What about "Tension and Relaxation"?

What about "Tension and Relaxation"?

The picture was taken in 2006 and the video (link)  was taken in 2020.  In the picture Master Stephen Hwa points out that one side of his arm is firm and the other side is relaxed.  You can see the student in a red shirt starting to tip from the pressure and firmness/tension of the top side of the arm.  You can see the other student touching underneath and on the bottom side of the arm to sense the softness/relaxation of the underside. Master Hwa is using "internal discipline" from the body core so that his strength comes from inside the body and affects the external, namely the arm.  

It is interesting that the arm "by definition is relaxed" even though the forearm exhibits "tension".  This is because the entire arm does not exhibit tension but only part while the other part remains without tension or "relaxed".  The arm presents "substantial/insubstantial", aka "Yin and Yang".  Even more interesting is what happens when arms make contact and the body core tenses up to provide power, leaving the arm relaxed.  The arm moves imperceptibly but the core movement is more noticeable in response to the push. One can say there is a "spike" of tension under external pressure and when the pressure is removed it returns to relaxed. 

"The topic of "energized" and "relaxed" has been touched upon before. A relaxed body and mind is the most commonly cited benefit of Tai Chi. Students spend countless hours trying to relax their shoulders, arm, face, breathing, etc. Therefore, the word "tension" is abhorred. The word "energized" used here is partly to avoid this stigma and partly to indicate that there is an active, transforming muscle tension for a specific purpose. The energy generated from this tension is called "jin" in Chinese. When an advanced practitioner plays the Form, there is a streak of active, transforming muscle tension circulating, zigzagging in an otherwise relaxed body giving rise to the sensation of stretching and energy flow."

Youtube video: Tension and Relaxation -Insight Into Small Circle (Frame) Tai Chi, Stephen Hwa, May 24, 2019, URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq6xubR83gI&t=500s

Text article:  Chapter 7, "Relaxing and Energizing", p. 89  

Uncovering The Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health Paperback – May 12, 2010

by Stephen Hwa (Author)

 URLhttps://www.amazon.com/Uncovering-Treasure-Classical-Internal-Energy/dp/1449917895/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=uncovering+the+treasure&qid=1593450066&sr=8-1 

Mind-Body Connection ("sticking") and Cognitive Load

There is "sticking to the opponent" (connection to the opponent) in Tai Chi but why is it so important for the mind "sticking" (mind-body connecting)  to the solo movements of the body? Hint...it's more than you think. Students think I am thoughtlessly relentless in keeping them on track, but there are reasons that you probably have missed. You know it is not easy but don't you wonder why Master Stephen Hwa says Tai Chi is so enjoyable? My student Jason tells me he has tried meditation but never been able to do it for more than 20 seconds because it’s too boring and his mind wanders to more interesting aspects of his life. 

Even as a very long time practitioner, I still, fortunately, experience what is called "Cognitive Load" and it is that which prevents my mind from flitting around here and there. I have to get full concentration but I have no Master Stephen Hwa to see if I am not moving precisely. So I have to have a "sticky" mind and think precisely about body movement, every little detail. This "stickiness" (mind-body connection)  keeps me from thinking about stress such as COVID 19, health, and/or family conflicts. This cognitive load prevents my mind from wandering. "Calming the body sends signals to the brain that complement the re-appraisal that comes from not being able to think about stressful aspects of life. Tai Chi lowers stress by regulating emotions as well as by diverting thoughts" 

There is a more advanced stage that still has a "connection" and cognitive load but for the most part, works subconsciously.  This is called the "Evolvement of Mind". Beginners struggle to engage the mind and body with no clear goal for their Form training.  "The goal is to make ALL movements internal originating from the body core. The eventual goal for Form training is that during form playing, all movements are internal and are fully integrated with the limbs to achieve "using internal movement to direct external motion". Internal energy will circulate in the body continuously without break. At this stage, the advanced practitioner should be able to play the Form without thinking, entirely subconscious.

Also, one should be able to integrate internal moves into everyday life, naturally, without effort.

The mind-body relation starting from the intense struggle and engagement of the beginner's stage progresses to total disengagement. The mind is now free to enjoy the pleasurable sensation of stretching and energy circulation in the body during Form practice as if the mind belongs to an independent observer. This last state of mind is indistinguishable from motion-induced Qi Gong exercises. This is when Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises become one."

References

Hwa, Stephen, May 12, 2012  Uncovering the Treasure, Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health

Thagard, P. 2020 Why does Tai Chi Feel Good Psychology Today

Huston, P., & McFarlane, B. (2016). Health benefits of tai chi: What is the evidence? Canadian Family Physician, 62(11), 881-890.

