Let's talk about the basic skills training of Tai Chi

The basic skills of Bai Yunfeng's general external martial arts are no more than kicking, backbending, the so-called "waist and leg skills", as well as some jumping, flipping and balancing. Tai Chi does not exclude these basic skills training, but it has a unique fundamental skill, which is its relaxation training. The training of general waist and leg exercises is nothing more than stretching ligaments and moving joints to complete striking movements that exceed those of ordinary people. However, the result of the relaxation and movement of Tai Chi not only achieves the state that general waist and leg exercises can reach, but also makes one's ligaments longer and longer, joints more and more flexible, and the coordination of muscle fibers more and more harmonious. It has been reported abroad that if the muscle fibers of a person can be coordinated over a wide range, they can generate tremendous force and drive a locomotive. However, the coordination of the muscles of an average person during exercise is only a few percent. The basic training of Tai Chi is mainly achieved through standing in a fixed position, walking in a zigzagging stance, the relaxation and sinking of the fist frame and pushing hands, mental tranquility, breathing (mainly reverse abdominal breathing), and intention. Relaxation plays a major role among them. In short, in every movement of Tai Chi, all the muscles and joints are relaxed except for the muscle strength required to support the legs, spine, head and posture. At the same time, as Teacher Hu Xuezhi said: above the waist, it should be as big as a balloon floating up (the spirit can be lifted), and below the waist, it should be like a weight sinking down (there is a root under the feet). Only through such long-term training can one achieve the state of swallowing completely and spitting out, to reach the state of "formless and shapeless, the whole being empty, the roar of the tiger and the cry of the ape, the hanging bell of the Western mountain", and to achieve the state of "Ao Gai swallowing in response". To put it directly, it means that when someone hits you, it's like hitting a sheet of cloth, with no force at all, and at the same time, it makes the attacker feel as if they suddenly miss a step on the stairs at night or suddenly slip while walking on ice. Every time we saw Hu Xuezhi stand there, we couldn't find his shoulder joint and couldn't see it. We tried to imitate him but couldn't. Hu told us that deliberately sinking down was not the right way and that we should naturally relax. It seems that giving up won't be achieved in a short period of time. Teacher Hu's practice of doing individual exercises to exert force is something that none of the students can imitate. It is harmonious, sharp and natural, and it is not something that can be mastered in a short period of time. Hu Shi was lying on the bed. A strong man pushed the old man against the wall, but he was hit by the 120-pound Hu Shi instead. Although the secret of loosening the force was revealed. Master Hu often told us that not only the joints of the limbs and the vertebrae and costal joints are loose, but even the sternoclavicular joints and the sternocostal joints are loose, all are open and flexible, all can contract and release, flip and turn. Master Hu proudly told us that Old Hu Tou (who he called his father) hit people within the distance of pushing hands (being able to touch the other person's elbow), while I could do so with my chest and back restricted. It can also transform into a punch. After twisting his arms and lifting him high, he was still hit by Hu Shi. Hu Shi sat by the bedside, allowing the head coach of the Liaoning Sanda Team to press his chest. He still let his hair flow naturally, causing the coach to lose control everywhere, which was a clear sign. By training according to Teacher Hu's relaxation method, we have found that the training of joint flexibility is more comprehensive, thorough and technically significant than the basic skills training of external martial arts. Moreover, it is also of great benefit in terms of fitness. As each joint relaxes in different postures, the internal organs are constantly moving, changing positions and undergoing massage. Therefore, its fitness value is obvious. Teacher Hu always says: Tai Chi is easy to learn. It's all about contracting and releasing. We have come to understand that it is through long-term relaxation practice that Teacher Hu can achieve a close, accurate and smooth return. A phrase often said by Teacher Hu is: "It has been kneaded open," which means that long-term training has loosened and kneaded the joints and muscles. The teacher practices martial arts everywhere and at all times. The students have been learning for over twenty or even ten years but still cannot reach the level of Master Hu. It's because their skills are not enough. Master Hu, in order to educate his students, has specially summarized a "Song Character Decision" and recorded it to share with fellow enthusiasts: Relax, relax, relax. Tai Chi skills, Tai Chi Tips: To learn Tai Chi, one must first learn relaxation. Without relaxation, it's hard to achieve. Tai Chi Skills: The mind is relaxed, the body is relaxed, and only when the spirit is calm can it be relaxed. One part is relaxed, one part is unobstructed, everywhere is relaxed, all meridians are unobstructed. The head should be relaxed, the neck should be relaxed, the chest, back, waist and spine should be relaxed together, the shoulders should be relaxed, the elbows should be relaxed, and the wrists, palms and fingers should not forget to be relaxed. The hips should be relaxed, the knees should be relaxed. The ankles and toes should also be loose. The skin should be loose, the muscles and bones should be loose, every bone and every joint should be loose. The inside should be loose, the outside should be loose, layer by layer, the abdomen should be loose. The qi and blood should flow smoothly. Smooth qi and blood flow is easy to grow. Relaxation and relaxation, what is the degree? Relaxation without giving up. The ideal is to be relaxed all the time, every moment, until the feet are relaxed, which is the most successful. The word "relaxation" exercise, never relax. The most successful is when the pine reaches your feet. Pine, pine, pine, consistent throughout, the pine that prolongs life and never ages