There are eight main gates in Tai Chi Chuan. With which you are able to move between the five positions. These eight gates are called :

P'eng (掤, py péng) - Propably the most important skill in Tai Chi. In Tai Chi they talk about the Peng Jin energy. With this techique you move the opponents power from your center of body. Very useful. The power comes from the opponent and you use your lower hips or the center of your body.

Lü (履, lǜ) - You could combine the P'eng with a rolling backward. This makes your opponent fall or loose balance. Another meaning of this word is shoe. Or moving your feets.

Chi (擠 (simpl.: 挤), jǐ) - Used for pressing something away from your. Often used by opened hands. Chi means mind or pressing and directly translated crowd. That could say you are trying to get of a crowd.

An (按, àn) - To offset with the hand, usually a slight lift up with the fingers then a push down with the palm, which can appear as a strike if done quickly. Often translated as "Push." and combined with another technique.

Tsai (採, cǎi) - Picking something with fingertips or palm. The word tsai is part of the compound that means to collect, unite or pick something like a leaf of tea from a bough. Directly translated Tsai means pick.

Lieh (挒, liè) - Lieh means to separate, to twist or to offset with a spiral motion, often while making immobile another part of the body (such as a hand or leg) to split an opponent's body thereby destroying posture and balance. Lieh is often translated as "Split."

Chou (肘, zhǒu) - Means elbow and the elbow is used to hit or push with.

K'ao (靠, kào) - means depending on and is used closely to the opponent. This technique is used with the shoulder or upper back.