This site is devoted to the discussion of Internal Chinese Arts, mostly Taijiquan, mostly Yang Style, beginning with the Yang 24 Form, for Seattle Silver Dragon students. It will occasionally stray into other areas, mostly Wu Shu related.
Letting Go
This a crosspost from www.moonlightcha.com
濘道 Muddy Road
Zen Monks on pilgrimage - art by Sato Zenchu
Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
“Come on girl,” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females,” he told Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”
“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”
from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones complied by Paul Reps
I recently began studying tai chi with a new teacher after 12 years at the previous school. My former teacher is world class in forms competition, and was very precise in correcting us.
My new teacher is…different. His postures are not the same even if the form is one I have studied for years. I spent a long time making my postures and movements as precise as my old 60-years-plus body would allow me.
Now things are not the same. The sword may be held at a different level or the footwork is slightly changed. In the most difficult instances, the transition from one movement to the next is different.
No, the hardest thing is letting go. I firmly believe that what goes around comes around. Over the years, every sin I have ever committed against someone else has, in turn, been committed against me.
When teaching taijiquan, some of the most difficult students are those who have studied a different martial art. You show them a movement and their brain relates it to something they have learned in this other art and makes an often incorrect connection. Brains are funny that way.
“No,” I say, “that move looks the same but it is not, and the intent is different as well.”
So, here I am trying to equate what I have learned with what I am trying to learn. Fortunately, I am old enough to keep my mouth shut…well, at least some of the time. I am also lucky to have read Zen Flesh, Zen Bones umpty-gazillion times, and I give thanks that “Muddy Road” is one of my very favorites from that excellent book.
Actually, letting go of the old tai chi chuan forms is good practice for life. As we progress from birth to death we must let go of many things, more, I suspect, than all of the newer things we grasp.
To paraphrase a Harlan Ellison story, “Sometimes you have to let-be, a little.”
On top of all the good I get out of playing tai chi I am also playing at letting go. But, ai-ya, it is not easy. 
Note: the Chinese characters for Muddy Road at the beginning of this are not the same as those used in the Tuttle edition of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. If my grammar creates some enormous faux pas, blame me.
意 Yi–Intent
This is a crosspost from www.moonlightcha.com
Pushing Hands from tow.com
This was originally going to be called “moving” or “movement.” After a long period of sloth, continuing to play the tai chi chuan forms but lazily, not pushing myself, I have entered a new era of physical activity. It gets harder as one ages but easier, at the same time because the muscles are there, they just need to be reminded of their purpose.
Pushing Hands from Levande Stillhet
This morning I arrived at tai chi class and my teacher, Dr. Wang, was standing by himself. He lifted his right hand in invitation and we began to play at pushing hands. Very quickly, my legs started to burn and my shoulder ached. He is a doctor, and he sensed this and we changed sides. Then we began the two handed pushing hands and I was clumsy and somewhat confused, but good old memory came through again and soon we were playing pretty smoothly, considering my under-used muscles.
Then into the class itself with the 42 Standard International Competition Form with shaking legs, I had to rest, often, and finally the 42 Standard International Competition Sword Form. Trying to stand on one leg with the other knee raised, pointing a sword, well I was pretty pathetic. But in the end I felt really good, more lively. I knew that more oxygen was entering my muscles and my qi was flowing better.
Taijijian--Tai Chi Sword from Dutch Championships 2007
Driving home in the mid-morning coolness, enjoying the late-summer blue skies, I almost glowed with happiness. It feels so good to move and with purpose, and to accomplish goals–we take the glory of our bodies for granted far too often.
功夫 Gongfu (Kungfu), to achieve, to acquire skill through hard work, what a splendid concept. So, I was moving again and it felt good. Then why Yi, intent? In Chinese martial arts Yi is a primary concept. Simply put, without intent nothing can be accomplished. If you want a drink of water, your intention to pick up a glass must come first before your hand reaches for it. Before we acquire skill at tai chi chuan, we must begin with intent. I have a friend who “intended” on taking this class, but he said he was afraid, it had been so long and now new students and a new teacher…he did not come today. Did he have Yi? Probably not.
Driving home today I passed a young woman. She was clad in comfortable but very nice clothing and she was walking on the sidewalk. The way she carried herself, her stride her posture, her Yi and its culmination told me she was comfortable with physical activity and with her body.
Shortly thereafter, several blocks behind, along came another woman. She was decked out in what I assume is the latest jogging gear, headband, iPod strapped to her bicep, and her shoulders were lifted and tense and her elbows were thrust out and up and her body parts did not work in unison. Each section of her body was singing its own song and it was not harmonious when played together. This woman was obviously not comfortable with her body.
So we have to have the intent and then we must follow through. Just thinking about that drink of water is not enough. Intent and then the appropriate action. Two sayings come to mind: Yi 意, Chi 氣, Li 力. Intent then Internal Energy then strength or power. It all starts with intent.
