There are
many approaches to the practice of Taijiquan. Here are a few
relaxation- health exercise
- confidence building
- energy development
- meditative movement
- martial art
- spiritual practice
- self-defence
This article
is a response to a question I was recently asked, “What or who do
you think about when visualising martial applications in a Solo Form
practise?”
There are
two answers to this: One is physical, the other energetic. They can
both be applied to any Form, whether empty hand or using a weapon.
1.
Physical
When playing
a Form it can be useful to visualise an opponent. This gives a
certain degree of definition to the shape of each movement. At this
level of practice I visualise an opponent of exactly the same shape
and size as myself, in other words a replica of myself, so as not to
distort my postures by over or under reaching.
The fact
that it is an 'opponent' (something opposed to the move I'm making)
can easily create unnecessary mental and/or physical tension, thereby
giving an opportunity to deepen my conscious awareness. The more
clearly I can visualise 'myself' as the opponent, the easier it is to
see 'him' as the embodiment of my negativities/ego. Then each time I
strike or cut I can visualise the ego becoming less, the negativities
being chipped away. But this cannot be done with any kind of
aggression as it would only create more tension and negativity.
Intention and clarity need to be underpinned by the fundamental
principles of calmness and relaxation. This way of practising in turn
leads towards the second answer...
2.
Energetic
This is a
much deeper level of practice, more subtle, more internal, more
meaningful, and more difficult to put into the written word.
At this
level it's about ebb and flow, receive and reply, yin and yang (Taiji
in action). Here I am creating an oncoming force through feeling
rather than thinking. Unlike the Physical method where it's a
visualised body or limb coming towards me, this is an energetic
movement through the air, like a current moving through water only
more subtly through the air. As the current comes close enough it
will influence my energetic space (life-force field) and I allow that
to stimulate a returning wave of energy that, in turn, moves my body
into the next posture.
To feel
this process requires a deeper level of relaxation which allows a
softer focus of attention (receptive, yin), enabling a sharper focus
of intention (active, yang).
