MORE EFFICIENT IN WORK
Taijiquan combat application
Question
Thank you very much for coming to Ireland this year in February to teach us Tai Chi Chuan against Other Martial Arts. My day to day life is benefiting so much already in such a short space of time.
-- Brendan, Ireland
Answer
Isn't this amazing? Though many of us in Shaolin Wahnam may have taken it for granted, it is good to remind ourselves that a main reason to practice our arts is to enrich our lives and the lives of other people.
On the other hand, it is shocking that many Taiji practitioners today do not even realize that Taijiquan is a martial art, and many martial artists today routinely hurt themselves and their classmates in sparring practice. Our mentioning these facts is not to belittle others or to glamorize ourselves, but to highlight a deplorable situation of martial arts today with the hope that those involved may be able to rectify it.
Question
I have noticed that I'm becoming more efficient in any work. I feel this is a direct result from our Tai Chi Chuan form correction where we stop after each pattern and check that we have the six harmonies of feet, body, hands, jing, chi and shen.
So the same goes for the work I do. I check it all and noticed where I have been slacking. Before I would just leave it and thought it was OK, but now I try to improve in these areas. This has become almost automatic. It just seems to happen like a natural progression.
Answer
You have highlighted how practicing a martial art can enrich our lives. One of many ways to do so is to ensure that every pattern we perform attains the six harmonies of feet, body, hands, essence, energy and mind. When we have practiced this correctly and sufficiently, this skill will become habitual. Hence, not only we attain six harmonies in our Taijiquan performance, but in whatever we do in our daily lives.
On the other hand, if a student is sloppy in his form, tenses his muscles in applying force, is aggressive in his attitude when he practices Taijiquan or any martial art, these undesirable traits will also become habitual, and will unfavorably affect his daily life.
Question
I've also noticed that I am becoming more assertive with certain people in my life which has not only surprised them but it has surprised me just as much. This is great as I always felt I need to be a bit more assertive.
Answer
Yes, we need to be assertive when necessary, and often it is necessary. Just as there are different ways to subdue an opponent in combat, there are different ways to be assertive in daily life, such as overtly, demandingly, subtly and gently.
Whatever way we may choose to be assertive depending on the situation, we need confidence and force. In other words, the more confidence and force you have, the more effective you will be when you want to be assertive. Your practice has intrinsically given you much confidence and force.
For example, practicing Grasping Sparrow's Tail with correct waist rotation activates energy flow in your kidney and gall bladder systems. When your kidney and gall bladder systems are full of good chi, you become confident. Practicing the Three-Circle Stance correctly gives you a lot of internal force.
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