The form comes from
the physical properties of the materials used.
(Andrew
Juniper)
Innate
'Innate' means the essential character/nature of something.
It is a quality that exists at all times. It is not added. You do not need to
'do' anything.
Activity is not required.
Neigong/internal strength is innate. It is there all the time.
Unfortunately, this is a little bit like
The Emperor's New Clothes, in that the student
cannot feel their own strength.
If you feel anything, you are feeling your tension, not your strength.
In order to accept the presence of internal strength, it must be
pressure-tested.
You determine the presence of internal strength by its effect. We call this
jing.
Beginner/external
When a beginner starts class, we offer various exercises designed to
explore the nature of internal strength.
Students consider connection, sinking and rooting, along with the other
qualities.
One of the exercises involves testing the innate stability of their
posture.
Inevitably, the student does not really 'get it'.
When their posture is tested, they tense-up, they claw their toes, they fight
back, they adjust.
This defeats the point of the exercise.
We are testing 'innate' strength, not how well a person can react, adjust,
retaliate...
Inherent strength
Pressure can be applied to any part of your body and you
should feel
substantial.
This substance is tangible but not rigid in any way. You should feel springy.
Pliable. Like rubber.
You must always yield when pushed and never resist the incoming force.
The connection must exist without conscious effort.
If you need to employ effort, then the strength is not inherent and will not be
there in every movement.
Remember that this quality is passive.
Pressure-test
If you want to test a posture, you need to establish the posture and then
do nothing when your partner tests it.
If you do anything, you are not testing the innate strength.
This is not so complicated, but people really struggle to understand.
Any action on your part whilst your partner is testing your posture
renders the exercise pointless.
Innate strength is not applied strength.
The muscles are not engaged in the application/use of strength.
You need to remain passive.
No preparation
Beginners may be very good at showing connection, balance and strength under
controlled circumstances.
However, self defence will not give you time to prepare.
It will just happen.
You may well be caught by surprise.
If your internal strength is not present at all times, your tai chi will not
work.
Posture testing is concerned with passive stability. Innate
connection. Root. Central equilibrium.
Simplistic themes.
The exercises are not testing internal strength per se.
If you are not rooted, in a strong, balanced, flexible posture, you cannot apply
tai chi.
Unless you have a firm, stable base, any application of strength will fail.
That is why innate stability is essential.
But this firm base cannot be accomplished through any form of doing.
Doing costs energy.
Low, extended postures are not energy efficient. You are wasting energy before
you even commence combat.
The highest level
of tai chi chuan practice is high stance and small circle. In high stance and
small circle you can conserve your energy to a maximum level.
(Yang
Jwing-Ming)
Softer
Innate strength needs to be increasingly
subtle. Work at yielding to even the slightest degree of force.
Let your body soften, relax and find internal space.
The greater the yielding, the more scope you have for application.
Seek to sustain central equilibrium without any use of force.
Page created 11 April 2001