20 July 2006

Giving

Mastery of Tai Chi requires you, first and foremost, to become a great giver rather than a great yielder. John Kells

Quite a revolutionary statement this, especially since Dr Chi said 9 years to learn to yield then 1 year to learn to attack. If you can't give - muster, mobilize and let your energy out - then as a human being you are next to useless. Giving is a matter of heart. Yielding should also be a matter of heart - opening the heart and accepting with the heart whilst moving forwards - but so often it is instead just a sneaky technique to get an advantage over someone who is letting their energy out. If, when pushing-hands, neither you nor your partner can effectively give then neither of you are going to get any yielding practice anyway. Giving has to come first.

1 comment

Karen Puerta and Tim Walker said...

That's a bloody difficult one if you're very shy or typically British and reserved. I find it very difficult to give unless I feel relaxed with the person I'm pushing hands with - but that's not the point is it? it's unconditional and not worrying about yourself. But you've still go to reach that point and be able to let go. It's not just a question of courage because (for me anyway) it's a life long habit to block others out unless I feel comfortable with them. If i'm not relaxed then the harder I try the less energy comes out and it starts to feel really bad not being able to give the other person something to work with. I guess you've just got to keep chipping away and if you've got good intentions then it'll come right?