
Tai Chi is a kind of Yi Quan, and it is inevitable to emphasize practicing with the mind. When practicing, “calming the mind and using the mind” should be put first. Only by guiding oneself to exercise regularly with the mind can one reach the highest level of one’s own quality.
Senior masters have proved the effectiveness of the mind in practicing through practice, and warned the younger generation of boxing learners to pay attention to practicing with the mind. Boxing theory says: “The mind is the main thing when practicing boxing.” Applying it in the mind is the real secret. “Transformation is all in the mind” and “The wonderful opportunity is originally from the heart” and other boxing theories all highlight the word “heart”, emphasizing that learning and practicing Tai Chi requires understanding the secret of using the mind.
How to learn and practice Tai Chi with your heart? Let’s take a look at the “Ten Essentials of Using the Mind” and I would like to study it with my fellow practitioners.
Sincerity
It means that no matter whether the scholar treats his teacher or his fellow brothers, he must treat others with sincerity, never deceive his superiors and subordinates, and cheat, and have good moral qualities. He must practice boxing sincerely to seek merit, exercise his physique, increase his skills, and better improve efficiency for work and serve mankind.
Clear mind
It means to clarify the purpose of learning boxing, understand the principles of Tai Chi, and use the principles to guide boxing. Pursue the master’s boxing style, understand the relationship between form and meaning, and after the teacher teaches the boxing, carefully study a boxing principle and understand the way of using the heart.
Concentrated mind
It means that learners should concentrate on boxing, concentrate, eliminate distractions and enter the realm of boxing. Strive to achieve correct movements and coherent movements. Practice boxing in sequence, first seek the correct form and then seek the internal qi, first practice to lead the inside with the outside, then practice to destroy the outside with the inside, and then seek the unity of inside and outside, and the combination of hardness and softness. Learners should avoid using the mind to move qi, and must understand the principle of calmness.
Calm mind
It means that when practicing boxing, there should be no selfish thoughts, no distractions, and exclude all things that are not related to boxing. Only by practicing boxing with a calm mind can the style of Tai Chi be highlighted. The mind is calm and the qi is harmonious, the whole body is relaxed, the brain system is excited, and the information of the movements of various organ systems can be correctly transmitted and received. Drawing circles and winding silk enhances the ability of muscle contraction and relaxation to switch, and continuously improves the sensitivity of the nervous system. Long-term practice can accumulate softness into hardness, and hardness and softness complement each other.
Careful
It means that the practitioner should pay close attention to the details of the movements, carefully observe and study the teacher’s boxing postures, and carefully understand the boxing theory taught by the teacher. When discussing with friends, you should carefully find out your own shortcomings. When practicing, you should think about the route, direction, speed, and position of the boxing postures. You should carefully find the answer, try to figure out each move, pay attention to each move, and be able to draw inferences from one example to another, and seek the fighting function of the moves.
Perseverance
It means that the practitioner should have perseverance. Learning boxing cannot rely on temporary excitement and enthusiasm. You should know that practicing Tai Chi for success is a long-term process. Therefore, you cannot fish for three days and dry the net for two days. Learners should always motivate themselves, strengthen their belief in practicing with role models, and practice boxing for success regardless of wind and rain or thunder.
Keep in mind
It means that no matter whether you are doing push-hands or Sanda competition, you should keep in mind the purpose, practice boxing for success, and have a clear plan for what moves to use for attack and defense. “The transformation is all in one mind” requires keeping in mind.
Good heart
It means that the martial arts ethics of boxing should be noble. Push-hands competition should not be cruel. The moves should be measured. Just hit the target and never be crazy. The boxing theory says: “You can’t be crazy when learning Tai Chi. Crazy will cause right and wrong. Not only can’t you be crazy with your hands, but you can’t be crazy with your words.” Students should follow this principle, should be based on benevolence and righteousness, treat others with respect, don’t compete with crazy people, don’t compete with ignorance. If others compete, I can give in again and again, and defend myself when I have to, and stop when I hit the target. But when encountering thugs and enemies, you must be brave and not be soft-hearted.
Mind
It means that the moves in fighting should be flexible, and the flexibility of moves depends on the mind. The boxing theory says that “the wonderful opportunity comes from the heart.” The theory of boxing emphasizes that fighting skills should be carefully planned, and the key to flexible use of moves is that learners should learn more about the theory of yin and yang dialectics, move in a circle, strike hard, turn freely, do not lose or block, stick to each other, lead in and miss, avoid the real and attack the empty, the ingenuity of Tai Chi is all in one circle.
Conceited
Ancient teachings say: “Humility brings benefits, arrogance brings harm.” It emphasizes that one should be humble in dealing with people and things. Tai Chi boxing theory says: “Tai Chi boxing cannot be full, arrogance brings harm…”. Learning boxing must be humble, guard against arrogance and impatience. If someone beats me, respect him, and do not have a proud and jealous heart; if someone does not beat me, treat him with humility, and do not have a frivolous intention. Only by maintaining a humble and studious attitude can boxing skills be truly learned, practiced well, and used freely. Scholars should have the noble character of respecting teachers and friends, being humble and studious, which is an important factor in the cultivation of martial arts that is indispensable for practicing martial arts.
In short, when learning and practicing Tai Chi, you should put “heart” first, remember the ten points of heart, have a spirit of perseverance, and study and explore the mysteries of Tai Chi. You should cultivate both morality and art, benefit from practicing Tai Chi, strengthen your body, work hard, and benefit mankind.