My takeaway from last Thursday's Masters lesson was simple: rootedness is key.

Be as strongly rooted as possible, move through the whole body--turn and strike moving from the feet, through the hips and spine, and not just with the hands. You can start by exaggerating that "whole body" movement, then toning it down, making smaller moves and making the movement more "internal."

Rootedness and transferring motion with and through the entire body, not just the extremities, something that Tai Chi emphasizes. But it's just as relevant to achieving power in Poison Hands, the Animal forms, and the other parts of kung fu.

One mistake that commonly takes away from the ability to move with the whole body is moving too much with the upper body. I find it useful to sink down a bit (whether in horse or southern horse stance), and tuck my hips. This helps move with the whole body, not just the upper part, or just with the hands.