The Bow Stance is the most common stance used in Tai Chi. The Bow Stance, more than any stance Tai Chi and Qigong, strikes a balance between stability and mobility. You will feel rooted and grounded in this stance, but still able to move your body freely.

When it comes to Bow Stances where your weight is shifted forward (called the Forward Bow Stance), you’ll find that there are two different types of Forward Bow Stances taught by Tai Chi masters. You can differentiate between these two types by the relative position of your feet and hands while you are in the Forward Bow Stance.

While different teachers have different names for these two stances, we’ll use two terms you may have heard – “twist step” and “favorable step”. Wen-Shan Huang, a student of Chen Wei Ming and Tung Ying Chieh, who in turn were students of Yang Cheng Fu (the grandmaster of today’s Yang Family Style Tai Chi), documented these terms in his book.

Twist Step

“Twist step” refers a forward bow stance in which the opposite hand and foot are forward. For example, if you are in a right-foot-forward bow stance, but your left hand is extending in front of you, then you are in a “twist step”.

This term is actually used in the names of some Tai Chi stances, such as “Brush Knee and Twist Step” (shown at right).

Some people believe the “twist” in the name “Brush Knee and Twist Step” refers to the waist turn in the movement, but that’s not the case. It simple describes the final position of the hands and feet.

Favorable Step

As opposed to twist step, “favorable step” refers to a forward bow stance in which the forward hand is on the same side as the forward foot.

For example, if you are in a right-foot-forward bow stance, and your right hand is extending in front of you, then you are in a “favorable step”. Tai Chi movements such as Single Whip (shown at right) are technically called “favorable step stances.”

Note that “favorable” does not carry any connotation of “favorite” or “better” in this context. Think more of how we use the word “favor” as in “He is favoring his left side when he walks.”