Lecture09/05 Practice Zhong Ping Wen Taichi Chuan is an art of correction

To say that Taichi Chuan is an art of correction, we mean to follow the principles of Taichi Chuan, to correct many of our habits which are in contrary with the principle of Taichi Chuan, e.g. no moving of the hands, roots at the feet, letting go the self to go with the others, the steps follow the body, etc.
It is not difficult to know the world, but correcting bad habits is difficult indeed. For example, the habits of smoking, drinking and gambling can only be corrected via great impacts and big determinations.
However, the correction of living habits of Taichi Chuan is even more difficult. This is because since birth, people have learnt and acquired many posterior habits which run contrary to the principles of Taichi Chuan. Hence, in order to achieve break-throughs in Taichi Chuan, enabling it to become an ultimate form of martial art, one must have confidence, determination, persistence, humility and patience (Famous quotation of Grandmaster Zheng Man Qing). In fact, the most important is not to have any doubts, doubts about the principles of Taichi Chuan.
In the practice of the Traditional Taichi Chuan, the major faults to be corrected are: The principle of every action, whether big or small, is a reversed action, opposite from the habitual actions of the ordinary people. Habitual actions of the ordinary people are kungfus of the normalcy, but actions of the Traditional Taichi Chuan are kungfus of the opposites, that is, for the physical body to move, it is mandatory that the foot-centre (Yong Quan) moves first, followed by the legs, the body….the forward and backward and maneuvering of the body.
Let me describe an experience of mine in the process of correction. In 1989, Shenlong organized an expedition to Master Wu’s house in Sydney, Australia. I saw the Master Fa Jin(throw off) to an Australian student. With just a touch of the Master, the Australian was thrown off the ground, it was beautiful and marvelous indeed! I also tried my luck. I held the hands of the Australian and twisted myself. The Australian did not budge at all. On the other hand, my hands sprained a bit. This was due to the fact that I did not really understand the Taichi Chuan’s principle of “Root at the foot, monitor at the waist, start off from the thigh and manifest at the hands” (Zhong Shixiong called one fellow shixiong out to demonstrate this). This is a living example of correction in the learning of Taichi Chuan. I hope that all of us will resolve to be meticulous and conscientious in our learning of Taichi Chuan so as to correct our faults continuously.