Transforming the Body from Weakness to Strength
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
In Tai Chi or Wu Dao Gong, our training is designed to transform the
body from tension to relaxation, weakness to strength, lethargic to
energetic and uncoordinated to coordinated. We achieve this through a
process of static, semi-static and dynamic exercises that loosen,
stretch, strengthen, integrate and align the entire body. The initial
exercises are done slowly and deliberately to foster awareness of how
our bodies move. This helps us to avoid moving in a mechanical manner.
Some of the first advice we hear in Chinese health and martial arts is
to know yourself. This alludes to being aware of our strengths and
weaknesses. We first need to know how well or how poorly our bodies
move.
When we begin learning the Tai Chi form or any of the Wu Dao Gong
practices, we quickly realise how uncoordinated we are. Initially, we
can focus only on the whole movement, not the individual parts. It is
the strength, flexibility and awareness of each joint that allows us to
move in a coordinated flowing way. In our training, we concentrate more
on the body’s connective tissues rather than on the muscles. The reason
is that the connective tissues and joints are often weak. In order to
train them, we learn to gently relax the muscles that support them,
thereby allowing the connective tissues to be affected by the exercise.
Once the connective tissues become stronger, a more integrative
structural strength is developed, allowing the muscles to relax
and engage only when necessary. We continue to train the muscles but
in a more integrative way. Our aim is to build muscles that can change
from a relaxed state to an active state in a fraction of a second. The
muscles appear lithe and well defined rather than bulky and thick.
The twisting and rotating of joints in Tai Chi training is known as chan
si or silk reeling. This practice will gradually stretch and strengthen
the joints and connective tissues, thus greatly improving flexibility
and strength.
One of the keys in terms of producing power is full body coordination.
There are sayings in martial arts classics which refer to the ability to
coordinate the body as one unit. For example, “When one part of the
body moves, the whole body moves.” “The whole body is linked together
like a string of pearls.” “When we fa jin (issue explosive power), the
whole body must integrate so that even the hair on the head will stand
up.” Connecting and moving the whole body together can
generate enormous power. When training, you need to pay attention to
alignment. Correct posture and structure are fundamental to good health
and lay a strong foundation for the application of any self defence
techniques.
The main requirements for establishing correct alignment are spine
straight but not rigid, shoulders relaxed, sinking into the inguinal
groove in the hips, knees bent in line with the toes (not exceeding the
toes) and elbows pointing down. One of the principles of the Tai Chi
classics states that we should feel as if the crown of the head is
hanging from a thread and the whole body feels as if it is hanging
loosely from this point. This tells us not to use tension when
adjusting our posture. Changes need to be done gradually and over time.
Tai Chi principles and movements point to ways to increase our
awareness of the way we move. The analogy of the sculpture is often
used. Instead of adding to his block, the artist chips away until a
spirited shape is revealed. According to Lao Tzu, in pursuit of
material success, daily increase is needed. On the other hand, in
pursuit of Tao, daily decrease is required. We often think that more is
better. In Tai Chi, we refine our excess until we can express more with
less. Practice is the gradual chipping away of the dross to
reveal inner beauty – a way to transform weaknesses into strengths.
