
In the practice of Zhaobao Tai Chi, from the perspective of boxing techniques, each person has different experiences and perceptions due to the length of time they have studied and the degree of their skills. Below, I will reveal the secrets of Zhaobao Tai Chi from four dimensions based on my practice and experience.
Relaxation
When practicing Tai Chi, “relaxation” is extremely important. But what exactly is “relaxation”? Simply put: letting go without losing its shape is the essence of relaxation. It should be noted that relaxation is not slackness or collapse, but continuous without losing its charm. The internal practice of internal boxing can be summed up in the three words of essence, energy, and spirit, and the core of its requirements on appearance is relaxation.
Body method
The body method of Tai Chi. At present, most people are in the stage of practicing boxing, rather than reaching the state of playing boxing. Why don’t we use the word “playing boxing” here? The reason is that playing boxing is not easy, it represents a very high state. According to the master, practicing and playing are actually a relationship of addition and subtraction. At first, we standardize the boxing posture and gradually refine each movement. This is to add something to the body, which is to do addition. After the movements are proficient, we need to gradually let go of the various requirements for the boxing posture in our minds and reach the state of doing nothing but being able to do everything. Only then can it be called practicing boxing.
Let’s talk about practicing boxing again. At present, many people only focus on the coordination of hands and feet, shoulders and hips when practicing boxing, but ignore the key element of penetration. The founder of Sanfeng once said, “One move makes the whole body light and agile, but it still needs to be penetrated.” This shows the importance of penetration. We can understand this requirement by connecting it with the body method. Take the starting hand of the starting posture as an example. The body should lead the hand. So how does the body lead? We can explore from the details of life. For example, when we want to take a step forward, the most natural reaction must be to lead the body slightly upward and take a step with a very small amplitude. This is the most natural way to lead the body, and this kind of leading the body runs through the whole body, forming a whole drive from the feet to the head. Following this state, the body leads the hand out, to what position? That is, the left hand is over the ear, and the right hand is over the head. After that, the body movement cannot be interrupted, and the hands must be driven down by the relaxation of the body. You can try it yourself. It should be noted that the premise is that the body must be relaxed, and not only straight, but also “relaxed and straight”. I hope everyone will experience it carefully.
Overall View
Tai Chi emphasizes the need for an overall view, requiring that the movements cannot be interrupted, and the whole body must form an organic whole. During the practice, whether it is various parts of the body or various links of the movement, they must be interconnected and coordinated with each other to form a complete system together, so that the essence of Tai Chi can be reflected.
Bottleneck
Many people will encounter bottlenecks when they practice Tai Chi to a certain stage. At this time, you must not be anxious. Wang Yangming once said: “The more difficult it is, the more time to cultivate your mind.” The level we can achieve in practicing Tai Chi depends to a large extent on the level of our own state of mind. The practice of Tai Chi is a gradual process. The above-mentioned requirements of relaxation, straightness, and penetration are all important aspects of Tai Chi, and we must strive to achieve them during the practice process. Different people may master it at different speeds, and in the process of gradual practice, they will encounter bottlenecks of varying sizes. But this is not a big deal, as long as you take it slow, don’t give up, and study hard, these requirements will gradually integrate into yourself and become a natural state.