Wang, C., Bannuru, R., Ramel, J., Kupelnick, B., Scott, T., & Schmid, C. H. (2010). Tai Chi on psychological well-being: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med, 10, 23. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-23

Student concern over "perpendicular" vs. "leaning" in Tai Chi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jwlgN4cJoY&feature=youtu.be

Viewing the link above: There is concern among students  over "perpendicular" vs. "leaning" while doing Tai Chi. Concern because of its bare-bones reasoning of not being able to defend oneself while leaning. Analysis of this video shows the reaction force effect of remaining "perpendicular" while applying force vs. "leaning". On the other hand, the video also shows "perpendicular" can be used effectively with "fajin that uses internal discipline". Master Hwa is perpendicular with a tight compact stance in the photo yet it is Tom Kostusiak that lurches back and there is no reaction force on the 50 lb. lighter and smaller Stephen Hwa. He is perpendicular in the video when he does "Cai" and yanks Tom, using internal discipline then he is going into a moving lean with the "reaction force" as ordinary force kicks in.

Single Whip Intent mp4

Single Whip Intent mp4

Single whip is a wonderful example of "martial intent" and how to use it with "internal discipline".
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbMwpHKzC9U

Importance of Martial Arts Intent In Tai-Chi Form Practice

Importance of Martial Arts Intent In Tai-Chi Form Practice

Internal Exercise for Power and Vitality course https://ift.tt/2zZwPsZ Small Circle Tai Chi Form course part I https://ift.tt/36ZiCIr For more info https://ift.tt/36WwzHk
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZSbG5jkn6w

靠 (kào) Shoulder

"Kao", "shoulder or bump"

The left shoulder of Master Master Stephen Hwa  "offsets" the opponents' equilibrium, observation shows this."Shouldering" is 靠 (kào). The pronunciation is something like "cow."The meaning of 靠 (kào) in Tai Chi is to use your body to bump or press against something. "Shoulder" is used, but the word "Kao" actually does not mean "shoulder" specifically. It seems "old" as a word, perhaps traditional where "one word is used for many things* as Master Hwa has explained "The teacher forgot his keys and used "Kao" from his back to get into the office", unfortunately rendering the door useless, Master Hwa used "Kao" with his shoulder to bump his tall student Jim Roach. Master Stephen Hwa used Kao with his back to bump someone's chest that tried to get him in a bearhug from behind. Sifu Jim Roach was carrying a package and had to move a chair out of the way by using "Kao" to bump it with his derriere. Jack Eichel body checked the opponent into the "boards", and in Chinese, this would be called "Kao Not shown for Master Wu is only the beginning of and not how fluid a followup move to Part the Wild Horse’s Mane 野馬分鬃. Note the position of Master Wu's left knee as a "fulcrum". I did this application with classmates at Wu's Tai Chi Academy in Toronto quite a bit...very adaptable and efficient.

"They don't want to do the work"!

Core moves and hand pushes forward

A student’s son once asked: "Why aren't there more people in class"? I responded, "(for one "good/bad" reason or another)...because they do not want to do the work..." That is the nitty-gritty of what I'm about to say here and why I have seen so many students come and go in 40+ years. I started learning Tai Chi in 1976 and heard from the start that it was “internal”. 

What I got was teaching that “talked a good game about internal” and I always felt empty. It was only 28 years later that I encountered this level of sophistication in movement. Try this and like playing the piano, just move the ring finger up and down repetitively. Being honest, notice how the other fingers move "extraneously" even ever so slightly 

On a larger scale, this is the problem one faces with what happens when you learn 1/4 (upper quadrant of core/torso) as Master Hwa shows here. One part moves ok, but the other half of the upper quadrant "chimes" in extraneously and drains off the power of the part you want to move. 

Piano players face the “extraneous” movement conundrum constantly and have to do designed finger exercises to overcome it The same attention to detail, doing exactly as Master Hwa does here over and over and over, etc., is the way to practice ¼, ½ body movement and holds true for learning “internal” in Tai Chi.

An 按 and it syncs with Newton's 3rd law

An 按 video link

AN 按 (push downward) Jin! And to paraphrase my own teacher Master Stephen Hwa who said:  "Sir Isaac Newton can't be wrong", so what happens here in a different presentation? In a previous video from Youtube and also published on Facebook, Master Hwa talked about "Fajin 1 and 2" and in 1 he compares "ordinary force" and "fajin". In one of the videos, he has a student kicking at him and uses "TSAI" to pull with fajin. His backward "reaction force" is nullified, but then he is pulled forward with the "reaction force". The movement "AN" shown here is really a downward push movement of long duration and "stays" with the opponent (yours truly) longer. This is unlike many other fajin push movements that push opponents away and this "stays with". It is very useful in sparring exercises. This particular use of the "An" move is found in the Tai Chi form right after "cross hands" where you do half body turn, step 180, and "diagonal brush knee". The important point here is the initial force is fajin and this has an external followup move. The fajin has a "tenses and relaxes" action but no "return path. With no path for a return (reaction) force, then Master Hwa's body is not being affected. In other words his arms and body do not remain tense, the "tension" is very brief. The followup is external and shows a reaction force as Master Hwa's steps are pulled to the direction of where the opponent moves.

