In Tai Chi Chuan, there are many techniques, among which “Smooth Force” and “Touch Force” are important. “Smooth Force” is about experiencing the circulation of one’s own strength and mastering the formation of force circles in different body parts. This practice, traditionally referred to as “circle drawing” by the old masters, is essential for improving one’s Tai Chi skills and physical fitness. In Tai Chi, “Smooth Force” is a technique that aligns the body’s various parts. The power developed through this technique has unique meanings and content, differing from the usual ways of exerting force in daily life or work. Generally, innate force is called “natural strength,” while the force obtained through martial arts training is called “acquired strength” or “internal strength.” This acquired strength enhances the technical quality and various attributes of Tai Chi Chuan, making the body relaxed, supple, and coordinated.
“Smooth Force” is first experienced during form practice and stance training, using the mind to guide and harmonize spirit, mind, qi, and strength. This coordination balances the body’s upper and lower, left and right, front and back. For example, when both hands rise in “peng,” the body should have a downward intention, incorporating chest containment, back expansion, and sinking qi to the dantian. When pressing down with both hands, the body should have an upward intention, coordinating with shoulder relaxation, elbow sinking, head lifting, and sinking qi to the dantian. When pushing forward with the hands, the mingmen (life gate) should have a backward stretching intention. This duality of movement allows the practitioner to feel the internal force’s extension and balance, creating a state of support in all directions, achieving a balance between movement and stillness, and preventing physical ailments from improper posture.
Practicing “Smooth Force” can be divided into fixed-step and moving-step exercises, deepening the understanding and application of martial techniques. Fixed-step practice primarily involves the “Lazy Tying Coat” posture, with one leg forward and the other back, the left leg and hand in front, and the right hand level with the left elbow. The arms are relaxed and rounded, eyes looking forward, with steps neither too straight nor too angled. Using the shift of weight between the legs, along with waist rotation, the arms follow the legs to perform the eight techniques (peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao), exploring the formation of force circles and the body’s reactions. Moving-step practice follows the same principles, adding forward and backward steps to experience the five-element stepping and the eight techniques, seeking opportunities and advantages in every movement. Practitioners should adhere to the thirteen body methods, with the waist as the ruler, coordinating the hands’ opening and closing with the legs’ weight shifts, achieving a seamless integration of movement and stillness, hand and foot alignment, and controlled opening and closing.
“Touch Force” Practice
“Touch Force,” also known as “Listening Force,” is another crucial technique in Tai Chi Chuan training. Its essence lies not in using the ears to listen, but in using the skin to sense, practicing touch sensitivity. In Tai Chi tradition, “Touch Force” and “Listening Force” share the same meaning, but “Touch Force” is more accessible in everyday language. Practicing “Touch Force” involves training the body’s tactile response, exploring the sensitivity of the skin. Whether in activities like hoeing, learning to ride a bike, driving, or cooking, “Touch Force” is about mastering the nuances of each task through touch and feel, thus enhancing skill and proficiency.
In Tai Chi Chuan, “Touch Force” training is an ongoing process, fundamental to understanding internal strength. It involves using the principles of adhering, connecting, sticking, and following, yielding to and borrowing force from others. This practice helps to explore the transformations of yin and yang within the body, learning to lead the opponent into emptiness and borrowing their force to counter them. Tai Chi Chuan, being an internal martial art, uses small force to overcome large force and softness to conquer hardness, emphasizing skill and subtlety.
“Touch Force” training should start with mutual feeding of force, where partners exchange force to understand its speed, direction, and path, making corresponding responses. This practice can be experienced in both fixed-step and moving-step push hands, focusing on eliminating natural clumsiness and developing acquired sensitivity and internal strength. Mastery of “Touch Force” comes from continuous practice of “Smooth Force” and “Touch Force,” leading to a comprehensive understanding of one’s own and the opponent’s movements.
Tai Chi Chuan push hands is an intermediate stage for improving the skill of understanding force and transitioning to free sparring. However, the competitive nature of modern Tai Chi push hands matches often undermines the essence of Tai Chi Chuan. Many practitioners prioritize winning over adhering to Tai Chi principles, resulting in a deviation from the true spirit of Tai Chi push hands, which emphasizes yielding to strength, sticking without resistance, and following the opponent’s movement. Overcoming these issues requires a clear understanding and consistent practice of Tai Chi theory, form, and push hands techniques.
In conclusion, “Smooth Force” and “Touch Force” are essential for developing Tai Chi skills, achieving a state where one can control the opponent without being controlled. Mastery of these techniques leads to profound internal strength and the realization of Tai Chi’s depth and subtleties. As the saying goes, “Know yourself and know your opponent, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.”
