The Role of the Kua

 

The "Kua" is not a familiar word to the layperson, but people who practise Taijiquan are very familiar with the word. This is because the “kua” plays a key and decisive role in the practice of Taijiquan:

1. It is the bearing that connects the upper and lower planes of the body. The coordinating actions of the kua enable the upper plane to rotate left or right that in turn put into motion the actions of the four limbs.

2. It allows the transmission of strength. The body’s natural load can be transferred to the bottom of the feet by loosening the kua, making the upper body light and the lower body stable. The rebounding force of the legs and feet on the ground can be transmitted to the waist through the rotation of the kua.

3. It uses folding and tucking motions to adjust the height of the body. In Taijiquan the height of the body and the usual half squat/sitting position are achieved by the folding and piling of the kua.

4. It is a generator of the body’s power source. Pushing off the ground starts with either "loosening and sinking" or "rotating and sinking", using the ground's rebound force, which is then transmitted sequentially to the hands.

In the Taijiquan context, "kua" is not muscle, tendons or joints and bones. The whole area that connects the thigh bones and pelvis is collectively called "kua".

In discussions of Taijiquan, there is sometimes confusion and misunderstanding about the Chinese word “kua”, which is not adequately represented by the English translation to the "hip". It is helpful for practitioners of Taijiquan to understand what “kua” encompasses.

A Few Words on Taijiquan Fajin

The characteristics of Taijiquan fajin is the combination of the linear rebound strength generated from the ground and the spiral rotational strength of the body (left-right rotation, top-bottom folding), together with the optimisation of the body’s integrated strength, and in relation to the precise contact point of a target.

Fajin is actually a combination of displacement and spherical movements; but in addition to that, at the precise moment of fajin, as well as pushing from the ground the waist and arms unfold, resulting in the characteristic explosive power. Many Taijiquan players find it difficult to execute fajin, or are not doing it properly.

The reason may be that whole body power is not integrated. The actions of generating force from the ground and the rotational spherical movements of the waist and upper limbs are not synchronised and its implementation is interrupted.

The second reason is insufficient tuishou experience and skill - to realise what is over-reaching and under commitment (too hard or too soft); to know when to neutralise force and when to take advantage of gaps; to not be always in a passive position; and not able to sense the best moment for fajin.

‘Listening’ skill and fajin are closely linked. Without this realisation a player may only be able to bear or overcome forty percent of an opponent’s power, and emit only about twenty percent of his own power (the ideal suggested is at least eighty percent). Fajin needs to be crisp, delivered to the intended point and produce the desired effect. Cracking away randomly with no intention and no content is a common sight with many practitioners.