Tai Chi: Impossible without Strength
Nabil Ranne
Power in the Taijiquan Theory
Motion control and power development are within the practice of Taijiquan an important role. Here it must first be explained using the example of classical Chinese texts, as is the concept of force in Taijiquan traditionally understood and managed. Here, we also want to deal with some Chinese terms in order to gain a deeper insight into the basics of Chinese martial arts and movement theory. The force terms are applied to the required structure and body mechanics in Taijiquan. Concludes with a discussion on the motion control of breath and spirit, as these are the force of human development based and therefore must be integrated in the long run with the practice in practice. Only through this total body Bewegungsaussteuerung conscious attention is improved sufficiently so that even meditative effects.
A traditional view
For learning a martial art and exercise the acquisition of strong motion executable is essential. If techniques are used properly, and you want to prevent that enemy's own motion or strike back in their own bodies "and restrict it, one must necessarily deal with their own power and motion control. The classic advice of many Tai Chi Master is therefore to look first to their own power lead before you deal precisely with the enemy. If the proper motion space is opened up in this way reasonable, the body can move more flexible and wear-free.
Internal force distribution
Looking at some "in the Chinese martial art theory applied terms with the meaning" force, it becomes quickly that evolved over thousands of theories, of course, supply is no uniform definition. Rather, the concepts to understand everyday language in context and can, like the German household word "force, take in different contexts, also slightly different meanings. Generally, but especially the following two terms in Chinese texts with the appropriate semantic content can be established:
Li Jin ??
On these concepts, although there are many papers, but in principle both mean simply "force". My teacher Chen Yu points out that with Li rather means a motor potential to Jin, however, a movement direction, "Li could be described as general strength or power, while Jin is a guided energy, that energy channeled in a certain direction will be. "(Chen Yu Stubenbaum, 2004, p. 12) That the terms are not really clear-cut shows, but in subsequent citations. In the "Treatise on Taijiquan" Taijiquan Lun, Wang Zongyue, which is thus a fundamental text of all Taijiquan styles attributed it says: "While you get used to it, in contact [for example, in the combat application, editor come to the translator], is understood by and by the power (Jin). If you understand the power, you can ascend to divine clarity. This is done without any effort. conscientiously But "Elsewhere he writes:" After (Jin) has understood the power, means more practice, more finesse. " 2 . Wu Yuxiang (ca. 1812-1880), founder of the "old" Wu-style, in the 19th Century, several important works on the theory of Taijiquan wrote, said, with equal clarity on the use of force, utilizing the concept of Li, "The force (Li) is the spine sent out by." 3 Both of describing certain force distribution to the combat application used in can be and must be properly trained. Therefore appears that not a strict separation of the concepts can be sustained. In the following we will nevertheless understand Li as a sort of force, however, as Jin directed force.
Both are not to be confused with the so-called "awkward power" - Zhuoli (see Chen Weiming, Davis, 2004, p.125). She describes the body movements that inhibit each other. For example, if the forearm but pressed forward, but the upper arm is too weak and therefore be suppressed simultaneously in the shoulder area so that you are within an action virtually unnoticed, even thwarting. Training partner in such a wrong way of moving is often applied as a "reluctant force" - referred Kangli because it is perceived as a direct conflict. Thus, although reluctant clumsy "and" forces "are to be avoided, this should in no case to a general weakness ?. Lead Some leads, as in the example just mentioned, especially weakness in intermediate segments of the body "to" clumsy force because it prevents a common flow of movement of all limbs. ?In comments from the 20th Century to the classical writings, it is true, the practitioner should not "heavy-handed use force," but nevertheless, the achievement of motor products considered one of the main objectives in Taijiquan - from relaxation, contrary to today's emphasis on them in the Taijiquan practice hardly speech. Perhaps because it is a consequence of correct motor development and not merely an end in itself.
The fundamental forces of all Taijiquan styles, which we later want to just like to briefly be described as Jin and all stand for different directions of movement and dynamics. In the classical writings on Taijiquan is thus no mention of no force is applied. A similar idea is only in the 20th Century emerged and should be read in their appropriate cultural context. Course be meant by the concept of force in Taijiquan specific forces should meet certain criteria to allow a meaningful Taijiquan training. ?For the construction of the basic power Li is the training position is crucial, which defines the basic structure, with which we do subsequently movements. The terms and Li Jin joined here a third term, "force" or "strength" may mean well, but as a position "is translated" usually: Shi 4 .
Yin and Yang in balance
Beginning with the Taijiquan training, is first produced a basic structure to enable an integrated power management from the feet up to the hands. Even for long lasting relaxation strength and sincerity are essential! Thanks to the precise body patterning in Taijiquan is an important part of its health effects is achieved. Several basic requirements are most practitioners certainly familiar: first, the legs and knees are aligned over your feet, that body weight is directed through the heel into the feet to the body to root "earth" or ". The knees are slightly bent in this case, but not necessarily charged. The correct positioning of the knee is the hip place created, so that the upper body put in his own quasi foundation.
