In my very own expertise, there are two very distinct forms of “really feel” of excessive stage Tai Chi practitioners. For newbies, considered one of these varieties seems like they’re stumbling in clouds, there’s nothing to the touch, and but they’re simply swept round like a leaf in a storm. Then you definately contact the opposite sort this sort of practitioner can really feel delicate and relaxed, but additionally arduous, stiff and unmovable on the similar time. It is rather arduous to elucidate this contradiction and for Tai Chi practitioners at a median stage, this will really feel fairly complicated.
I bear in mind assembly considered one of my lecturers the primary time. I used to be invited to strive penetrating his guard punching at him. He didn’t do a lot in any respect, he hardly moved, but simply evaded all of my strikes and punches. I used to be stunned how straightforward it was for him, how exact, small changes might left me feeling puzzled and considerably helpless, like his ability was a complete constructing of ranges forward of me. However I used to be additionally puzzled about that he felt arduous. Pushing towards his arms it felt like pushing towards a wall. Regardless of this obvious hardness and stiffness, a whole stable construction, he at all times spoke about rest and softness.
So what you must perceive, is that no matter you are feeling, whenever you contact a excessive stage practitioner it’s the results of a very long time of apply. Should you try to imitate and do the identical, having the identical feeling as your trainer, you’re doing incorrect. Particularly if you happen to strive having a sure construction, a hardness, you’re simply fooling your self. Many do that as a result of they imagine they should have a sure “peng”, or preserve construction to not collapse.
This can be a frequent view, however it is usually a giant mistake that may hold you from understanding the true power and energy that may be developed by Tai Chi apply. You’ll want to let go of all urge to make use of muscle power to withstand. You’ll want to learn the way the physique and construction will sustain itself if you happen to simply let the physique sustain itself. And in addition, whenever you play push palms or do different accomplice work, you must be as delicate as potential and chill out into your form and construction as an alternative of forcing it.
You really want to hearken to what Yang Chengfu stated, that excessive softness robotically offers beginning to power and energy. That is the true path to mastery, to first construct your potential to be delicate and chill out into an actual ability. You’ll want to not simply be not arduous, however first you must study to develop into delicate and supple and find out how to hold being delicate and relaxed whereas individuals attempt to push and drag you. You’ll discover ways to use it later.
In fact, find out how to obtain it may be arduous to know. Should you haven’t already received it, this would possibly really feel complicated and like one thing unattainable to attain. The one means is to maintain attempting, hold shedding, hold feeling silly when others simply use pressure to push or throw you down. At all times remember that all nice practitioners you’ll meet have felt the identical. They’ve felt embarrassed, humiliated, many, many occasions till they discovered to “let go” whereas sticking to essentially the most primary, humble Tai Chi ideas. And everybody can do the identical. All it takes is time and apply, in addition to some braveness to proceed striving to “get it.”
Tip: I wrote about the identical issues on this put up, but additionally extra concerning the issues and find out how to obtain it.
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