Fun Tai Chi article

[Ray]

Hi everyone,
Here is an interesting article on Tai Chi from Tai Chi magazine

Harnessing Taiji's Wave-Like Energy [by George Xu]:

Yin and yang (open/close, soft/hard etc) are the roots of Taiji (aka Tai
Chi), which also emphasizes entering emptiness and the Dao (or "Tao," as
related to Taoism).Yin and yang are also expressed in its rounded forms. In
these two dimensions we find eight points or keys to unlocking Taiji power.

Yin Principle

- No.1: The point of Taiji is to lead an opponent into emptiness (also
referred to as "fullness" or "harmony" in the Chinese literature). There
will always be someone with more physical strength, but Taiji is
about being
the more intelligent fighter.


- No.2: After achieving relaxation in Taiji practice, one must master
spiraling chi energy. It's not a physical spiraling of the tissue, but an
energetic spiraling guided by the mind. The idea is that one is like a
spinning ball and nothing can attach itself to it. Through
disconnecting and
loosening the physical body and connecting the energetic body, Taiji uses
sound principles of physics to seemingly achieve the extraordinary.


- No. 3: The Taiji classics states that "a feather cannot land on a
good Taiji practitioner" is often mistaken by players to mean
that one must
be lighter than a feather. This classic saying refers to the perfectly
balanced state of a high-level Taiji practitioner. She/He has a
harmonized
sinking and floating, forward and back, left and right, as well as inside
and outside (yin and yang in all directions).


- No. 4: Taiji is like water or air. The idea is that one can push or
slide a 100 pound block of ice, but it is much harder to move a 100 pound
bag of water. Now try punching or moving 100 pounds of fog. This
principle
is called Hua Jin and refers to a melting sensation.

Yang Principle

- No.1: Quiet defeats active. This statement is often misunderstood to
mean slow beats fast but it really refers to the quiet motions
of Taiji not
just its slowness. To achieve this state one must limit external
motions and
feel the chi of the central equilibrium using Nei Shi (internal yin).


- No. 2: "There is not a part of my body that isn't a fist." Taiji is
a full body striking art. The body always moves before the hand does. And
the energy and intention move before the hand, not at the same
like external
arts.


- No. 3: Jin (loosely translated as "mind") must be pure. Most martial
artists want to defeat people so they tense their arms to gain
power. Taiji
prefers to gain even higher levels of power through use of the body's
natural weight.


- No. 4: "Chin Yin Song Fang." This process is like water melting to
gas.
- Chin: Refers to the stage where the chi of the of the central
equilibrium covers the opponent. Yin refers to harmonizing
with the opponent
so your body can move his/her as easily as you move your own.
It is a moment
of grabbing the opponent energetically.
- Song: Refers to the loose opened relaxed quality
necessary. It encompasses all of the heavy, loose and natural
qualities
achieved by awareness and relaxation training and expressed
as a momentary
harnessing of internal power.
- Fang: Refers to the final issue of energy. This utilizes
all of one's internal power, as well as a sensation of
internal gravity.

The scientific principles behind the art of Taiji exploit the deepest and
most profound connections between the mind and body. Through returning to anatural state of relaxation, one becomes healthy and strong.

This article is very interesting in that it is based off the mechanical interpretation of Tai Chi. I find it neat to examine other perspectives. Of course the classic references here may have a deeper or profound meaning when examined from the energetic instead of the mechanical standpoint.

1. No.1: The point of Taiji is to lead an opponent into emptiness
To be flatly honest, I really have no idea what this means besides uprooting the opponent or leading the opponent into a vulnerable situation. I would love senior insight on this.

2. No.2: After achieving relaxation in Taiji practice, one must master
spiraling chi energy
This is really nifty, it was mentioned in Sifu's books as Spiraling cocoon energy I think ^^. I've never experienced this myself but I invite my seniors to comment about this.
No. 3: Jin (loosely translated as "mind") must be pure.
Wow this one is really profound. Unfortunately my understanding of jin is not mind but essence and I don't quite understand what "pure" essence means. There are some relevant threads about the relationship between jing qi and shen on the forum. If anyone has insight into pure jin please share it!
No. 4: "Chin Yin Song Fang." This process is like water melting to
gas.

