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| Power management | ||
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Framework
All of those countless qigong exercises, form movements and neigong
qualities function to create a framework of strength.
This network of connected body parts exists at
all times. It is inherent.
You do not to tense-up or apply
contracted muscle power.
All you need to do is trust that this framework exists.
Fearful
Until you understand (and can employ) peng, you
cannot use your tai chi properly.
You will continue to assert forcefully and this is
incorrect.
Seeking to demonstrate your strength indicates fear
and poor skill.
You must know that peng exists in order to use
it. To do this, you must first relax and
let-go.
Patter-cake
Playing patter-cake with your attacker is bad practice. It indicates a lack
of groundpath.
You must always affect the assailant.
Tapping the outside of their body will not harm them in any way or
deter their attack.
If anything it will do the opposite because you will have shown the
ineffectual nature of your counter.
Brutal and clumsy
'A bull in a china shop' mentality is
incongruent with tai chi. It shows poor control and limited
ability.
It is the physical equivalent of becoming angry or
aggressive.
You do not need to really hurt anyone. It is enough to incapacitate the
attacker.
Harming other people reflects badly upon your character. It shows
insecurity and fear.
Martial arts are dangerous
The British Medical Association Guide To Sports Injuries states:
Combat sports such as boxing, judo, karate or kung fu make tough demands on the body; training is intense, and participation requires all-round fitness. Regardless of the fitness of the participants, however, the aggressive blows traded between opponents means that these sports always carry a serious risk of injury.
4 ounces
Tai chi uses no more than 4 ounces of pressure.
This will never change, no matter how experienced you become.
In fact, as you progress, you should use less and less
power.
Your aim is to decrease effort whilst increasing power.
The first step is to become as soft as you
can be yet still pull off the counter.
Jing
It is easy to forget that tai chi is all about energy,
not strength.
If you are struggling with the attacker or
using way too much force, you have forgotten this basic
fact.
Stop being 'strong' and relax.
Commitment
Your aim is to use just enough power to
pull off the application.
Make contact, feel the bite and then come off immediately.
Do not wait around to see what happens.
But avoid hurrying/rushing.
Just enough
The exact same mentality applies to performing a
fall or a throw.
Ignore what you think is needed.
What you think is irrelevant.
Ask yourself: is the effect the consequence of
using the least amount of effort?
Reduced commitment
Less is better than more.
A correct strike looks like absolutely nothing but penetrates deeply.
The impact may not even feel hard.
It is unimpressive in appearance but powerful
in effect.
Similarly, a fall or throw should feel to have just happened
all by itself... Unless you reduce your commitment and rely upon jing and groundpath, you
will drown in shallow water.
Control
If you are not in control of your tai chi, who is in control? You cannot treat the art like a runaway car.
Be responsible.
Only you can make the power manifest. So take responsibility.
Learn how to
control it.
Rushing
Rushing is another sign of fear.
You must come to terms with your fear, and relax. If you get hit, you get
hit. Accept this.
When you flinch,
anticipate or tense-up, you have lost control completely.
A more skilled opponent will defeat you
instantly. Yield, make space. Take your time.
Rushing is a timing fault. Your
awareness is askew. You are not present in the moment.
Listening to your body
Listening work entails a significant change of
focus.
You learn to listen to what your body is doing, rather than what you think
it is doing.
Your stances increase in size and you become more
mobile.
The work involves much more peng emphasis and groundpath cultivation.
Remember to temper this with sensitivity and skill.
There is no excuse for clumsiness and brutality.
Take control of your own body.
Luke Skywalker: I do not believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
(The Empire Strikes Back)
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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