Whole body relaxation is the foundation of Neijia (internal) training. The concept of "da song da san” (big loosening big expansion) emphasised in every aspect of training is easy to understand but not easy to do. The harder one ‘tries’ to loosen the muscles, the tenser they get.
Muscle relaxation must occur subconsciously. However just being “loose" is not enough, because in usage, you have to control your body shape, store strength, and make the appropriate action. So at the same time as “big loosening big expansion” you must also fulfil the criteria of "muscles are loose but intention/spirit is not scattered.”
To fulfil this, the analogy “meat hanging from the bones” is sometimes used, i.e. the muscles and flesh are loose but the tendons and bones are in place for them to hang from. In many Neijia Quan, there are exercises to relax the muscles of the whole body. For example, the static exercise Zhan Zhuang, is to practise “extreme looseness”. Some use “Chan/Zen" practice method to achieve “deep relaxation”, so that the spirit can reach a profound quiet and tranquil state of mind to relax the body.
Getting to this level is no small feat and requires focused training over time. However it is only the beginning. For people who want to utilise the power of the body’s integrated strength in actual combat, the “big loosening big expansion” must be present even in critical situations, which is very difficult for ordinary people to do without specific training.
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