The Tai Chi positions (Shi) are based on an understanding of emotion management, which can be also used in traditional Chinese medicine and its teaching are the meridians and again to lead the movement context to a wear-free power over the human body. This Chinese meridian theory, according to the back of Meridian, the "GV" (Dumai) Yang has character, the front portion of the upper body and the "servants vessel" (Renmai), however, yin character. In the legs, it behaves differently around and the front has Yang, the Yin-back character. If one understands Yang as ascending, is well timed and Hooking tendency Yin but when falling, releasing and relaxing inclination, then the meridians of the required basic structure press quite clearly: Let him in Taijiquan have the leg front, the weight and you are at the back sit down, also to the back to the head crest erect necessarily the chest but released and relaxed, so that the body is upright and relaxed at the same time. Now we have already shown the vertical axis. On the horizontal situation is short so that the back side is also to be extended and the front is complemented by slightly forward. Are we achieving this basic structure initially motionless, so we provide a static balance of Yin and Yang is hereby her.Entspannung in Taijiquan mostly with the concept of the fall - provided Chen. Although the Chinese term for relaxation really is not called, we find the set Qi "that falls into Dantian" in the classical texts again - Chen Yu him often complemented by the significant Council Qi "that falls into Dantian, to relax," 5 and does hereby find the front-side sink and indirectly on the breath, not in a tight chest "entangled" but should extend into the abdomen where it can be felt as pleasant expansion. If the spine too loose, the respiratory upsets in the front area and has no place, however, is the breast too tense, it may not relaxed penetrate into the abdominal region. Both should therefore be avoided. This overall structure is further elaborated over time, much finer. To achieve a correct implementation of these ideas, practical instruction from a teacher is probably inevitable. Relaxation is also not to understand random but has a clear function and even a clear strength and direction of motion - for always going to fall "below" - needs and as a counterpart of inhalation and sincerity. Chen Changxing (1771 - 1853) describes in a classic text, the total body structure as follows: "at the top, middle and bottom are held together by an energy, body, hands and feet should be connected by a rope like ..." 6 . If the body is too tense, he is not related to his heel, he is too weak, however, it is deemed not energized or activated and is not just held together by "a power". Untrained, this basic structure are not usually made because the force for ?Erecting, the elongation of some parts of the body, the balance of the body and part of the intellectual access to certain parts of the body, which is required for the fine modulation of the posture, not present in sufficient quantities. Once the basic structure, but once implemented, is framed on the body, creates space and a feeling of pleasant activity. ?In addition to the above definition, the basic structural strength Li is trained. Does one in particular the strengthening of the body, caused by clamping the corresponding body parts, this is referred to as Tai Chi Chuan Peng, acting as the first of the fundamental forces of Taijiquan. These Peng-force gives the body stability and strength as possible and finally, "an" inner work, as you create inside the first place, before you can use this. Let us first turn to but the motion control in Taijiquan, the Jin, therefore, who directed force.
Power lead and align
The term of the Peng in Taijiquan two skills are named. Chen Yu distinguishes them as follows: "Peng is a form of power that divides into two aspects. For clarity, we can distinguish Peng Li Peng, as well as Jin. Peng-Li is a structural force, the result or the appearance of the accumulated qi. [...] Peng-Jin is the result of an action, for example, an upward movement, and is one of the four fundamental and pioneering Jin. "(Chen Yu Stubenbaum, 2004, p. 15). ?On this quote, the relation of structural power and motion control is already clear. If the structural Peng-force (Peng Li) before, we prevent running techniques that make possible even on enemy resistance, fight back in their own bodies, so that the four fundamental forces (Jin) of Taijiquan be used properly. These are to my knowledge the first time mentioned in the "Song of Striking Hands" Dashou Ge, which is the classical writings of all Taijiquan styles is attributed to:
"Defense (Peng), yielding (Lu), Press (Ji) and put (on) must be practiced diligently,
The upper and lower body should follow each other so that the opponent can not occur,
Allow him to gain immense power and beat us
We use four ounces to move away 1,000 pounds,
Execute the enemy in and let it fall into the void, connect yourself with him and throw him out immediately,
Adhere (Zhan), Connect (Lian), bonding (Nian), consequences (Sui), lose [this compound] are not and do not go against it. " 7
The first sentence of the four forces are supplemented by four additional forces to be so today find themselves in all styles of at least eight forces. These are often designed elsewhere and already have, depending on style and teachers sometimes have different meanings, so I would like to dispense with a specific embodiment of the forces and explain but also to activities of the implementation principles. Usually found on the eight other forces also describe, depending on style, certain movements more accurately. Within the taijiquan exercises it is important to clean auszutrainieren these forces so that the above-described basic structure coherently generates the respective force.
Each of the "forces" (Jin) has far more layers, may differentiate between the man and the cause of a more superficial level, a technical body mechanics to a full-body mind-body coordination. This thus deepening or Verinnerlichungsstufen are meant to build upon one another. You can not just skip the technical side of the movements. This is the direct expression of the respective Jin dar.
Footnotes:
1 The article name is borrowed from Chen Yu's frequent advice: "?? ?? ?.""
2 Wang Lun in Zongyue Taijquan: For alternative translations see Landmann, 2002, S.131f.... and Davis, 2004, p.77. The second phrase at (lun Taijiquan) of the "Treatise on Taijiquan" by Wang Zongyue: For an alternative translation into English see Davis, 2004, p.78.
3 Wu Yuxiang in his "Critical to the exercise of Thirteen positions" ?? ? ? ? ? ?): ? ? ? ? Cf. eg Davis, 2004, p.131
4 My friend Marnix Wells translated this term usually with "dynamics and points out that it is not interpreted as a purely static concept fails (cf. Wells, 2005).
5 Chen Yu according to Wang Lun Zongyues Taijquan: ? ? ?? ? ??.
6 ? ? ? ?? ? ? ?, ? ?? ? ? ? ...: Chen Changxing from Chinese (Translated from Chen Ziqiang, 2008, p.19)
7 This translation follows the old manual of the Chen family called Tangben, see Zhen Xu, 2006. Davis points out that this song exists in many different versions, probably because it was narrated orally (2004, p. 150). See the shorter versions in English at Chen Xiaowang, 2008, and Wells, 2005
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Nabil Ranne is based in Berlin, Germany.
He heads the Chen Stil Taijiquan Netzwerk, Berlin, Germany.