Jing physics
In the curve seek the straight, store, then release.
(Wu Yu-hsiang)
Metaphysical?
When studying tai chi it is important to stay clear of metaphysical
debates and mysterious approaches.
It is tempting for inexperienced students to hide behind
exotic words or mystical concepts, but all this does is occlude the subject
under consideration.
There is nothing supernatural or superhuman about tai chi.
Cultivating a New Age perception of tai chi is not inspiring; it suggests a
shallow grasp of the principles and a lack of knowledge.
Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and focus on the real, on the
substance of reality.
This attitude represents the primary zen contribution to our syllabus:
emphasising the immediate.
Keeping it real
Every jing is the product of the way in which you move your body.
By turning the hips, flexing the spine, shifting the weight and adjusting the
limbs - you produce an outcome.
There is nothing spectacular about this.
The beginners syllabus teaches you to express jing in a more or less random
manner.
It is hard enough to project power in the first place without worrying about
which jing it is and how the different expressions should feel.
All we ask is that a beginner project energy in an effective way into somebody
else.
The moving qigong exercises address this when a student reaches column 3 of
their ticksheet.
Once you can project jing using basic exercises, you must do the same during
partner work, form and self defence.
Science
A beginner employs a range of jing without being aware of it, but this
process lacks focus.
The 13 postures are the first step towards refining and channelling jing.
To harness your ability to deliver effectively and deliberately, you must
understand how a certain movement produces energy.
You must move past a random sense of jing and be very specific.
The 8 powers are your initial concern: wardoff, rollback, press, squeeze, pluck,
split, elbow and shoulder/bump.
Each one is generated by a physical movement but the effect of that movement is
energetic, not physical.
Your body stops at a certain point, and the effect continues.
Consider: when you speak, there is a whole series of internal processes involved
- complex openings and closings within your body.
Yet, your only interest is in the words themselves.
The words are sounds, shaped and projected by an internal mechanism.
Sound energy is launched from your body.
Jing is like this.
The more internally skilled you become, the less apparent the physical mechanism
involved.
Page created 5 August 1999