Classical Tai Chi and its link to "The Bee King of China"

"The Torso Method" (aka Internal Discipline)

There are some perennial but interesting mistakes made about Classical Tai Chi and other Tai Chi.  By the same token, my own teacher "Hua Jiping" (Stephen Hwa "Uncovering the Treasure") is confused with the author (The Tao of Taijiquan, Jou Tsung Hwa) This is because of a  Western penchant for not understanding how Chinese surnames are placed.

Actually, his name is Hua Jiping and written so in a book about his father Hua Yizhi "The Bee King of China".  From Amazon.com:  "Hua Yizhi (1893-1956) was a pioneer in Chinese modern agricultural development, the father of Chinese scientific Apiculture, and a dedicated educator, providing modern education to his home town. He was a renowned industrialist and a philanthropist of the Wuxi region" 

In an email to me from Master Hwa: "Jim: I know the confusion between "Jou" and "Hwa". Actually, I regret not meeting him. He is one of the few tai chi practitioners who is truly searching for the truth. Sometimes, he told his students " what I taught you last month, forget about it, it is not correct. let's do this way."

Stephen Hwa

I'm under the impression from speaking to Master Stephen Hwa, that he gets the question "are you related to Jou Tsung Hwa" quite a bit. He patiently explains that his surname is Hwa and therefore no relation to Jou (surname Jou). Actually, at a Rochester, NY World Tai Chi Day event (2005) while watching a demo of Hua Tuo's "5 animal frolics", Master Stephen Hwa told me that his family surname Hwa in original Chinese spelling is Hua. He also tells me that the family is related to a distant ancestor Hua Tuo who may be the first ancient Chinese surgeon.

Stephen Hwa mentions the "Dao of Taijiquan" published in 1989 in his own book "Uncovering the Treasure" published in 2010 and speaks of a couple of Jou's statements. In his book Hwa, (Stephen Hwa) makes reference to Jou, Tsung Hwa's statement that the "Torso Method" "The Torso Method" (aka Internal Discipline) he mentions in "The Tao of Taijiquan, p. A31" is none other than the "Internal Discipline" explained in loving detail in "Uncovering the Treasure, p. 1 and 2, that he teaches in Classical Taijiquan.

What happens internally with "tension and relaxation"?

Youtube video:

What happens with "tension and relaxation"internally?

So, what happens in the body when you do “Internal Movement” from the core with tension and relaxation (explained for Chinese and Western)?

Jim R. said: If you see Master Hwa's Youtube video in this post, there is less oxygen needed for relaxed muscles and hence the rate of breathing is slow. Since the heart is not required to be beating so fast to supply oxygen out to tense muscles, heart rate and blood pressure decline. Thus the normal blood flow will return to the belly and digestion resumes where the belly is calmed and also the hands and feet are warmed up. As a result, this series of body adaptations all occur and fall naturally into place as the voluntary muscles are being directed into a state of relaxation, and changes in mood will follow which makes the body feel calm and refreshed. A student of Master Hwa's said that she felt "heat" when she practiced but she said others faces turned red and perspired.

Master Hwa said:  “The Chinese way of explanation is that the abdomen is “Sea of Qi”. When one learns to connect one’s body so that Qi can flow without blockage during movements, Qi will fill every part of the body, Most obvious are fingers (hot and tingling). One will also feel hot and sweaty in the head. But, it should not be a flush red face, it should be a nice healthy color. Cardio exercise will result in a flush red face.”

Jim R: A Western explanation is that our internal movements are penetrating deep into the abdomen and the back, stimulating the function of the organs and promoting blood flow in those areas which result in the heat in the fingers, hot and sweaty in the head. Since most often, these movements are carried out slowly, the heartbeat does not increase significantly.

Video of "joint" (square) form

Video of "joint" (square) form

There would be injury to the knee if the person in this video only attempted to turn the foot. When one turns the lower body as shown in the video the turning is done from the CORE not from the leg, foot, etc. In the Tai Chi classics this is an adage of "hand follows foot, elbow follows knee, shoulder follows hip".  This video of my longtime student and a certified teacher Jason executing just the 1st 15 movements of the "Square" Form, sometimes referred to as "Joint" Form. Although there is incredible "articulation" of joints, it's real purpose is to teach students how attain a “delineation” and to move one part of the body while keeping the other still...a difficult task for beginners. Jason used my letter about his Tai Chi expertise to assist in gaining entrance to the D'Youville College Masters Degree Program. 3 years later he used Tai Chi and Heart rehabilitation as his Thesis for a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. He is now a practicing OT in Colorado Springs, CO. His movements are very good, but the amazing thing was he learned the entire footwork of the 108 movement Square form FIRST at my urging. With his good work, I hope my present-day students can now see the importance of why I teach them lots of footwork first.