Dr. John Painter, my Grand Shifu–teacher–says “The mind commands, the body moves, qi (chi) flows.” This makes the most sense to me. Intent then movement and movement produces energy. Of course this means proper movement like the young woman walking.
When I began studying the Yijing (I Ching) many, many years ago, it spoke often of the “Superior Man.” For modern times I change that, and my favorite passage is “The Superior Person stakes the force of life on following the force of will.” Ha! I tried to follow this and was knocked on my ass so many times…I did not understand the most important part, “Superior.” This didn’t work if one was not superior meaning upstanding, honest, gentle, strong…following the four virtues–Honesty, Humility, Patience, Sincerity. So equate “proper” movement with the “superior” person.
This was going to be about the glory of movement, and it still is, but first we must have Yi. Then go forward with the four virtues and celebrate your body and movement. Taijiquan is sometimes called “The Dance of Life.” Regardless of how you move, make it a dance, relax and enjoy yourself.
Dr. Painter on Yi: http://seattlesilverdragon.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/yi-intention-a-key-to-chinese-internal-martial-arts/
42 International Standard Tai Chi Form
Mostly based on Yang style, this form includes something from each of the four major family styles.
Chinese WuShu Song and Chinese Martial Fan Form
First an MTV-style presentation of a really cool Wushu song. I hope to find the translation. My Taijiquan Shifu translated for us whilst we were learning the fan form, but I have forgotten most of the lyrics.
And here is the fan form we learned–Beauty of the Setting Sun:
Yang 40 Form
Referential the Yang 40 International Standard Competition Form
Yang 24 Form Video & Some Applications
First is a nice version of the Yang 24 Form, also called Simplified. Very smooth. This is followed by some applications, mostly of movements in the first section. Watch especially for Play the Pippa or Strum the Lute.
Pushing Hands
Tui Shou Pushing Hands
Tui Shou (Pushing Hands–
to retreat and defend; to withdraw and maintain one’s guard)
Following: Famous Grand Master Fu Zhongwen and his son, Famous Grand Master Fu Sheng Yuan, play at Pushing Hands. Fu Zhongwen was one of the most famous students of Yang Chengfu. One of my teachers, Shaolin Monk, Shi Deru, was a student of Fu Zhongwen. My Yang teacher studied with Fu Sheng Yuan. They each have excellent books on Yang Style Taijiquan, 85 form.
Note that beginning Pushing Hands starts with stationary feet. Moving Pushing Hands comes later.
Next: Fu Sheng Yuan plays at Pushing Hands.
Last: Fu Sheng Yuan, again, with Australian students. Several variations. Among other things, this illustrates one reason you keep your chin tucked in a little-so you won’t hit your head on the wall!
Yi, Intention: A Key to Chinese Internal Martial Arts
About Yi (Intention) in Daoqiquan
Copyright IAM Co. 2009
John P. Painter
[For More, Join these Yahoo Groups: Daoqiquan; Jiulong Baguazhang]
Yi Intention
Early martial training of China including those classified as internal styles in their original forms were for developing combat ability. There were however various approaches taken towards developing these abilities. One of the unique methods developed in numerous schools influenced by Daoist thought was that of inner skill training (Nei-gong).
Nei-gong exercises are part of inner family (Nei-jia) traditions from Chinese martial arts. Primarily Daoist in origin Nei-gong training emphasizes coordination of a student’s mind and body with breathing and relaxation exercises; sometimes called achieving accord of inner
and outer (Nei Wei he yi) these methods aid in improving internal and external power and technique.
Training Nei-gong involves using specific exercises for cultivating physical and mental control over breathing, body movements and emotional energy. It was designed to promote the release of muscular tension (Song) as well as instructing a method of subtle neurological control of skeletal muscles.
Nei-gong mental training is activated by powerful visualizations accompanying seated meditation (Jingzuo), standing meditation (Zhuan Zhuang) and physical exercises including specialized methods of Daoist Yoga (Daoyin). It is said to enhance internal energy (qi) and
inner power (Nei-Jin) of the body. It was this Nei Wei he Yi that the creator of Yiquan, Wang Xiangzhai claimed had been lost in Chinese martial arts during the 19th and early 20th century. His method was known as Yiquan or (intention fist)
Today Yiquan has, as do all things split into many branches and concepts due to this it too is in danger of losing its way from the original intent of the creator Master Wang. Wang believed that true power came from the mind. “The mind commands, the body moves and the Qi follows along.” This says that whatever we do we do first in the mind and this influences the body.
The Word Intention
When we are dealing with most Nei-gong skills we are dealing with training the mind. The Chinese martial artists of old looked at man as not having a conscious and subconscious but as having will or intention and heart or attitude. In Chinese the word for mind and intention is (Yi) and the word for mind and heart or attitude is (Xin).
The best way to describe this is an example. If you want to throw a ball to a friend then you have the intention to throw the ball. This means you are thinking about doing it but nothing has happened yet. During this phase of thought what most people do not realize is that
the brain is already sending signals to the muscles that will be involved with the action of throwing the ball through the nervous system to the motor neurons in the respective muscles. So in other words the power has been turned on slightly and all that is left to do is make the action.
