Sinking the Elbows and Shoulders in Tai Chi Chuan with Adam Mizner
Learn how sinking the elbows and releasing the shoulders create Song, structure, and whole-body power in Tai Chi Chuan.
Accessible Worldwide
All lessons are now professionally subtitled in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, allowing students around the world to train with clarity and ease.
Course Description
In this in-depth lesson (approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes), Sifu Adam Mizner explains one of the most important yet commonly misunderstood principles in Tai Chi Chuan: sinking the elbows and setting the shoulders.
Many practitioners focus heavily on generating power from the legs, waist, or dantian, yet struggle to transmit that power through the arms. When the shoulders are tense or the elbows are not correctly aligned, the body becomes disconnected and power is lost at the final point of contact.
In this lesson, Adam demonstrates how to release tension in the shoulders, sink the elbows, and connect the arms to the body so that movement becomes integrated throughout the entire structure.
Through clear demonstrations and practical exercises, you will learn how to:
• relax and release the shoulder mechanism
• sink the elbows naturally without collapsing structure
• connect the arms to the torso and lower body
• develop whole-body integration instead of arm power
• recognize common mistakes that block internal connection
Adam also demonstrates a partner testing method that allows you to confirm whether your shoulders and elbows are correctly aligned.
By the end of this lesson, you will have a deeper understanding of how the arms connect to the body in Tai Chi Chuan, along with practical tools you can immediately apply to your training.
About Adam Mizner
With more than 25 years of training and teaching experience, Adam Mizner is an internationally respected teacher of the internal arts, including Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan), Nei Gong, meditation, and internal cultivation practices.
Sifu Mizner teaches within the lineage of Huang Sheng Shyan and Yang Jianhou, and is recognized as a 7th generation Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan teacher.
In addition to his martial arts training, he has spent many years studying Daoism, Western Hermetic traditions, and Buddhist Dhamma, all of which influence his approach to internal cultivation and training.
Adam is the founder of Heaven Man Earth Internal Arts International, an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing authentic traditional training methods in meditation, Nei Gong, and Yang Style Tai Chi.
Through his teaching, thousands of students around the world have developed a deeper understanding and skill in the health, martial, and spiritual dimensions of the internal arts.
Who this course is for:
- Tai Chi practitioners who want to improve structure and internal connection
- Internal martial artists seeking better whole-body integration
- Martial artists interested in understanding Tai Chi mechanics
- Students exploring Song (release) and structural alignment in internal arts
What you’ll learn:
- The principle of sinking the elbows in Tai Chi Chuan
- How to release tension in the shoulders
- Methods to connect the arms to the body structure
- Practical exercises to develop correct alignment
- A partner testing drill to check your structure
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn in this course?
In this pre-recorded video lesson, you will learn the secrets of setting the shoulder and sinking the elbows in Tai Chi Chuan from one of the most respected teachers of internal martial arts today.
How much does it cost?
Lifetime access to the course costs only USD 99.00 as a one-time payment.
How long is the course?
This course includes one in-depth training lesson lasting approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Is the video recorded in high definition?
The video lesson was recorded via Zoom, so the highest resolution available to stream the video is 720p. While it may not be in the highest definition, the content and instruction remain of high quality and informative.
Can I watch the video on all of my devices?
Yes, the website is fully responsive, meaning you can watch the video on all devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
How can I pay?
We accept Paypal and all major Credit / Debit cards. All payments made on the site are secure, encrypted, and protected.
Will I get instant access to the video?
Yes, once your payment has been processed, you will get instant access to the video.
Course Content
About Instructor
Course Includes
- 2 Lessons
Ratings and Reviews
Barry Sant
.
Joshua G
Shifu Adam Mizner is sharing very effective methods to transform the shoulders and explains how to set the shoulders and sink the elbows correctly. These are methods for a lasting change in the shouldernest and a necessity to be able to generate force over the arms on the internal path. A true treasure for anybody’s personal practice and much more valuable than the price of this course.
One person found this helpful.
Pika Chu
I really enjoyed the video and I'm planning to make the lessons learned a priority in my training going forward. The Master's point about setting the shoulders being crucial to internal martial arts practice really hit home. According to him, mastering these exercises will put you in the top 1% of all practitioners. I'm feeling fired up and ready to take my skills to the next level!
2 people found this helpful.
Michael Wongsam
This workshop is a deep dive into how to set the shoulders and elbows, and how to use intention and listening while executing movements. I found the exercises hard to do correctly at first, but as always patience and perseverance repays. Also the live Q and A was very helpful for the extra clarifications. Very worthwhile.
2 people found this helpful.
Mel Sarkor-Clinton
The methods of internal inquiry shared in this short course are profound and lead to real transformation.
2 people found this helpful.
Gary Renza
I have been a student of Chinese internal and external martial arts since 1979. I have studied with some great masters. Sifu Adam is the real deal. I am taking these courses because I want to continue to grow in the arts, but also to confirm to myself that I have been on the right path. Thank you sifu for sharing your knowledge and allowing me to study with you.
3 people found this helpful.
I usually don’t write reviews, but I found the explanations and exercises in this course to be very helpful. It acts as a great, stand alone product that can help martial artists from all arts unlock their shoulders. I have continued to practice these exercises daily and have seen significant improvement. Thank you.