Movements of Magic - the Spirit of Tai-chi-Chuan by Klein Bob

Author:Klein, Bob
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tai-chi-Chuan School Publishing
Published: 1984-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Fighting for Fun

Besides its psychological, physical and emotional benefits, Tai-chi Kung-Fu is also an enjoyable game. Rather than the grim, angry faces you may see in a Karate movie, my students often smile as they fight. As in all games, this one has its tricks and maneuvers. One is to purposefully leave part of your body unprotected in order to encourage your partner to punch or kick. Of course, you must seem unaware of your vulnerability. When your partner strikes, the opening instantly vanishes and gives way to a return punch.

One of my classmates back in the old days used to let his hands hang by his sides and leave himself completely open. Yet it was very difficult to hit him. He was fast, and as soon as I came in for a punch, one of his hands swung around and connected with my head. The Tai-chi-Chuan punch can come from anywhere. As you scratch your head or stand with your hands in your pockets, a hand will suddenly whip out and strike. It is therefore very difficult to tell when a Tai-chi fighter will punch you.

There is a lot of feigning in sparring. Your partner may constantly pretend he is about to punch you in order to get you to overreact and open up your defenses. Thus, your reactions must be careful and not exaggerated. Then there is the old “Whoops, I missed” routine. You miss on purpose, step behind your partner and spin around with a backhand to the head followed immediately by another spin in the other direction (still with the weight on the same leg) and a backhand to the head with the other hand. The spinning motion of your body and arm creates a great deal of power.

In Tai-chi Kung-Fu, we practice many styles or patterns of movement. You may build up the expectations of your partner by sticking to one style and then, all of a sudden, switch to a totally different style. This new style may last for only a few seconds, then you may switch to a third style, and so on. Your partner must be equally fluid in his behavior and not allow any particular pattern to trap him. Yet each partner tries to lock the other into a pattern.

It is easy to detect when your partner is locked into a pattern. His movements will not be linked to yours. His movements will be directed by his intentions, by his mind, and not by the actual relationship of balances and postures between your two bodies. Once he has lost this link to the intricacies of the situation at hand, it is easy to come right in with your strikes.

A Tai-chi fighter does not prance about with fancy movements to impress his partner. His stance is quiet, his attitude calm and watchful. He is as linked into his partner as a cat is linked into the movements of a mouse nearby. Watch the cat. It does not prance about in front of the mouse to impress it, but remains still and watchful.

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