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Translations/Abstracts by Wu Ta-Yeh and Wu Teng Shu-Hsien

Taijiquan Tutelage of Palo Alto Logo

ON APPLICATION OF STRENGTH
(September 1978 in T'ai Chi magazine)

The following is an abstract from Tung Ying-chieh’s "Taichichuan Explained." It is translated by Wu Ta-yeh and Wu Ten Shu-hsien.

"The purpose of loosening the shoulders and dropping the elbows is to avoid having the strength blocked at your back and shoulders, so that it can be transmitted to the forearms. This cannot be orally taught and must be carefully self-examined.

However, you must not force down the shoulders and elbows, which will result in rigidity, instead of free movement and agility."

"Some people said, after having practiced Taichichuan, one should not do weightlifting and should not apply brute force. This is not always correct. Before you learn Taichichuan, your body is tense and your brute force cannot be effectively applied.

"After having learned Taichichuan, your whole body is relaxed and pliable, with Ch’i circulating freely, so that your brute force becomes real strength. Your tenseness should be removed but your muscular strength should be retained.

"When the brute muscular strength is blocked at the shoulders, it cannot be directed by the waist for manifestation in the hands and fingers.

"The muscular strength is the capital, and pliability is the method. With the method, one can do large business with a small capital. Without the method, even a large capital is not useful."


Revised: 4/16/00
mjchan@ttopa.com