For master archers it is
a fact of common experience that a good archer can shoot further with a
medium-strong bow than an unspiritual archer can with the strongest.
It does not depend on the bow, but on the presence of mind,
on the vitality and awareness with which you shoot.
In order to unleash the full force of this spiritual awareness,
you must perform the ceremony differently: rather as a good dancer dances.
If you do this, your movements will spring from the centre,
from the seat of right breathing.
Instead of reeling off something learned by heart,
it will be as if you were creating it under the inspiration of the moment,
so that dance and dancer are and the same.
By performing the ceremony like a religious dance,
your spiritual awareness will develop its full force.
(Eugen Herrigel)
Standing in your own way
Trying too hard to control your body can be a folly
in tai chi; focus on what needs to be controlled and leave the rest alone.
These are your concerns:
neigong,
shaping
the movement,
awareness, sensitivity,
softness,
yielding and groundpath.
If you interfere with naturally occurring processes such as reflex, you become
your own impediment.
You must work with the body by adjusting
frame
and feeling what is comfortable and connected.
Unbroken pathway
Mastery of the groundpath is a fundamental tai chi skill. You
need an unbroken connection from your heel to your hand.
There must be no interference from bodily tension. This connection must be
completely loose and fluid.
It must be present at all times.
Stillness to movement
The groundpath is developed using full
circle qigong.
Ba duan jin takes it into slow motion and begins to incorporate breath and mind.
Form takes it further.
Drills and partner work take the body into increasingly dynamic modes of
activity which challenge your ability to maintain the groundpath.
The journey from stillness to movement must carry with it the
absolute certainty of relaxed full body connection with the ground.
Making contact
There are two ways in which you can make contact with the
opponent:
The first does not interfere with the opponents
centre, whereas the second must take the centre immediately.
The body must be soft at all times, never tensing.
Uniting the many
Striking is always the hardest thing to learn because people
are very reluctant to let go.
Striking must be a spontaneous expression of outward energy.
If you 'spare yourself' by holding-back, the strike will feel weak and
ineffectual.
Unite yourself with intent.
The groundpath must be apparent the instant that you strike, otherwise the
delivery is wasted.
Your strikes must be honed to a degree where you know when and how to apply 4
ounces of pressure.
Involuntary flexing
The groundpath must be loose and fluid when you
move.
If you relax sufficiently, the joints will begin to flex by themselves.
Involuntary action is inherent, effortless and immediate.
Feeling
Practicing slowness and softness with intent will add
substance to your movements.
Intent in tai chi is not conscious thought - you do not verbalise the action.
The mind must be on the end of the groundpath in order to direct the energy but
you must not be thinking about anything.
You must feel.
Under pressure
Pressure testing will make it very difficult for you to concentrate.
You will find it hard to think clearly and ultimately the only way to cope is to
cease thinking altogether.
When you stop thinking, you will become far more aware and your body will start
to do things by itself.
Subconscious responses can only come about through daily tai chi practice;
reflex will develop to a point where your own strike should surprise you.
Page created 12 November 2000