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13 postures?
'13
postures' is a misleading and incorrect
translation, perhaps derived from a false yoga
parallel.
There are no static postures in
tai chi.
Chang San-feng said:
Tai chi is like a great river rolling on unceasingly.
Despite this, most tai chi people refer to shi san shi as
being 13 postures...
The Chinese word 'shi' though commonly translated as 'postures' has the meanings of 'appearance', 'situation', 'patterns'... Therefore, the more accurate translation of 'shi' here should be patterns. Tai chi is constructed from eight fundamental basic strategic moving patterns and five manoeuvring stepping techniques.
(Yang Jwing-Ming)
Shi san
shi
Tai chi contains 13 underlying expressions of kinetic energy. All tai chi
movements - whether form, drills or combat - involve 13 expressions/methods of power
(jing).
13 methods
Wardoff, rollback, push, squeeze/press, pluck, split,
elbow, shoulder/bump, advance, withdraw, look right, look left and central
equilibrium.
More than movement
It is quite possible (and indeed common) for students to perform tai chi
movements in an accurate seeming manner without any jing whatsoever.
The movement itself is not enough. Disconnection and the inability to
transfer kinetic force can render the tai chi useless in application. Test
your practice rigorously.
Internal power (jing)
The 13 methods are expressions of internal power (jing); kinetic
energy/force. Each expression has a distinct character. It produces a unique
outcome. e.g. 'rollback'.
Rollback involves taking incoming force, drawing it back, to the side and
down.
8 powers
Wardoff, rollback, push, squeeze, pluck, split, elbow, shoulder/bump are 8
manifestations of whole-body movements that apply specific fighting skills
in combat.
8 techniques?
An occasional mistranslation is '8 techniques'. This indicates that the
exponent does not know the difference between jing (internal power) and a
technique (a step-by-step method).
Peng
Without peng nothing will work in tai chi. Wardoff should be considered
manifest peng - expressed peng - rather than inherent peng.
Rollback is the signature move
Rollback is tai chi's signature skill. The ability to rollback
successfully and readily from a variety of situations is vital. There is
large rollback and small rollback.
The movement combines peng, split, withdraw, elbow and pluck (optional).
Thought tends to create fixed structures in the mind, which can make dynamic entities seem to be static.
(Will Keepin)
5 elements
Advance, withdraw, look right, look left and central equilibrium
are called the 5 elements.
The first four pertain to both
movement
and perception, whereas the fifth is
about stability in movement.
5 steps?
A common mistranslation is '5 steps'.
This is wildly inaccurate since it is possible to advance and withdraw
without stepping, look left and look right are perceptual and central
equilibrium need not involve any movement at all; let alone a step.
Line of force
Advance is frequently mis-translated as 'forward step' and withdraw as
'backward step'.
To step forward is to step right into the punch.
Anybody with any
martial
arts knowledge is fully aware that a student must
avoid the incoming line of force.
This is achieved by employing an X-shape movement pattern relative to the
incoming force.
It may necessitate a step but it may not.
Withdraw is not evade
'Evading' does not involve establishing and maintaining a dynamic
relationship with the incoming force.
It is just about getting out of the way.
Normally, evading is accomplished by stepping.
Withdraw is different to evade. The aim is to create space without being out
of range for countering.
Unless the tai chi student sustains dynamic tension whilst making space,
they cannot immediately affect the attacker.
Advanced practice requires the student to keep the attacker slightly
off-centre and off-balance whilst withdrawing.
Central equilibrium
Tai chi requires the student to be totally balanced at all times. To
achieve this, minute internal adjustment is necessary.
A dynamic process of awareness and subtle change enables the tai chi
exponent to remain stable whilst in motion.
The form is an exploration of the 13 methods
Each form movement is comprised of a combination of the 13 methods.
If a student does not understand how and why the 13 methods operate, their
practice lacks whole-body power and cannot be applied martially in a
tai chi way.
Kinetic force
Positioning, frame, alignment and weight distribution are the means by which
you shape and express kinetic energy. The 13 methods represent this new way
of moving.
Each quality can only be made manifest by a specific kind of physical
action. Form is a moving network of associated body parts, whose purpose is
to cultivate and release power.
Tai chi fighting method
Some of the training methods in tai chi are slow; this is to develop
strength, accuracy, balance and control. It enables the student to perform
the pattern correctly.
As the student becomes adept, the movement speeds up considerably.
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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