If your opponent is bigger than you or using strength it should be to your
advantage.
Use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds and then borrow his strength.
(Cheng Man Ching)
Internal strength
A tai chi exponent must develop their own
internal strength to a considerable degree in order to be in condition to
defend themselves and move in a whole-body manner.
You need the ability to power your counter-strikes and must not become
easily fatigued.
Students of every
age group can demonstrate their internal
strength in class.
Neigong is
very tangible and apparent.
It is very different to
contracted muscle
strength.
The use of strength
Although you have become internally stronger, you must employ the least amount
of strength at all times.
Tai chi avoids using strength and seeks to use the strength of the attacker
against them:
Kung Yi-tsu was famous for his strength.
King Hsuan of Chou went to call on him with full ceremony,
but when he got there, he found that Kung was a weakling.
The king asked, "How strong are you?"
Kung replied, "I can break the waist of a spring insect,
I can bear the wing of an autumn cicada."
The king flushed and said,
"I'm strong enough to tear apart rhinoceros hide and drag nine oxen by the tail
- yet I still lament my weakness.
How can it be that you are so famous for strength?"
Kung replied, "My fame is not for having such strength,
it is for being able to use such strength."
(Zen story/David Schiller)
Consider this story carefully
and you will understand the principle involved.
Soft meeting
The application of tai chi in
self defence is soft. The very essence of tai
chi lies in yielding and wu wei.
You must employ wardoff to navigate around the attacking force without
banging against their limb.
If you offer resistance, it can be borrowed and used against you.
The grace required to do this is extraordinary, and you must be
acutely aware of how much
pressure exists between you.
Perfect this skill and your attacker will feel to be grappling with
water.
Soft striking
In order to transfer body weight, gravity and momentum into the
opponent, a bridge must be made.
If you are not soft, you will meet resistance and the bridge will not exist.
The kinetic energy you emit will bounce back into you adversely.
An effective soft strike causes the opponent's entire body to undulate like
a
wave.
This occurs when training
jing.
Composure
A jerky movement will trigger a response from the nervous system.
Our students must move past the point where this happens.
The
emotions need to be calm and the mind
still.
A
detached, relaxed person is not as bothered
by an attacker; it simply represents an inconvenience.
They do not tense-up and fight back.
They
go with what is happening and let the
situation present opportunities.
This requires considerable
practice and
patience.
When your
perception changes, you take softness with
you in all aspects of your life.
Page created 7 February 1998