Yielding Exercise

John Kells introduced a great exercise to help us work on yielding and making a hole for the incoming energy.

We had to stand in a bow and arrow stance with one arm held up in ward off and a pole resting gently on it which was held by another person.

That person would then slowly advance the pole towards your centre. In response we had to yield to the advancing pole and create space without forcing the pole away.

This is easier said than done as the natural inclination is to force the pole aside. This was a great training exercise to work on the attributes of yielding, acceptance,no force and creating a hole.

The Truth

Truth in our Tai Chi can't be comprehended through intellectual efforts or pretensions.

Direct experience in the shape of a fist in your fist is Truth.

Wake up!

When Yielding..........

lay your energy alongside the incoming force so that you are not in opposition.

This puts you in a position to return the energy.

This principle is clearly demonstrated in Tenkan in Aikido.

Yiquan 9

Here is Poem 9, reproduced as before with permission of Heron Beecham

With the body relaxed, the muscles feel as if they have been suspended from a cloud;

Each and every hair on the body seems to sway at ease in the warmth of the wind.

 

Wipe your eyes and take a good look silently at your surroundings.

Concentrate the spirit, feel and detect all movements coming from the opponent.

 

The dragon plays with flying waves as they move up and down in the blue sea;

A violet hare calls to the moon as it emerges from behind the flowing clouds.

 

Infinite expressions are used to express the mood of boundlessness:

Quite possibly a magic teapot standing on a base comprised of six tortoises