When you no longer resist them,
they no longer master you,
for their power over you is derived solely
from the force you pit against them.
(Alan Watts)
Pressure and strength
Pressure is not the same as
strength.
Pressure is the resistance created between one object and another.
If you place a hand loosely against the wall and then move your weight
forwards, it is pressure, not strength that you are feeling.
Pressure is caused by body
weight falling, rather than using your arms or local muscles.
It is a
yielding skill that
utilises gravity.
By letting your body weight fall when you move, you cease to push and this
is how strength is applied in Dynamic Balancing Tai
Chi.
4 ounces of pressure
It has been written that in practicing tai chi, no more
than
4 ounces of pressure should be exerted upon your body or expressed
by you at any given time.
This is how a physically weak person can deliver great power.
Tai chi does not require immense pressure to be applied, just
4 ounces.
To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Newton's 3rd Law of Motion is a scientific fact that helps you to
comprehend pressure.
The more pressure you apply, the more resistance you will encounter.
The less pressure you apply, the less resistance you will
encounter.
How much pressure do I exert when listening?
You need to experiment.
The ideal degree of pressure enables you to feel what the opponent is doing
without leaving yourself vulnerable to any sudden application of pressure.
Listening is a subtle skill.
How much pressure do I exert when striking?
You need to experiment.
The ideal degree of pressure creates a 'bite' where some measure of
penetration is experienced but not too much.
Commit too much pressure and
you are pushing, over-reaching and possibly exposed.
This is as bad for your posture as it is martially because it will put
strain on the lower back and the knees.
Chin na and pressure
Chin na can use fa
jing to deliver energy into the opponent.
The intention is to exert brisk damage to a grappler, rather than battle
with strength.
Without substance
When you are receiving incoming
force, the other person should not be able to find purchase.
You should be able to dissipate your substance in accord with their
exertion.
To them, you feel to be without substance.
Yet, if they try to compromise your structure, the
internal tension will be evident.
Should you choose to push or strike the opponent, they will immediately feel
your
groundpath.
Water pressure
In tai chi, you must treat the
air as if it were water and imagine a subtle pressure against your body as
you move.
Only 4 ounces of pressure is necessary.
Any more and you will begin to tense your muscles.
Page created 1 November 1998