Learning Taijiquan
Learning Taijiquan is very difficult because the essence of the action cannot be seen. All techniques have an external appearance and this is what is visible to the the third party observer however any technique may be performed in different ways which will be apparent to the victim of the technique but will look identical to the external third party observer.
Taijiquan is in this sense an internal martial art, because the how a technique is applied is more important than the actual technique itself. It is often said that there are no techniques in Taijiquan, there is just a method. However to learn the method one must learn techniques, and then how to use these techniques to minimise the use of force and maximise the effect of the action by the harmonious interaction with the opponent.
In another sense there is one technique, which encompasses the method. One learns form to be able to move to formlessness. One learns techniques to be able to move beyond technique. However even though the technique is not apparent the form remains , yet it has been transformed into something unrecognisable to the external observer. The form and techniques have been internalised to an extent that the what is seen is not what it is.
To truly understand it is necessary to be able to feel. To understand by touch. To be able to detect and observe motion by sight and feel. To be able to gauge the amount of force and the force vector itself.
How can one learn this? There is only one way – by trial and error. This entails making many mistakes and getting hit a lot. Without this investment in pain there can be no success. No pain no gain. Invest in Loss as the classics say.
January 16, 2010 at 12:09 am | Musings | No comment
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