Echoes Of Taijiquan

 "One must distinguish the teacher from the taught. ...And the fact that some of Zheng's students do postures one way does not mean Zheng taught them that way. Isn't it just possible that Zheng's teachings involved no changes, but instead simply reflects that he was superb at not changing Yang's system, teaching it as he had learned it? Zheng stressed accuracy first and last. When he learned the rudiments under Yang, he had to master each posture before moving to the next, there was no breezy form class followed by a corrections class. With time, his own form became less energetic and more internalized - compare his 1960 Taiwan film with his 1973 film - but his teaching remained pretty much the same." 'Zheng Manqing and Taijiquan: A Clarification of Role' by Robert W. Smith, Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Vol. 4 No. 1 (1995). [Image: Cheng Man-ching]

 “Coming from the judo experience, I was prepared to sweat and exert till mastery came. But it does not come thus in T’ai-chi, Cheng said; it comes by “quiet minding” while “investing in loss.” And it comes with time.” Robert W. Smith ‘Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods’, p.30 [Image: Robert W. Smith and Benjamin Pangjeng Lo from 'Da Lu and Some Tigers' in Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Vol. 6 No. 2 (1997)]

 “The waist is the foundation of all bodily movement. It is the big axis from which all T’ai-chi movements derive their celerity, crispness, and power. Only in the flexibility of the waist is there true strength. To fight with arms or legs independently of the waist is the mark of the perpetual beginner.” Robert W. Smith ‘Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods’, p.27

 "...it is that the surest test of the efficacy of any of the many systems of T'ai-chi practised today is simply to examine the postures from the standpoint of use: if they cannot be related to practical application, the system is clearly incorrect.” Cheng Man-ch’ing & Robert W. Smith ‘T’ai-chi: The “supreme ultimate” exercise for health, sport, and self-defense’ p.90

 “When the body is emptied of force - that is, when all the muscles are relaxed - a 'tenacious strength' will develop from the foot. This tenacious strength is different from force in that it has a root, whereas force does not. In action, tenacity may be likened to a strong vine which is pliable, and force to a stick which is rigid. Tenacity is alive, force is inert.” Cheng Man-ch’ing & Robert W. Smith ‘T’ai-chi: The “supreme ultimate” exercise for health, sport, and self-defense’

 “The motto for T'ai-chi practice must be “investment in loss.” It is what Confucius meant by k’e chi - to subdue the self. How is this manifested in mundane affairs? It means to yield to others, thus quashing obstinacy, egotism, and selfishness.” Cheng Man-ch’ing & Robert W. Smith ‘T’ai-chi: The “supreme ultimate” exercise for health, sport, and self-defense” p.2