“Mo Jin” (摸劲), or “sensing energy,” is a lifelong journey of exploration for practitioners. It is built upon the foundation of “Shun Jin” (顺劲), or “following energy”, in accordance with the Taijiquan principles of not resisting or losing contact, adhering, sticking, following, yielding to the opponent, and borrowing the opponent’s force.
Through this process, one experiences the transformation of Yin and Yang within the body whilst exploring the profundity of neutralising, borrowing force, and redirecting it to overcome an incoming force. Since Taijiquan uses small force to defeat greater force and softness to overcome hardness, its subtleties must be understood and mastered. Therefore, practitioners need to train in both “shun jin” and “mo jin”.
The training of “mo jin” starts with mutual energy feeding exercises, e.g. in cooperative tuishou practice, where partners exchange force, receiving and transforming it. In the partner’s incoming force, one learns to perceive the speed, direction, and path, and to respond with appropriate receiving and neutralising, adhering and controlling actions, exploring the ideal outcomes. Throughout the process, practitioners must continually eliminate their inherent stiff force and cultivate the acquired relaxed, pliant, and sensitive internal energy, ultimately reaching the level of “dong jin” (懂劲), “understanding energy”. As the Taiji classics say, “from familiarity comes understanding, and from understanding one progresses to divine realisation”.
Understanding energy is gained through the constant practice of “shun jin” and “mo jin”. One must first know the trajectory, transformation, function, and effect of one’s own energy. At the same time, one must also understand the direction, magnitude, speed, and nature of the partner’s/ opponent’s energy, according to the principle of Yin-Yang transformation. The aim is to match Yin with Yang and vice versa, and ultimately to achieve a harmonious balance of both.
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