Real combat requires immediate instinctive responses to an almost limitless range of possible attacks and scenarios.
We could be sitting on a bus, waking down a dark street, enjoying a beer at the bar or even resting in our own homes when the need to defend ourselves or others can arise.
Spontaneity and responses that require little conscious thought are at the heart of real tai chi’s self defence skill.
The training is designed to ingrain into the practitioner a completely automatic and skilful response to whatever attack comes our way. With enough training we can use our eyes and sense of touch to detect, then efficient neutralise an attackers manoeuvres. This is then followed immediately by a decisive and overwhelming counter attack to the opponents weakest points using striking or grappling techniques.
The objective is simply to either deter or incapacitate the opponent as efficiently and as quickly as possible. Simple, solid and sure techniques using perfected biomechanics are employed to maximise effectiveness and efficiency in both attack and defence.
We train to defeat the opponent before his attack has truly matured.
Tai Chi training is fundamentally based on the Yin Yang paradigm and through practice we learn to employ yin or yang qualities in the perfect way at exactly the right moment.
We practice to move far from a technique focussed mindset to one that simply expresses yin and yang qualities.
When the opponent is Yang (attacking, hard and rigid) we are Yin (evasive, elusive, relaxed and flexible). We then immediately change to Yang, leveraging well developed body mechanics and elastic tendons/fascial tissues of the body to potently attack the closest and weakest points on the opponents body (Yin aspects). Neither Yin nor Yang is favoured, simply employed when most advantageous.
To develop this level of simplicity in thought and action the training needs to go through a process.
A key part of this process is learning to use our body’s as well as possible to create power as well as to neutralise the opponents power.
Yin and Yang have been split further to achieve this goal into 8 fundamental ways of using the body to apply attacking and defending qualities:
The forms and internal strength exercises are primarily designed to strengthen the body and the nervous system efficiency in developing and applying these 8 key forces, sometimes alone and often in combination. By blending these eight forces in combination we can create infinite techniques.
These forces are related to hexagrams in the IChing, or book of changes, which apparently inspired the origins of modern computing too, with its mind boggling complexity. The I Ching breaks down yin and Yang into ever increasing levels of complexity in order to understand the cycles of change, growth and destruction. At a lower level of complexity it describes eight combinations of yin and Yang, from pure creative Yang energy through to pure receptive and soft Yin energy. Between the two poles exist a spectrum of energy from Yin to Yang, which can be seen in the various waves, frequencies and cycles within nature.
In human beings, the older generations of masters sought ways to simplify thinking and to look at human power and biomechanics, as well as conflict dynamics, and find easier ways to see and understand things. In this way we can apply one simple principle to solve a variety of problems, rather than finding lots of complicated techniques. Each of this force ideas can be combined with the movement direction ideas and also with elements of other forces to produce all possible techniques.
Understanding and training the skilled application of these forces can greatly enhance our understanding of combat and conflict dynamics and help us apply the most immediate solutions to combat problems.
A calm and focussed mind is essential to allow our responses to the opponents actions to be fast enough. This is where the slow and soft training in the forms, pushing hands exercises and Neigong play a crucial role. Training softly and slowly helps to re pattern breathing, developing deeper levels of relaxation whilst at the same to carving perfect bio mechanical movements into the body via the nervous system. Soft and slow practice of technical skills has been shown in research to enhance movement skills more effectively than fast repetitions.
Mastering and understanding the eight forces and five directions, in combination with the sensitivity and skills developed from regular tui Shou and San shou helps us to become extremely adaptable to changes in the flow of combat, always following the opponents movements, forces and position with relaxed ease.
The ‘Pa Keng’ eight methods of force generation for neutralising and creating physical force:
Peng (掤) ‘Ward-Off ‘and expansive power
This force is an expansion of the body, particularly in the upwards direction. Whether our body posture of frame is big or small we can apply this force to neutralise upwards directed force from the opponent or to lift various parts of their body in grappling exchanges.
Lu (捋) Rollback neutralising force
This force is the application of minimal force to the opponents attack, guiding it away from our centra and rendering it useless. Can be used against grabs, punches and kicks and can be applied using any part of our body. Used skillful the opponent often ends up off balance and ready for our counter attack. The legs can also apply this energy in some cases.
Ji (擠) Squeezing force outwards
This force uses the power of the entire body and a skillful coordinated way to project force outwards and forwards. It can be applied with one or two hands, the forearms, the fists or the feet.
An (按) Dowanwards crushing force
This force is applied leveraging gravity and the compression of the body to apply force down on an opponents oncoming attacks or body, often leading to them crushed to the floor.
Cai (採) Plucking and leveraging
There are two methods in this concept, one is using short power to ‘pluck’ an opponents limbs or body to destabilise the opponent, who we can then attack. The other is the use of cleverly placed levers on their joint system to also destabilise them so our counter attack is easier and more effective.
Lie (挒) Splitting and spiralling
This forces uses the natural and powerful rotational force of the body to split apart an opponents structure and balance. Some liken it to the gears of an engine moving in opposite directions creating a shearing force.
Zhou (肘) Elbow skill
The elbow and forearms are trained to be used as skilful tools of defense against oncoming blows, used as effective grappling tools to move an opponent around and apply forces to joints. They are also used for delivering explosive ‘short power’ strikes in all directions at close range combat.
Kao (靠) The use of leaning and the torso and shoulder
In Tai Chi the whole body is used for attack and defence, this includes the entire torso which is trained to be used to apply forces in grappling, striking and also in defensive movements.
The 5 movement directions (五步, Wǔ Bù)
These are very much common sense but you’ll be surprised how many people neglect considering their use properly. They should be considered and trained in every drill and technique and employed to give you positional superiority versus an opponent.
Jin Bu (進步)
Forward movement skill. Developing skill in forward movement, so it can be done with lighting speed, control and with perfect stability maintained.
Tui Bu (退步)
As above but in the reverse backwards direction.
Zuo Gu (左顧)
Shifting and evasive stepping to the left, again maintaining perfect balance and stability.
You Pan (右盼)
As above but to the right.
Zhong Ding (中定)
Perfect stability and balance in the centre. This represents the beginning of a situation whilst awaiting an attack, but the stability and perfect balance point must be maintained wherever possible. Some say all other forces and movements exist to protect our ability to maintain this centrally stable position.
With some simple demonstrations from a competent instructor you will soon start to feel the strength and utility of these forces and with regular practice of pushing hands, form and other elements of the art you will gradually start to feel the, in your own movements and then those of others. With regular practice you will become expert at applying the right kinds of forces to easily neutralise those of an opponent or training partner. The timing and application of your offensive forces will also become skillful making it very easy to dominate and control others at close quarters.
