control movements

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Ai Chi as a sequence of postural control movements

The Ai Chi progressions are designed to present increasing difficulty as skills develop. Mechanical constraints that influence balance are added. In terms of the taxonomy developed by Gentile ⁴, Ai Chi is a closed skill (involving no inter-trial variability) done in a closed environment (no unexpected environmental changes, and with non-manipulating and body stabilizing movement dimensions) in which the regulatory conditions are changed. The goal is to fine-tune the movement to be performed with high level of consistency and little cognitive / physical effort as skills increase over time.⁵

The 19 kata’s are shown in the pdf under the button “Ai Chi kata’s”

Ai Chi kata's PDF

The progressive change of regulatory conditions are:

Ai Chi: contemplating, floating, uplifting, enclosing and folding.

A symmetrical trunk position with a wide symmetrical stance and a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the center of gravity (COG.) The arms move symmetrically.

Ai Chi: soothing

A symmetrical trunk position with a wide symmetrical stance and a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the COG. The arms move asymmetrically.

Ai Chi: gathering.

A trunk position as symmetrical as possible in a tandem stance, with a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the COG during the repetitive asymmetrical arm movements.

Ai Chi: freeing.

Trunk rotations in tandem stance, with the eyes following the moving hand. The COG changes because of the continuous change of side. The arms move asymmetrically.

Ai Chi: shifting

Rotations between thorax and pelvis with a wide symmetrical stance, while continuously shifting the COG in the coronal plane. The arms move asymmetrically and the eyes follow the moving hand.

Ai Chi: accepting

A symmetrical trunk activity in a tandem stance, with continuous shifts of the COG in the sagittal plane. There is a visual fixation point.

Ai Chi: accepting with grace and rounding.

Symmetrical arm movements in unipedal stance where either the front leg or the hind leg is lifted during one breath cycle. There is a visual fixation point.

Ai Chi: balancing

Symmetrical arm movements in unipedal stance during 3 breath cycles. There is no real visual fixation point.

Ai Chi: half circling, encircling, surrounding, nurturing.

Symmetrical arm movements, in accordance with T’ai Chi, in a symmetrical stance with continuous movements of the COG. The eyes follow the hands.

Ai Chi: flowing and reflecting

Symmetrical arm movements occur while walking laterally, making cross-steps and pivots. A visual fixation point is possible.

Ai Chi: suspending

Symmetrical arm movements with a body turn and a floating phase. There are no visual fixation points.

One can define a clear sequence of increasing difficulty of the regulatory conditions:

From a symmetrical trunk position to (rotatory) trunk movements.
From a static to a dynamic COG.
From a small hand movements to large reaching movements.
From wide support to narrow bases of support.
From visual control to non-visual / vestibular control.
From symmetrical to asymmetrical arm movements.

Relevant references:

4 Gentile AM. Skill acquisition: action, movement, and neuromotor processes. In: Carr JH, Shepherd RB, editors. Movement science foundations for physical therapy in Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Gaithersburg: Aspen, MD; 2000. p.111-187.
5 Rose DJ. (2010). Fall Proof, a comprehensive balance and mobility training program. Human Kinetics, Champaign.

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