An Internal System

By William C. C. Chen

August 20^th 2006

     Tai Chi Chuan movements are activated by pressure changes in the fingers.  When this energy flow slowly increases, the fingers and palms are energized in an out-going motion; this contributes to forming a Tai Chi posture.  When the energy flow gradually defuses, the fingers collapse and palms fall back and downward, as the posture dissolves. 

    The energy pressure comes from an internal intrinsic energy of Chi; Chinese call it “Yuan-Chi” (元氣), the original life energy that is inherent with our birth.  It is a mix of chemical energy, is highly concentrated, and exists inside the body.  Mental awareness is required for the pressurization of the energy; this combination and interaction is very important to us: without it we cannot think, talk or walk.  Life would be like a living death e.g., (a coma or vegetative state). 

    When we are sleeping, the body has no energy pressure inside; it is like a flat tire; if anything crashes down, the body will be easily crushed.  When we sit on the sofa, it is like an under-inflated tire.  When we are standing up or walking around, the energy pressure inside the body is moderately relaxed.  In modern society, life is constantly changing and rushing; a person’s mind can be very stressed from too much thinking and worrying, which causes the energy pressure inside the body to over-expand and the person becomes uptight. 

    This internal energy “Chi” is pressurized to help our body to sit up, stand up, serve coffee or tea, jump, punch and kick.  The way the energy pressure changes in the body is controlled by the mind’s progressive awareness.  Awareness that slowly increases or decreases, results in the slow motion of Tai Chi Chuan.  When awareness is sharply escalated, it can result in powerfully quick punches and kicks.  This is the same pressurized energy that trains the body to absorb punches and kicks.  It is called “iron shirt” (鐵布衫) by Chinese martial artists. 

    The pressure force begins from the center of the body in the lower abdomen, which connects the bottom base of the foot and to the tip of the fingers.  This center of the energy is known as “Tan Tien” (丹田).  “Tan Tien” literally translates as “Field of Cinnabar”.  It is located two inches below the naval; this is the field to be produced or cultivated for nourishment essential to the sustenance of life.  It is a very important point. 

    In the slow motion of Tai Chi Chuan, the hands never move by themselves without the pressurized energy.  Chinese Tai Chi Chuan players often say that: (太極拳不動手, 動手非太極拳) – “In the movements of Tai Chi Chuan, the hands do not move alone or independently.  If they do, the movements are not considered as Tai Chi Chuan”. 

    When we practice Tai Chi Chuan, we should place our mind in the lower abdominal area, and let mind, body and energy act as one unit.  All the motions of Tai Chi Chuan are created by energy force from inside the body, rather than from the outer part such as the hand muscles.  Muscle force is very important to us, but it is secondary in Tai Chi Chuan training.  This is why Tai Chi Chuan is considered an internal martial art. 

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