Use Intent instead of Force

(Originally printed March 7) I've spent the last few weeks explaining some of the "Ten Essentials"--rules or guidelines written down by Yang Cheng Fu, Yang Jun's great grandfather, to guide us in how we practice Tai Chi movements, both in body and in mind.

I'm going to move to one of the trickier ones: #6 Use Intent Rather than Force. We all know that Tai Chi is a martial art, with the special characteristic of using soft "internal energy." But what does that mean??

Our manual says: "When you practice Tai Chi,... let the entire body relax and extend. Don’t employ even the tiniest amount of coarse strength, which would ... result in you restraining or inhibiting yourself. Only then will you be able to lightly and nimbly change and transform, circling naturally."

Some practitioners have translated this to "Use the mind instead of force." I have personally come to understand that Tai Chi movements "work"--when tested through the practice of push hands martial applications--if the legs, waist, and arms work together accurately, turning to the correct angle at the right pace, etc. with relaxation. Even someone like me can engage and uproot (knock over; cause to move back...) a much larger, heavier, stronger person, using no force. 

The majority of us are not learning this for its martial arts applications. So "working" means the whole body is moving together--to improve our balance, circulation, flexibility, etc. The ability to knock over a strong 200+ pound man is just another way to test your new skill.