Comments on: Taiji not about generating power

By: chenquestion

chenquestion — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:31:03 +0000

Whoops, I cut off the rest of my comment. Oh well, the main thing was requesting you to post a follow-up piece sometime if possible!

By: chenquestion

chenquestion — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:27:50 +0000

WM, this is a fantastic discussion you initiated, I’m really glad to have found it!

I’d like to contribute a couple of thoughts based on my own current understanding of these matters. Probably nothing you’re not familiar with but here goes…

Practicing fajin: fajin should be a release of gathered energy. I would not describe this energy as coming directly from an opponent, but rather from my own energy-gathering movements prior to the issuing. Whether those movements were in following an opponent, or just following the form. Does this sound right? Anyway that’s my firm impression – especially with Chen!

Speaking of Chen Zhonghua, you were johnny-on-the-spot to discover the “Kua interview” with CZH last summer. I just re-read this again and the part where he says “there is no redirection and no release”. Only turning and neutralization, with expressions of taiji power all coming from that same base method that he describes in the interview! I find this fascinating.

>In the form, there are no strikesthe left rear elbow attack with the right hand punch

By: lifegivingsword

lifegivingsword — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:22:58 +0000

Maybe this is all a Chen thing? I know in the Yang Banhao lineage system Yang Jwing Ming teaches, there sure as hell ARE strikes, and to nasty locations. From YBH-style perspective, “leading your opponent into emptiness” is only part of the game. Taiji certainly IS about generating power-jin power where qi and tendons dominate over muscular li power, enabling deep penetration for strikes and the ability to adapt a movement once its already in action. To say that TJQ’s power is only ‘perceived power’ is to say that it relies entirely on the mechanics of your opponent running into you, which is like saying in a swordfight the only weapon you have is for the guy to fall on his own sword, which is ridiculous. I’d have to say that proponents of that viewpoint have obviously never received a cavity strike from a Yang master! ‘brush knee’ once knocked my heart out of rhythm for a week. Lots of aspirin after that, I can tell you.

By: wujimon

wujimon — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:52:12 +0000

thanks for your follow-up, kazan. Definitely things to think about

By: Kazan

Kazan — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:32:46 +0000

wujimon. Nobody asked. I did not asked either. We practiced and practiced ‘an-peng-li- etc.’

Why so? I did not because I am returning into TC and for me…anything in TC is so wonderfull that I was satisfied with the yang part…

I did learned a lot of yielding in the past and CZL did not talk at all about yielding…

I assumed that he thought that the audience wanted ‘action.’ more than softness… Who knows. Still it was fun doing the yang exercise…

It was not really push hands but the practice of the potential strikes in push hands. (well…not really…he did not showed any pushes.)

By: zenmindsword

zenmindsword — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:52:23 +0000

Help! My delusion strikes again!!! Delusional Seeking Delusional Defence

By: wujimon

wujimon — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:37:25 +0000

Hi Kazan. You are definitely correct. I agree taiji is a defensive martial art utilizing the opponent’s energy.

I don’t believe you should attack someone if they do not attack you, however I think with chen, I’ve fallen victim to the flash (as I mentioned in my blog entry). If I am not mistaken, you recently did a seminar with CZL where he focused on “yang strikes”. I wonder if anyone asked him the reason for practicing strike if not receiving energy? This is what I’ve been questioning.