Now if you stand very still and really truly visualize throwing the ball to your friend you are exercising intention this intention to throw feeling will continue during and after the physical action of throwing, but that is not where we are going just now. What is important is that you are not moving, not tensing up any muscle but you are thinking of throwing the ball. If you pay attention you can feel sensations throughout your body that feel as if you are getting ready to do this action.
What you are experiencing with this feeling is what is known as sense memory. Your are having a “waking dream” so to speak that reminds you of throwing a ball. In this “dream” you can feel the sensations of acting on your intention / idea (Yi) as a real sensation even if you are not moving and are still relaxed. In fact the more relaxed you are the stronger you can feel the sensations.
This is the crux of all practice of Nei-gong it begins with intention skill or sense memory arising (Yi-gong). Now when you do throw the ball to a friend the attitude with which you throw it is your (Xin) heart. If you are throwing to a small child the attitude is soft and gentle so as not to hurt him, if it is a buddy and you are playing football it may be much harder and with the strong feeling of blasting the ball right at him, if it is an enemy and you are throwing a rock at him to drop him in his tracks your Xin will change to reflect the way you feel emotionally about this. So the Xin affects the attitude of the intention.
What does all this have to do with sitting and standing? Read my first book Combat baguazhang volume one again to find out more but here is some of it.
“A presentation at the Society for Neuroscience conference in San Diego California in 2001 reported researchers had found a correlation between visualization and strength development. A report on the presentation appeared in New Scientist Magazine, November 21, 2001.
It explains that scientists studying the mind have proven that correctly imagining a specific exercising can increase muscle strength.
How could it be possible to increase strength just by thinking without physically moving a muscle? The answer lies in the fact that when we work out we are sending nerve impulses from the brain to the muscles. These muscles flex or relax in response to impulses from
motor neurons. The firing of those neurons is determined by the strength of electrical impulses sent by the brain.
Exercise physiologist, Dr. Guang Yue, at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio working with a group of researchers found that mentally visualizing exercise movements was enough to increase strength in a single muscle in the little finger, used to move it sideways. Dr. Yue states, “This experiment suggests you can increase muscle strength solely by sending a larger signal to motor neurons from the brain.”
Visualization uses Imagination or Imagery
Visualization can and should be used when training intention. We use the imagination when we visualize calling up or creating sense memories. Imagination is whatever is occurring in your mind not directly caused by what you are experiencing from the outside world. If you look at a tree, what you see is not an “image” you are seeing a real tree. But when the tree is not there, and you picture it in your mind, then you are producing an image from your stored memory of
the tree. Normally “imagination” refers to imaging things or events that don’t exist except in your “imagination” for example, dragons.
The mind has the ability to see in three specific ways (1) observation of external real objects in real time, (2) A memory of visualized real objects as images in your head, and (3) visualized
imaginary objects in your head. Each of these three ways of seeing involves imagery, because in all cases you are seeing something, and “seeing” is a mental event, happening in your mind. When a person cannot tell whether he or she is seeing a real object or just imagining it, this is a hallucination.
One important principle when dealing with internal training is the second of these factors, neurological strength. If we can improve the signal from the brain to the motor neurons there will be a resultant increase in contractile ability in the muscle especially in the muscle fibers that produce strength known as Mobilizer fibers (fast-twitch and or White muscle Fibers). Science has shown that guided imagery exercises similar to the ones presented here can do just that.
The core of my art called Yi Xin Gong revolves around producing clear palpable sense memories of pushing, pulling, lifting and pressing upon heavy objects. In short we are imagining feats of strength without actually doing them. Employing this technique is a valuable form of internal martial art training. We first begin to work with sense memories in standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang).
It is here that we train every part of the body to develop internal power using mind only. We learn to feel your image as if it is actually occurring although we are not flexing or tensing our
muscles. This is the true meaning of the Chinese axiom, “use mind not strength” (Yong yi bu yong li).
This way of training is much more than just holding your hands or body in a particular way and waiting for something to happen. Sense memories involve truly feeling as if your body is making the effort to accomplish the feat of strength you are imagining yet you are not flexing or moving in the early stages. You remain completely relaxed during the imaging process.
For example imagine lifting a heavy weight like a granite stone sphere with both hands. Once you assume the posture you should remember holding a real heavy object using as many of your senses as possible. If you understand the concept of imagining Dynamically Opposing Forces, that I will explain fully a little later, you will actually be activating motor neurons in muscle fibers associated with this particular imagined activity. The effects of this type of exercise when repeated over a period of time will be an increase in the strength potential of skeletal muscles involved in the imaginary action which improves the capacity to produce speed and strength.
This is the basis of using Yi. I hope it helps you. The best way of course is to read Volume One of the Combat Baguazhang books and then come train with me or one of our certified teachers who knows this material from direct experience so they can help you along each step of the way.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9cAkxK_Nbo&feature=related
