When Tai Chi is practiced to a more advanced stage, the body will have a sense of height as if suspended in mid-air, and the whole body will seem like a huge balloon. With this feeling, one can reach the realm of flowing qi freely and living like a wheel. To reach this realm, one must first study and ponder the concept of "emptiness, pine, roundness and vitality". Although "Kong Song Yuan Huo" consists of only four characters, it is not an easy task to truly understand its meaning and accurately embody it. Each of these four characters has its own method and function. They are also interrelated, and when connected together, they have their own charm. Those who practice should act in accordance with the way, ask each word carefully, experience it attentively, and apply it to themselves. Based on the intrinsic connection of the four characters, it will be elaborated from two aspects: "emptiness and looseness" and "roundness and flexibility". First, Emptiness and Relaxation: In the practice of Tai Chi, one should not merely focus on "relaxation" and blindly pursue extreme relaxation. Without the existence of "emptiness", no matter how relaxed one is, one cannot enter the advanced stage of Tai Chi. It is relatively easy to relax the muscles and joints of the body, but it is extremely difficult to attain the state of emptiness. Therefore, when practicing martial arts, one must focus on the word "emptiness". In Tai Chi, both emptiness and relaxation must be clearly distinguished, yet neither should be neglected. The two are both relatively independent and interdependent, complementing each other. If one blindly pursues the combination of looseness and emptiness, it will surely lead to various diseases such as loss, collapse and scattering. This kind of looseness has no miraculous effect and is a major taboo in practicing martial arts. If one blindly pursues emptiness without any relaxation and coordination, it will surely lead to emptiness without substance, leaving only subjective illusions and no substantial changes in the body and mind, making it difficult to achieve anything in practicing martial arts. When practicing Tai Chi, one must strive for the unity of consciousness and physical movement, and must not let consciousness become a mere fantasy. Therefore: "Emptiness must be accompanied by looseness, and looseness must be complemented by emptiness." Only when the two are organically integrated can the true essence of promoting the flow of qi and energy be realized. Either seeking simplicity or emptiness in a single way goes against the dialectical principle of Taiji and Yin-Yang. When performing daily exercises and walking, one must carefully ponder the meanings of "emptiness" and "relaxation" : If one wants to loosen the muscles and joints, the mind must first have an empty mind. If one desires to enter the state of emptiness with both body and mind, the mind must first cultivate a sense of relaxation. Only when one achieves the unity of emptiness and relaxation through long-term practice can they be said to have stepped into the advanced stage of Tai Chi. Many beginners in practicing boxing feel nervous before they even raise their hands, and then their muscles and joints become stiff, their bodies heavy and their movements inflexible. If you want your movements to be neither stiff nor tight, first keep your mind at ease and natural. Adhere to the principle of using your intention rather than force. When your mind is calm, your body will naturally relax. With time and effort, one can achieve the following: ** Emptiness with the mind rising, relaxation with the qi sinking **, and a sense of separation and ethereality between the muscles and bones. Only at this point can one further study the subtleties of perfection and vitality. To reach the ultimate state of vitality in practicing Tai Chi, one must first cultivate a perfect and complete momentum. Only by being perfectly round can one be truly dynamic. Roundness is the foundation of vitality. As the martial arts formula states: "Roundness brings vitality, while squareness leads to stagnation." To enter the state of perfect vitality, one must thoroughly understand two points: ** momentum and support from all directions **. 1. Momentum Momentum is generated by the true inner cultivation and is the core indicator to measure the depth of Tai Chi skills: the stronger the momentum, the deeper the skills. As the saying goes: "Tai Chi lies not in form but in momentum, not in appearance but in inner strength." In daily practice, one should not neglect to cultivate one's momentum. The prerequisite for cultivating momentum is to first master the skills of emptiness and relaxation. If the muscles and joints have not reached a state of emptiness and relaxation, there is no way to talk about roundness and flexibility. Only when the perfect and active cultivation is achieved can the beauty of emptiness and relaxation be fully exerted. The essence of momentum lies in being complete and unscattered. It must have boundaries and a center, and should not be aimless and dissipated. When practicing martial arts, imagine with your mind: ** Centered on the waist **, establish a range of energy fields that can be freely controlled by your thoughts. Every move and gesture neither oversteps nor falls short of the edge of the aura. Over time, the aura naturally becomes smooth and full, without any edges or corners. The farther the edge of the aura is from the center, the more imposing the momentum becomes. The momentum is supported by the spirit: Only when the spirit can be upheld on all sides can the momentum be full and not listless. At the same time, the momentum should also protect the spirit and prevent the spirit from being leaked out. Only when the spirit and the aura are integrated can the momentum be complete and the spirit be vigorous. 2. Eight-sided support: The spirit supports the eight sides. It is still necessary to take the waist as the main body and generate eight force lines with intention, providing equal support in all directions. The eight lines must be of balanced length for the momentum to be complete and unobstructed. If the eight lines are uneven, the aura will be uneven and incomplete, and the martial arts will be hard to be pure. In the practice of martial arts, one must always adhere to the principle of taking the waist as the center and ensuring equality on all eight sides. Over time, one will naturally achieve unity of body and mind and be able to apply it freely. 3. Opening and Closing and Flexibility - ** Opening ** : The aura is magnified, spreading evenly in all directions from the waist as the center. - ** Convergence ** : The energy field converges, and the eight force lines are gathered with the waist as the center. Whether opening or closing, advancing or retreating, or spinning, the edge of the aura always follows the movement of the waist, passively follows, and the active control lies entirely with the waist. By adhering to this key point, there will be no problem of a scattered aura. Every move, from advance to retreat, from side to side, every movement, the aura around the body is as round as a balloon. Between the chest and the hands, a naturally round and dynamic posture emerges. Where there is a circle, there is a life. The essence of life lies within, not outside. The external form moves with the inner energy, and the force is continuous without interruption. The so-called movement refers to the rotation of qi, not merely the random movement of the body. The entire body is seamlessly integrated, with internal energy permeating the entire body. It can transform and rotate in all eight directions as desired. Where the mind leads, the qi follows, reaching a state where all things conform to it. At this point, in every movement, from front to back, left to right, up and down, bending and stretching, virtual and real, opening and closing, the internal energy flows freely and smoothly without hindrance. Just as the saying goes: "The energy is like a wheel, and life is like a wheel." **