Use Yi Not Li

One of the famous Tai Ji Quan theory verses said “Use your Yi (Mind) not your Li (Strength)“.

Lots of people were confused with this (including me): if you rely on your mind and not you strength (especially muscular strength), how can you defeat your opponent? That’s because that verse is too simple and obscure, and can lead to many interpretations. If we could not experience the feelings, how can we understand that from just our usual thinking? The theory is very different from the common sense.

Only when you experience that, can you understand what that means. It does not say, just use your mind and do nothing, but actually to use your mind to generate and lead your Jin. And Jin is the weapon to defeat (or “love”) your enemy, not Li (strength). Using mind or not, the effect can be very different, even your external posture looks identical. One good example is, today I could feel clearly in one of the self-defence applications that, I could transfer my An Jin from the ground to my right hand two fingers, and issue it to the opponent. The opponent felt the very difference.

So practitioners, Use Yi Not Li…

- Written by Lizeh, 2010

Linking/Integrating

As I told Shirley today, I think one (secret) principle for generating the force in Fa Jin is linking/integrating. I’m still progressing with this principle so I can only write down something that I currently understand and experience.

I think there are 3 components or steps in terms of linking:

1. Link your own body. This is the foundation. If you can’t link your body, you can’t do the rest. While in contact with the opponent, you can choose which path in your body to link.
2. Link your body with the earth. Again, you can choose which path in your body to link with the earth. This step is important as you can borrow the force from the earth and gravity, which makes your force much stronger than just normal muscle strength.
3. Link your body with your opponent. So you can feel your opponent and transfer the force from the ground to him/her in the most effective manner.

I believe a strong force can be generated by following the above steps.

- Written by Lizhe, 2010

Peng Jin and An Jin

Today I started to feel the difference between Peng Jin and An Jin. When you issue the two Jins, the external posture can look very similar; however, the person who receives the forces can feel the very difference — one lifts up, and another one pushes down. It is very amazing.

The key to Peng Jin is like swinging a pendulum (the hanging point must be fixed); while the key to An Jin is to vertically raise the three Gates (Yu Zhen, Jia Ji, Wei Lu) and then make the force downwards in front of you.

- Written by Lizhe, 2010

Yin-Yang Gate Blog » Lizhe's Tai Ji Quan » The (secret) principles of Jin « University of Melbourne Lunchtime Tai Chi Class Tai Chi (internal marital arts) vs. Dancing » The (secret) principles of Jin

Based on my current understanding and training from Master Lee, I start to gain real insights into the principles of Jin (at the foundation level):

1. Extension of tendon and muscle — this is the foundation of generating Jin
2. Bow in every part of the body — this is to store the energy and then make the issuing of Jin stronger. As a technique, it forms the horizontal and vertical circles as well.
3. Link the whole body — this also makes the Jin stronger and can achieve some amazing effect. Only integrated body can generate more power.

I start to feel number one now, and still need to train harder and improve on number 2 and 3.
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A quick addition of more principles:
No 4. Correct body posture — this includes head, neck, back, spine, abdomen, tailbone, arms, legs, shoulders, elbows, knees, etc. It is the very foundation principle even before principle No1.
No 5. Using the Yi (mind) — this will add to the physical effect of your Jin, and enable the breakthrough of physical muscular power limitations. It makes your Jin travel further and more powerful.

- Written by Lizhe, 2010

University of Melbourne Lunchtime Tai Chi Class

The University of Melbourne Lunchtime Tai Chi class is starting from 12 April. Classes will be taught in two different sessions each week:

Monday 12.15pm – 1.15pm, Baillieu Library 1st Flr Leigh Scott Room
Wednesday 12.15pm – 1.15pm, Baillieu Library 1st Flr Leigh Scott Room

The first class will be free! Tai Chi 24 forms and Qi Gong will be taught for beginners in a series of classes. The cost for one term (10 sessions) is $100. People can attend the other session in the same week if they are unable to attend their preferred session time. It is a perfect release for body and mind from a desk-bound occupation!

Photos for student Luk (On Request)

These photos are for Luk who attended the free Saturday self-defense classes. click on the photos to download the original files.