In Yang-22 we use three hand shapes namely the open palm, fist and hook.

What the three hand shapes have in common is the Small Chi Sphere. This is an imaginary nebulous sphere conjured by our intent.

At the most basic level, we use the Small Chi Sphere to help form the shape of the open palm, fist and hook. For example, when our hand is opened up, it is as if we are holding an imaginary sphere i.e. the Small Chi Sphere.

Similarly, when our hand is forming a fist we are squeezing a much smaller sized Small Chi Sphere between the curled up fingers. As for the hook, it is as if our fingers are pinching a marble sized Small Chi Sphere.

The size of the Small Chi Sphere depends on the hand formation. When you change from open palm to fist or open palm to hook, and vice versa, the Small Chi Sphere will expand or contract depending on which hand formation you are changing to.

For example, if you are changing from open palm to fist then the Small Chi Sphere will contract to a smaller size. Your open palm accordingly follows the contracting Small Chi Sphere by curling your fingers to become a fist.

Practiced this way, we have a balance of physical (external) and non-physical (internal). However, our definition is not internal as within our body but internal as in our mind. The use of intent allows our body to interact with what is outside our body. Thus, our internal is unlike the typical definition of internal.