The Secret of Tai Chi: The greatest secret of Tai Chi is "relaxation." Mr. Zheng Manqing spent nearly fifty years studying Tai Chi before he fully understood the principle of "relaxation." What exactly does "relaxation" mean? How can one achieve complete relaxation? This concept is difficult to explain clearly.
Mr. Zheng Manqing recalled that Mr. Yang Chengfu, when teaching Tai Chi, would sit quietly all day without uttering a word unless asked. However, the word "relaxation" was repeated hundreds of times daily. Mr. Yang Chengfu once said, "If I don't tell you this, you won't learn it in three lifetimes." Mr. Zheng Manqing doubted: "Doesn't understanding just one word 'relaxation' take three lifetimes?" After fifty years, reflecting on this, Mr. Zheng Manqing said: "Not only three lifetimes, but perhaps six lifetimes wouldn't be enough. Tai Chi is difficult because we block ourselves and refuse to relax. If one truly understands the meaning of 'relaxation,' that would be excellent. Regardless, one must relax. To what extent should one relax? When others attack me, no matter how strong they are, their force cannot reach me. Therefore, no matter how powerful the force is, it's useless—it becomes void. Even if the attacker falls heavily injured, I could throw them several meters away. What is the reasoning behind this? It's a profound theory of Tai Chi with philosophical underpinnings and scientific principles akin to leverage. It not only combines philosophy and science but also integrates various natural principles for application. You may find this difficult, but as long as you can thoroughly relax, nothing will stand in your way. Thus, relaxation is paramount in practicing Tai Chi, which I (Zheng Manqing) deeply feel."
Luo Bangzhen was Mr. Zheng Manqing's top disciple. Before going to the United States, Luo specifically asked Mr. Zheng Manqing about what to pay attention to when teaching Tai Chi in the U.S. Mr. Zheng Manqing replied, "Focus on relaxation." Later, Luo Bangzhen said, "Having practiced Tai Chi for 45 years, I dare not claim to have mastered it in 45 years. Just the word 'relaxation' is something one contemplates for a lifetime." A common saying goes: "Relax, relax, relax, Tai Chi power; the first rule of Tai Chi is to relax. To learn Tai Chi, start by learning to relax. Without relaxation, it's hard to master Tai Chi."
Relaxation is the passkey, the stepping stone. To what extent one relaxes determines the level of Tai Chi achieved. If one doesn't relax to that extent, one cannot understand the subtleties at that level.
In his book "Tai Chi Essays," Li Yaxuan proposed that "softness and relaxation are the treasures of Tai Chi," emphasizing the importance of relaxation in Tai Chi practice, advocating for deep relaxation throughout the body until there is no stiffness left. The arms should feel like ropes hanging heavy objects, constantly feeling the weight. The body should feel soft as if boneless, but this great relaxation and softness are not limp or slack. Instead, the spirit and energy encourage the body to move dynamically, creating powerful yet sensitive elasticity. When Tai Chi practice reaches the stage of true relaxation, the whole body is filled with energy, expanding and embracing in all directions. Mr. Li Yaxuan compared this to opening an umbrella. When not in use, the umbrella is relaxed and folded; when opened, the surface of the umbrella is taut—not hard, nor loose—but fully extended. The entire umbrella surface is intact, each point part of the whole, with uniform tension.
Mr. Wu Tunan said, "The secret of Tai Chi lies in the relaxation of eight sections and nine joints." When practicing the Tai Chi form, truly relaxing these eight sections and nine joints is referred to as "skill proficiency," which is key to learning Tai Chi. Initially, the whole body should be free of force. There are nine joints to relax: three in the hands, three in the feet, and three in the back. The three hand joints are the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. The three foot joints are the hip, knee, and ankle. The three back joints are the tailbone, neck, and top of the head. Among these nine joints, the most important are the three hand joints. First, relax the wrist joint, followed by the elbow and shoulder. Relaxing the shoulder joint is the hardest. Avoid pressing down on the shoulders; instead, relax them along a 45-degree angle downward, opening the Jianjing acupoint and lowering the energy to the Yongquan acupoint. How can one relax the joints? First, relax the tendons between the joints, then the bones. Continuously relax the tendons between the joints. If the joints are not relaxed, the energy cannot flow smoothly. We are accustomed to tensing up, so we must continuously relax. When we begin learning, our movements are tense. We learn that these actions are guided by intention and energy, moving the body through energy flow. When the shoulder joints are relaxed, other aspects of Chen-style Tai Chi become easier. Among the three foot joints, the ankle is the hardest to relax. Once the tailbone joint is relaxed, energy can flow up the back.
Teacher Zhang Xiugang said, "Practicing Tai Chi requires the fearless heroism and courage to move forward without fear." Because fear causes tension, and tension prevents relaxation. Therefore, having self-confidence is crucial—not just for practicing Tai Chi, but for doing anything in life. Knowing whether or not to relax is a subjective issue, while achieving relaxation is an objective problem. Mental awareness leads to physical awareness, but mental awareness does not equal physical awareness. Physical awareness surpasses mental awareness. Therefore, when practicing Tai Chi, we must always ask ourselves: Am I relaxed? Am I completely relaxed?
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