Tai Chi Chuan states ten essentials

1. The "Xu Ling Ding Jin" refers to a person with a straight head and a spirit penetrating the top. Do not exert force; if you do, your neck will be strong and your qi and blood will not flow smoothly. You must have a natural and weak spirit. Without the inner strength of the spirit, one's spirit cannot be lifted. Second, holding the chest and pulling out the back: Holding the chest slightly involves the inner part of the chest, allowing the qi to sink to the dantian. The chest should not be protruded. If it is, the air will rush to the chest area, making the upper part heavier and the lower part lighter, and the heel is prone to float up. Back pulling means that the qi is attached to the back. If one can tuck in the chest, one can naturally pull out the back; if one can pull out the back, one's power will rise from the spine, and one will be invincible wherever one goes. Third, relax the waist. The waist is the master of the entire body. If one can relax the waist, both feet will be strong and the lower body will be stable. All the changes between the real and the illusory are caused by the rotation of the waist. Therefore, it is said that "the source of one's destiny lies in the gap of the waist." When there is any deficiency or weakness, one must seek it from the waist and legs. Fourth, Distinguishing between virtual and real: The first principle of Tai Chi Chuan is to distinguish between virtual and real. If the entire body sits on the right leg, then the right leg is solid and the left leg is weak. If the whole body sits on the left leg, the left leg is solid and the right leg is weak. The real and the illusory can be distinguished, and then the rotation is light and agile, effortless. If one cannot distinguish, one's steps will be heavy and sluggish, one will be unstable on one's own feet, and one will be easily swayed by others. Five. Sunken shoulders and drooping elbows Sunken shoulders refer to the relaxation and drooping of the shoulders. If one cannot relax and lift the shoulders, the qi will rise along with it, and the whole body will lose its strength. "Falling elbow" means that the elbow is loosening and falling down. If the elbow is suspended, the shoulder cannot sink and the person cannot be placed far away, which is close to the interruption of the external force. Six. Intention without Force The Tai Chi Treatise states: This is all about intention without force. When practicing Tai Chi, the whole body is relaxed, without using the slightest brute force, so as to remain stuck between the muscles, bones and blood vessels, thereby binding oneself. Then it can transform nimbly and rotate freely. One may wonder how one can grow strength without exerting force? Just as the human body has meridians, so does the earth have ditches and canals. When the ditches and canals are not clogged, water flows freely; when the meridians are not closed, qi flows smoothly. If the whole body is stiff and full of energy in the meridians, the qi and blood stagnate, the movement is not smooth, and even a slight movement causes the whole body to move. If one does not exert force but uses intention, where the intention leads, the qi follows. If the qi and blood flow in this way, they are continuously transported every day, circulating throughout the body without ever stopping. If one practices for a long time, one will acquire true inner strength. This is what the Tai Chi Chuan Theory states: "Extremely soft, then extremely firm and firm." A person who is proficient in Tai Chi has arms as heavy as iron wrapped in cotton. For those who practice external martial arts, when they exert force, they appear powerful; when they do not, they become very frivolous. It can be seen that its force is the force of external force floating on the surface. Exerting force without intention is the easiest to stir up trouble and is not worth it. Seven. The upper and lower parts follow each other. The upper and lower parts follow each other, as stated in the Tai Chi Chuan Theory: "Its root lies in the feet, it originates from the legs, it is controlled by the waist, and it is formed by the fingers. From the feet to the legs and then to the waist, it must always be complete and consistent." Manual movement, waist movement, foot movement, and eyes movement along with it. Only in this way can it be said that the upper and lower levels follow each other. There is one thing that remains still, that is, it is scattered. Viii. Harmony of Internal and External: The essence of Tai Chi lies in the spirit. Therefore, it is said: "God is the commander, and the body is the driver." When one's spirit is lifted, one's actions will naturally be light and agile. The framework is nothing more than the opening and closing of the solid and the void. The so-called opening is not only the opening of hands and feet, but also the opening of the mind. What is meant by unity is not only the unity of hands and feet, but also the unity of mind. When the inside and outside can be integrated into one qi, there will be no gap between them. Ix. The power of continuous external martial arts is the clumsy power acquired later in life. Therefore, there is a beginning and an end, a continuation and a break. The old force has been exhausted and the new force has not yet emerged. At this time, it is easiest for people to take advantage of. Tai Chi Chuan uses intention rather than force. From beginning to end, it is continuous, repetitive and endless. The original theory states, "Like the Yangtze River and the sea, flowing ceaselessly," and also says, "The flow of energy is like drawing silk," both indicating that it is a continuous flow of energy. X. Seeking Stillness in Movement: In external martial arts, jumping and throwing are the skills, and all one's strength is exhausted. Therefore, after practice, there is no one who is out of breath. Tai Chi Chuan uses stillness to control movement; even in movement, it remains still. Therefore, the slower one practices the posture, the better. Slow breathing leads to deep and long breaths, with the qi sinking to the dantian, and thus there is no problem of the blood vessels dilating. Only when scholars carefully understand it can they grasp its meaning. From "Zhongding International Wushu Network"