No jing
Part of
the secret of eventual success is the ability to relax the body much more
deeply than usual, but at the same time to have an acutely alert mind which
can detect the right moment to 'strike'.
In fact, all martial arts at their apex seeks this sudden, well-timed and
balanced application of force.
Very few martial artists achieve it, but it is a goal worth aiming for, it
is akin to the sudden enlightenment or 'satori' in zen, or the moment of
releasing the bow in Japanese archery.
(Paul Crompton)
Internal power
Students train internal power and become very integrated.
Then they undertake partner work and ruin everything by using external strength.
Force.
This situation is extremely common with beginners.
It is all very well training by yourself, but partner work is the real test.
If you cannot utilise your internal power when working with another person,
what good is it?
Cultivating this unusual kind of strength is pointless if you cannot
successfully apply it.
Forcing
Everyone forces.
This failing stems from the desire to have a result. Tai chi is all about the
means, the how, the nature, the character, the essence.
It is not about the
outcome. The means is what causes the outcome.
For example: you cannot conceivably fa jing if your body has not learned how to
store and release energy.
The
mechanism for delivering fa jing must be cultivated.
The end product is only possible once the means has been trained.
4 ounces/internal power
The barrier facing students is to accept that internal power feels like
'normal' movement to a large degree.
There is slightly more movement throughout
the muscles and along the spine, but the overall sense of it is mild.
There is no real impression of having strength, or indeed, of using strength.
4 ounces of pressure is paramount.
The more you push, the greater the
resistance. Newton proved this centuries ago.
Moving the muscles
It is important to appreciate that the muscles move the bones.
Our aim is to
move the muscles to a greater extent and the bones to a lesser one.
We call this
process 'internalisation', hence the term 'internal martial art'.
Excess joint and limb movement is redundant. It takes time and it wastes energy.
Your movements need to mainly take place unseen, within the legs and the torso.
Very little of what is going on can be discerned from the outside.
It looks like a small, internal wave.
Sensitivity
Without sensitivity, a student possesses no jing.
Listening and understanding jing are not delivering power into the opponent.
They are monitoring and feeling what your opponent is doing.
The yin expression of wardoff and stickiness are also fundamental. You must make
soft contact with the attacking limb, stick to it and then act.
This is not a 1, 2, 3 process. It must happen unconsciously and instantaneously.
Why is all this so important?
You are joining your nervous system to that of your opponent, without alerting
them.
You must not bang off the incoming limb. To do so would violate Newton's third
law of motion.
The movement
Initially you must feel the incoming movement, and respond using your
movement.
If you are thinking about the technical aspects of your tai chi when this
happens, you will fail.
The action must be easy, free and natural.
Your mind must be in the moment, with your awareness upon your opponent's
movement.
Do not think about techniques. Instead, feel the direction, angle and power of
the movement.
Blend with it and act.
The expression
Movement is the first stage of jing expression.
Ultimately you must proceed past this stage and focus upon the energy emitted by
the movement.
This is your real concern.
Tai chi is comprised of 13 energy expressions, known as 13 postures.
The mind shapes the body and the movement expresses the kinetic energy.
As your skill improves, the mind does more and the body does less, but the power
remains.
You learn to use only the necessary amount of movement and energy.
This process of internalisation is contingent upon your ability to respond to
the subtle use of energy.
Natural unnaturalness
Your tai chi must develop to a point where you are unaware of internal
power and unaware of jing.
You simply respond spontaneously to the situation (wu nien).
It all just happens by itself (tzu-jan).
Everything feels harmonious and appropriate (wu wei).
This stage may be seen as 'natural unnaturalness' or freeform.
Not many people get this far.
Typically they flounder in the cage of their own tension.
Page created 8 October 1999