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| Energy (kinetic) | ||
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Kinetic energy
Tai chi involves the storage and release of 'kinetic' energy - movement energy.
Like a rock launched from a catapult or an arrow launched from a bow...
We use kinetic energy in combat.
The effect
Kinetic energy can be seen by a simple demonstration.
Strike a focus mitt but do not push upon
impact.
As soon as you hit the mitt, stop and withdraw the hand.
The effect of your strike should cause the mitt and the arm holding it to
continue moving.
This is different to an
external
strike, where your aim is to
punch
through the target.
Whole-body strength
Whole-body strength is different to
external strength.
You never tense the muscles or lock the
joints.
Your limbs feel mobile and
relaxed at all times. They are imbued with
inherent strength.
Neigong is cultivated by paying attention to
how an action is undertaken.
Rather than move the body in a 'normal' manner, a
whole-body action must be
trained.
Once the new way of moving is
familiar, you no
longer realise that you are moving in a contrived manner.
Energy transmission
The tai chi movements serve to supply
a pathway for the transmission of kinetic energy.
Energy travels from the ground into your hand.
Your body simply provides the means by which the energy can be transferred.
If you are stiff and unyielding, disconnected or
flaccid - this transmission will be unsuccessful.
Conduit
Once you regard your body as being a channel for the transmission of energy,
you can start to understand what tai chi
striking
involves.
You do not punch or kick using local muscle groups.
The energy is transferred from the ground, passing through your
frame and out into the opponent.
Your limb is simply the part that makes contact with the opponent.
Wave
A student learns how to generate an
undulation
wave.
This is passed throughout your entire structure, storing and releasing
kinetic energy.
We develop this wave by learning whole-body movement.
Every strike involves every body part
moving as
one.
It is this rippling action that performs the delivery, rather than local
muscle strength.
Coiling & releasing energy
Imagine twisting a towel as tightly as you can and then letting go? The towel will unfurl by itself.
Why? Your
twisting action stores
energy.
This is what opens the towel again.
Tai chi twists and turns the body in order to store and release energy
using the soft tissues of the body.
If your body is connected and has peng, you will be capable of greater
release.
Dead movement
With awareness it becomes possible to feel when the kinetic energy is
flowing and when it is impeded.
Certain movements performed incorrectly will create 'dead' movements - these
are actual stopping points where the kinetic energy flow is lost.
Impediments
It is quite easy to maintain the kinetic flow, just avoid the
impediments:
Compressed cavities
Closed joints
Collapsed muscles; usually thighs and front of body
Over-commitment, pushing and exertion
Hands too close to the body or too far away
Disconnected movement; arms and legs moving independent of the body
Awareness alone should prevent any of these mistakes from occurring; it is
essential to feel the blockage.
13 methods
All styles of
tai chi employ 13
expressions of power.
These 13 methods were detailed in
The Tai Chi Classics.
Every tai chi movement is essentially a
combination of the 13 kinetic energy expressions.
When
torrential water tosses boulders,
it is because of its momentum;
when the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey;
it is because of timing.
(Sun Tzu)
Page created
12 January 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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