The Yin and Yang of Taiji Philosophy...

In China the traditional transmission of the practice of Taijiquan has always been verbal and conspicuously few written descriptions of the art have been passed down. This is because the philosophy that underpins the practice has long been recorded in the literature and works of sages and literary men of past generations, and there was deemed no need for anymore redundant description.

The way of Taijiquan practice is actually the physical movement and the inner change of mind and spirit generated by the Yin and Yang of Taiji philosophy.

On Movement and Stillness

The combination of movement and stillness in Taijiquan means that the combined practice of static fixed postures and dynamic form routine is necessary. The form routine is in itself divided into movement and stillness, conversion/transition movements being the dynamic phase and end postures being the resting phase. Every moving phase must be completed with a resting phase, which in turn influences and assists the moving phase.

Quiet static practice promotes the accuracy of mo...vements and improves the internal power. There are specific static exercises, such as standing pole, sitting meditation, or single posture or fixed posture training. But they are preconditions for dynamic training. Dynamic practice refers to the whole set of a routine or several combinations of movements. It improves the flexibility and connectivity of Taijiquan movements.

In Taijiquan there is stillness within movements and movement within stillness. It requires practitioners to possess the mental capability to accommodate the idea that only the ingenious combination of both will enable and improve the quality of movements and the skill level of Taijiquan.

Training Gong

One often hears the phrase in Taijiquan, “training ‘quan’ without training ‘gong’, in the end all efforts come to nothing”.
 
The acquisition of “gong” takes effort, but where the effort is placed makes a big difference. ‘Quan’ is movement-based and therefore movements and postures play major roles in one’s acquisition of skill. However, people often mistake training “gong” as learning more movements. As a result they learn many forms and put all their effort on "quantity"... rather than on “quality”.

Taijiquan does not only attach importance to training the outside (physical) shape but also to internal (mental) practice. The failure to do both are often manifested in movements that are undefined and empty, and/or excessive and superfluous, or else stiff and clumsy. Wrong habits become embedded and corrections become very difficult, which not only affect the acquisition of ‘gong’, but also reduce the health and fitness as well as the functionality of Taijiquan.

Quantity and quality are the unity of contradiction. Without quantity, there is no quality. But quality is more important than quantity. The high level of Taijiquan is mainly reflected in its high quality. The "quality" of Taijiquan mainly refers to its “nei gong” (internalised skill), which includes “nei yi” (mental intention), “nei qi” (intrinsic energy) and “nei li” (internal force)- manifesting in the coordination of mental intention, guided qi, and trained strength. Mental intention is the prerequisite, guided qi is the core, and trained power is the result. They are the main standard by which to measure the quality of one’s movements and also the foundation of Taijiquan health and fitness as well as its functionality.

Taijiquan's Three Centres

Practitioners should be clear about the basic concepts, functions and effects of the “three centres” of the body, i.e., the centre line of the body, the centre of gravity, and the central axis.

The centre line of the body acts as a symmetry line that distinguishes between the left and right side of the body, from the forehead (Upper Dan Tian), the nose, centre of the chest (Dan Zhong ), to the perineum. During practice, the hands are like two doors, each in charge of one si...de of the body and cannot cross the middle line. As soon as the wrist crosses the midline, the forearm loses its fulcrum and the hand loses its strength. This line may not be very important to the casual practitioners but it has a great significance in fighting skill. The often-said “guarding the centre” refers to this defensive middle line.

The centre of gravity is maintained through the alignment of the Bai Hui (at the top of the head) and the Yong Quan (at the bottom of the feet). The alignment is more obvious viewed from the side, from the Bai Hui, the ear, shoulder, down the leg into the Yong Quan. Maintain the centre of gravity for good posture and stability. Misalignment is usually through the inability to loosen and activate the kua, thus pushing the knees forwards and outwards.

The central axis is the line linking Bai Hui to Hui Yin, and is the vertical axis of the body. The upper body turns left or right with the help of kua rotation through the vertical axis, driving the movement of both hands.

The vertical axis must be kept straight, made possible by adhering to the fundamental requirements that most practitioners are familiar with: relax the neck and keep the head up; loosen the shoulders and sink the elbows; contain the chest and settle the back; loosen the kua and round the crotch.

There are often confusions between the central axis and the centre of gravity. If the central axis takes the function of the centre of gravity the body will become a stick rather than a spring. The spine is also not to be mistaken as the central axis.

 

Taijiquan's Fajin

Fajin (the sudden release of power) has become a common feature in Taijiquan, particularly after the wide spread of Chen Style Taijiquan in recent years. It has become fashionable and many practitioners have set great store by the "shaking elastic power" of Taijiquan.

However the condition of fajin is the release of cultivated strength (jin) and therefore a prerequisite is the presence of this strength. Jin is built up and accumulated over a long time and fajin is not a method from which to acquire it.

All fajin actions are preceded by a necessary storing stage. A highly skilled person has a short storing stage that is sometimes not detectable. A lesser skilled person needs to work more on storing and less on releasing.

Beginners especially need to implicitly cultivate and store energy rather than releasing and spending it. Many Taijiquan learners who are physically not robust, whose dantian is empty, whose structures are not correct and who are unable to regulate their breathing, are often in a hurry to fajin. Skill should be practised step by step. Do not be in a hurry and do not deceive yourself.

Taijiquan's "Three Reps"

What is considered good training in everyday practice?

In order to make good progress, besides daily training of basic exercises and "standing", it is standard to do at least three repetitions of the form. Each time, besides training the fundamental essentials, there must be different emphasis:

The first rep is to adjust and regulate the breath. Practise synchronising movements and breathing, so that the body's qi and blood can run smoothly.

The emphasis of the second rep is relaxation and sinking, opening and closing. The body should manifest the qualities of looseness and heaviness and explicitly express all opening and closing movements, so that the joints, muscles and bones of the whole body can become alive.

The key emphasis of the third rep is the application of jin. In every movement identify the source, the path and the final destination, and how to apply them, so that the skill becomes real.

On Patient Learning...

The process of learning Taijiquan gongfu takes far longer than the practice of external gongfu.

Taijiquan gongfu relies on patient learning over a period of time.

Moments of enlightenment may suddenly occur and flashes of brilliance manifest spontaneously, so that the casual observers believe that they occur by accident. In fact, skills are accumulated over a long period and are built from the basics.

Chinese idioms such as "go fishing for three days and dry the net for two" and "have one day's sun and ten days cold" - meaning to work by fits and starts - are frowned upon during the acquisition of skill.

It is well acknowledged that for Taijiquan skill "three years attain small success; ten years attain big success". People who practice Taijiquan not only need to work twice as hard but also be able to "get" it. If they do not understand what Taijiquan is, their "ultimate achievement is superficial".