a member of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation  e-mail: stevehiggins@rogers.com

Self Defense

Taiji is the best-known of the so-called "internal" martial arts (the others including Aikido, Aikijujitsu, Xing Yi and Ba Gwa) and has been called "the Crown Jewel of KungFu". These "internal" martial arts, rather than relying on brute strength and the amassing of a large number of combative techniques, are based on developing a very fine set of motor-skills in combination with a sense of "Qi" (pronounced "chee"), or internal subtle power. They employ leverage, dynamic relaxation, posture and blended movement patterns to overcome an assailant. Generally, for practitioners of these arts, muscular strength or gymnastic ability is not as important as dynamic relaxation, mental focus and fine coordination. The old-time masters of Taiji were pre-eminent among the martial artists of their time and one of them, Yang Lu-Chan, was widely known as "Yang the Invincible"; it was he who was entrusted with the training of the Imperial Manchu bodyguards of the Ch'ing emperor.

SINGLE WHIP OLD YANG STYLE

ENTRY TO "SNAKE CREEPS DOWN" OLD YANG STYLE

SNAKE CREEPS DOWN OLD YANG STYLE

Like all well-rounded martial arts, Taiji contains within it strategies for both attack and defence. However, generally the emphasis is placed on defence. Most Taiji movements are predicated on the necessity of mounting a defence against a strike or seizure. While the so-called "hard arts" tend to base their defensive strategies upon blocks and the strategic, focussed mobilization of superior strength, Taiji relies more on blending into the assailant's movement and turning it to his disadvantage. Thus, Taiji "blocks" do not really block but subtly redirect the opponent's energy so as to destabilize him and break his 'root"; once destabilized, he is then doubly and triply vulnerable.

Psychological Issues:

The superior Taiji artist cultivates an attitude of inoffensiveness. In part, this is because of the art's lack of reliance on the concept of defensive zone or space, as well as it's general emphasis on relaxation. Tension is absolutely counterproductive in Taiji training. This principle extends to the mental stance as well as the physical. Rooted in the principles of the Dao De Jing, Taiji does not oppose force with force. Accomodation is sought and the ability to sensitively blend with the opponent's energy so as to overthrow him, if need be. Action proceeds out of stillness and in action there is stillness.

Regardless as to the primary focus of the specific style, four fundamental principles are always present: No independent movement! Taiji aims for maximum efficiency and power. Rather than throwing a punch with one muscle, the punch is moved with the whole body. An "external" punch is primarily dependent upon a contraction of the tricep muscle. An "internal" punch is motivated by the entire body moving as a unit, the trunk turning into it, the weight shifting behind it, the rooting power retained in the feet, released by the legs, controlled by the waist and manifested in the fist. This principle governs all Taiji movements, whether stepping, kicking, "blocking" or leaping. The body moves as a whole. A large assailant's advantage in size may be largely illusory. Spirals and joint mobility! Energy moves up from the earth and out through the limbs in spiral paths. A movement in one limb manifests in all. It is as if the frame is held together with springs which coil and uncoil in sympathy and in opposition to each other. Within the straight can always be found the round and vice versa. The result is that the joints in time open up and the connective tissue becomes resilient and elastic. All spirals connect to the Lower Dan Tien and the spine. This adds to the power of any strike, It also adds to the power of any escape. When seized by a wrist, a defender who is able to spiral off the spine with the unified power of the body against the offending grip will break that grip. Further, the spiraling movement which effects the escape also destabilizes the assailant who is then vulnerable as noted above. Body together, both up and down! When one part sinks, the whole body sinks. When one part goes up, all goes up. Sometimes, when one part goes up, another goes down. The key is once again that all movement has a reciprocal structure within the whole. Mind and Body together! There is a saying that Qi (essential subtle energy) follows Yi (the intention or the directive mind, the attention) and Yi directs Qi. Thus all movement must be motivated by mind and spirit. Any movement which is done absent-mindedly, or in a way which does not manifest intention, is not a Taiji movement. There is thus a Zen element to this.

PUSHING HANDS WITH SAM MASICH

Taiji is pre-eminently a close to medium-range fighting system. Other systems rely primarily on breaking free and opening up a defensive space between defender and attacker. The Taiji artist acts in a manner directly opposed to this flight model. He or she seeks to close with the assailant. When jerked or pulled, no resistance is offered and the space is closed so that the Taiji practitioner's elbows, knees, palms, feet, shoulders can come into play.

What distinguishes Taiji as a martial exercise is the reliance on choreographed sequences of movements. In reality, comprehensive combative training utilizes a battery (no pun intended) of other techniques such as "Tui Shou" (the famous "Pushing Hands" exercise), rehearsed one and two-step sparring and mat-work. However, as Taiji is usually sought out as a health-discipline, few clubs thoroughly explore the full range of combative training techniques.