Wisdom of the Striking Body

[Reviving Taiji's Chapter 2: Strike Things is here.]

Striking Things is natural.

I’m pounding away on this keyboard to say this to you: I’ve learned subtle strikes by typing. My typing grows more fluid and efficient through the years, more accuracy and more endurance are hallmarks of my proficiency. That’s how striking works.

When I first learned to strike things, I punched with a lot of tension. I had great desire to hit hard and to hit fast. But I had limited tools back then…tension, fists, and loud shouting…were the extent of my tools.

Retooling Strikes

Taiji brought new tools to my striking repertoire.  Many are obvious because they evolve out of form practice:

• Lots of palm strikes
• A couple of punching methods
• Some simple kicks

Two-person practices like Pushing-Hands and Da-Lu reveal more Taiji strikes, like elbow and shoulder strikes.

The principles of Great, Extreme Boxing reveal more…that the whole body (or every part of it) strikes.

Why We Dig Relaxing

Relaxing is a good start on the path of un-learning poor striking methods. It allows us to learn from our bodies rather than demanding the body learn unnatural motion.

Move naturally while striking. It’s easier, it’s more fun, and it opens up the body-mind to deeper kinds of learning.

Relaxing allows us to peek at transition moments in movement. Few movements are smooth. The slower we move, the more the choppy, staccato beat of movement becomes highlighted. And some spots are downright sticky. Those sticky spots, like right before lifting the foot for raise hands or play guitar, are keys.

Those points are where natural, structural tension rebounds into the next posture. And while the mind may remain soft, the body gets to revolve from opening to closing to opening again.

Explosive action hides right there, between poses.

Naturally, Striking Heals Old Wounds

Soft focus, vision that stretches to the periphery, points the way. When soft vision begins to be second nature, one begins to see all sorts of things. Pressure points become clear. Where another person holds tension becomes obvious. Flaccid, unstructured spots are revealed.

We make a shift.

Fighting becomes healing. Healing: a fight.

When engaging with friends (our pretend opponents) in fighting, strike those tense spots. There’s where he carries old wounds. Those are the places she needs to open up. Fighting can heal.

Healing is not easy. We must fight for it. Old wounds became scars, and those deep scars affect living. Breaking up scar tissues, old patterns, and terrible ideas is tough. It’s not a walk in the park…it’s work.

We must fight for it.

Come out and play

Chapter 2: Strike Things is here. It details some ways and means to get strikes happening heavy and natural.

Right now, Reviving Taiji is free. Please give it a whirl and let me know how it works for you.