I really wish I knew Cantonese. Unfortunately I really don't understand what this line means either. ^^ If anyone knows the Chinese characters or has any insights to share please do!

I look forward to any future discussions.

Best wishes,

Ray

[joko]

Dear Ray,

Thanks for the article.

I do not know Chinese language, all the beautiful Chinese phrases of mine (that I love dearly) are mostly from Sifu's explanations.

After reading the article, there are indeed some rings in my mind, which I'd like to present here. Some are related to combat aspects, but some are not. Interestingly, one is closely related to the results of our 'Advanced Chikung Training' last April.

Here they are:

No.1: The point of Taiji is to lead an opponent into emptiness.

This means following the momentum of an opponent's attack (then he'll find that his attack goes into emptiness). A clear example can be seen from the recent video-clip of Portugal February 2007 Course. This is Sifu's explanation of the video-clip:

Being Relaxed and Following Momentum
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates how to counter an arm lock cum elbow press. He explains that it is very important to be relaxed and to follow the opponent’s momentum. If he goes against the opponent’s momentum, his elbow may be dislocated. The counter pattern is called “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves”, followed by “Precious Duck Swims Through Lotus”.

The above is just an example. There are many more other examples.

2. No.2: After achieving relaxation in Taiji practice, one must master spiraling chi energy
This is really nifty, it was mentioned in Sifu's books as Spiraling cocoon energy I think ^^. I've never experienced this myself but I invite my seniors to comment about this.

Well, Ray, my brother, you attended Sifu's Course in America, didn't you?
Did you recall the situation in which you were completely relaxed while standing upright, and then you felt chi flowing uninterruptedly?
This is what the above phrase means.
First, you stand in Wuji stance, then, when you begin your Taijiquan practice, energy starts flowing. (Taiji comes from Wuji). Then you perform the set, or combat sequences, or sparring with your partner, by using this energy, in spiralling movements. If you follow the 'stance' training and 'moving in stances', the two basic foundations of our arts, then you know how to master the spiralling chi energy. It means how to move in 'spiralling' way.

No. 3: Jin (loosely translated as "mind") must be pure.
Wow this one is really profound. Unfortunately my understanding of jin is not mind but essence and I don't quite understand what "pure" essence means. There are some relevant threads about the relationship between jing qi and shen on the forum. If anyone has insight into pure jin please share it!

I'll look at it from another angle. 'Jin' can be translated also as 'finer points'. When you perform movements or patterns, you must know what is the secret or reason behind those movements. This is explained and taught by a master, explaining the 'finer' points. And do you realize that Sifu generously share this 'jin' (finer points) in his 'fully explained' video-clip series? In this sense, 'jin must be pure' means that once you understand and experience the 'finer points', your intention in performing the patterns and movements will be 'pure', not distracted by outside things. For instance, you'll stick to the principles, even if people around you made a comment that your 'Taijiquan' does not look like common Taijiquan, but more like a Shaolinquan.

No. 4: "Chin Yin Song Fang." This process is like water melting to gas.

This, I will look from the perspective of 'Small Universe'. It is related to our sexual energy. God gives us the pleasure of sex not without reason. A clear explanation is that sex is needed to continue human existence, so we have desire as well as pleasure to have sex.
In spiritual terms, sex is the first step to attain Enlightenment. How? We learn not to be selfish; we must take care of the sex partner. By giving satisfaction to the partner, we'll reach more satisfaction to ourselves, right?
Ever wonder in Indian temples there are carvings of couples having sex? I found similar carvins or statues in my home town in Central Java, where I was born.
In certain Indian tradition, having sex with a loving partner is not only an act of sex only, it is also an act of offering.
What does this to do with Small Universe?

Sex is a kind of energy. In its basic form, it is liquid. When it is liquid, it tends to flow to lower place, hence our desire and needs to have sex, and the need to 'ejaculate'.

