Tai Chi Classics II

Tai Chi is born of infinity. It is the origin of the positive and the negative. When Tai Chi is in motion, the positive and negative separate. When Tai Chi stops, the positive and negative integrate.

When practicing Tai Chi, doing too much is the same as doing too little, so when the body is in motion, it should follow the curve to extend the movements.

If your opposite side is hard, change your own side to make it soft. This is called "following." If your opponent is moving and you adhere to him while following in the same direction, it is called "sticking." Then you are "attached" to your opponent; when he moves faster, you also move faster; when he moves slower, you move slower, thereby matching his movement.

So, regardless of your opponent's actions, the principle of your response remains the same. Once this type of movement has become your own, you will understand the internal power.

After coming to an understanding of the internal power of movement, you can approach the theory of Natural Awareness. Natural Awareness is developed through practice over a long period of time; you cannot reach the sudden understanding of Natural Awareness without proper practice for an extended length of time.

When you practice Tai Chi you should relax the neck and suspend your head as if from a height above you. Internal power should sink to the lower part of the abdomen. Your posture should keep to the center. Do no lean in any direction. Your movements should be constantly changing from the substantial to the insubstantial. If your left side feels heavy, you should make your left side light. If your right side feels heavy, you should make your right side disappear.

Make your opponent feel that when he looks upward, you are much taller and when he looks downward, you are much lower. When he moves forward, he should feel that he cannot reach you and when he retreats, he should feel that he has nowhere to escape.

Your body's sensitivity should be such that you are aware of the tiniest feather brushing against your skin. Even the mosquito should find no place to land on you without causing you to move. Then there will be no way for your opponent to detect or control you, but you will be aware of your opponent and control him.

If you achieve this level of sensitivity, there is no force that will defeat you. There are thousands of methods and techniques in the martial arts. Regardless of the techniques and postures employed, most depend on physical condition (strong destroys weak) and speed (fast defeats slow). So that the weak must fall to the strong and the slow must lose to the fast. This, however, is dependent on physical ability and does not relate to the discipline which we now discuss.

Look into the technique of using four ounces of energy to control the force of a thousand pounds. Such techniques as these do no depend on brute force to overcome.

Observe the ability of the old man who can successfully defend himself against many opponents at once. This proves that speed does not determine victory.

When you practice Tai Chi, you should stand with your posture balanced like a scale. When you move, your movements should revolve as effortlessly as the turn of a wheel.

Following the changing situations, you move as is necessary. If you are unable to respond in this way, you will become double-weighted. Often martial artists who have practiced for years still cannot move properly and follow the flow of their opponent's movement. This is essentially because they are hindered by their own mistake of double-weightedness.

To avoid double-weightedness you should further understand that positive and negative must complement each other. Then you will understand the flow of internal power, and, having repeatedly practiced and refined your technique and explored your own awareness, you can then use and control your internal power at will.

Tai Chi principle is as simple as this: Yield yourself and follow the external forces. Instead of doing this, most people ignore such obvious and simple principles and search for a more remote and impractical method. This is the so called "inches mistake" that when allowed to develop becomes the distance of thousands of miles.

All disciples of Tai Chi should be aware of this and study diligently.