When our awareness goes into higher level; this is the result of practicing our art, this energy can become gas, instead of liquid. What is the characteristic of gas? It tend to go to higher place. Hence, it goes higher, from the genital area, upwards, to 'baihui'. That is perhaps also the meaning of rising the energy in Kundalini Yoga, which can also be interpreted as improving our awareness to higher level. Chakras in Kundalinin Yoga can mean the level of awareness. From first level, to the seventh level. The location of the seventh level coincidently corresponds to 'Baihui' point in our 'Small Universe'.
(You know, thanks to Sifu's teaching, now I can attain Small Universe, that's why I came to the above understanding when reading 'water melting to gas').

While practicing our Shaolin Wahnam arts, I experienced once in a while, the pleasure of 'union' with the Universe. It is like 'having sex' with the Universe; the pleasure is very enjoyable. Those who have experienced this 'union' will certainly have more ability to control their sexual desire. (at times of temporarily separated from the wife while travelling abroad, for instance).

Dear Ray,

That is my understanding when I read the article. Of course, it is only one way of interpreting the meaning of those English translations of the original Chinese.
Others can understand differently. Even I could have different understanding when reading them again at other times.

Best regards,
Joko

[Ray]

Dear Sifu Joko,
Thank you so much for sharing your own insights on this matter.

Best,

Ray

[Navid]

Hi,

By point No.1 of the first section, I agree with Joko in that you follow your opponents momentum, but you use your silk-reeling or downward spiral energy to avoid an attack and attack at the same time.

Another possible explanation is an ability called disappearing; it requires you to have enough gong and training to sense your opponents force and then as soon as your opponent believes that he has hit you, you use the downward spiraling/silk-reeling energy to make the opponent feel like he punched air. For example, try imagining an object, and trying to push it with your shoulder. It's very hard because when you push something you expect for that same force to be reciprocated, it similar to punching a Taijiquan practitioner and having him/her move at the last second making you feel like the object you were just about to hit disappeared.

[Ray]

Using Mind not Strength 用意不用力

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Here's another common principle in Tai Chi. As usual I would like to invite everyone to share their ideas about this.

* Use the Mind and Not Strength: This is stated in the "Treatise on Ta'i-chi chaun" and means that we must rely exclusively on mind and not on strength. In practicing T'ai-chi chuan the whole body is relaxed. If we can eliminate even the slightest clumsiness which creates blocks in the sinews, bones, and blood vessels and restricts our freedom, then our movements will be light, nimble, circular, and spontaneous. Some wonder how we can be strong without using strength. The meridians of the body are like the waterways of the earth. When the waterways are open then the water flows freely; when the meridians are open then the chi passes through. If stiffness blocks the meridians, the chi and blood will be obstructed and our movements will not be nimble, then if even one hair is pulled, the whole body will be shaken. If, on the other hand, we do not use strength but use the mind, then wherever the mind goes chi will follow. In this way, if the chi flows unobstructed, daily penetrating all the passages in the entire body without interruption, then after long practice we will have achieved true internal power. This, then, is what the "Treatise on Tai'chi chuan" means by "only from the highest softness comes the highest hardness." The arms of those who have mastered T'ai-chi chuan are like iron concealed in cotton and are extremely heavy. When those who practice external systems are using strength it is apparent, but when they have strength but are not applying it, then they are light and floating. It is obvious that their strength is an external, superficial kind of energy. The strength of practitioners of external systems is very easily manipulated and not worthy of praise.

- Oral Instructions from Yang Lu-Chang ( Yang Family Secret Transmissions, pp. 12-13)

My Beijing teacher would often stress this over and over and over. But I have yet to really understand what this means ^^

[Navid]

Hi,

I'm surprised that you haven't experienced this concept if you are a practitioner of Taijiquan because it is one of the founding principles of Taijiquan. Relaxing of the muscles and Zhong ding are two things which greatly facilitate the use of Chi as force.

I'm not sure if I misunderstood your question though. What don't you understand , the principle of mind over body?

I read this in a reputable Taijiquan book, and your Beijing teacher was correct in stressing that principle. You basically need to have mental intention. You have to intend to apply force. It's very hard for me to explain because I have not experienced it, only read, and I'm very interested in Taijiquan and currently looking for a suitable teacher.

I think a good example of intending force would be to touch anything, a wall for example, and intend to apply force against it, without using a muscle. As you may notice, it takes *a lot* more concentration to do that than to just push it as anybody would.

Take care,
Navid