On Jin

Fa Jin (Release of Energy)

Master Liu demonstrating fa jin. Fa Jinmeans issuing or dispatching (fa) of strength or energy (jin) in Chinese and is part of the (advanced) practice of tai chi. The people in the pictures include Ugur Osman and Andy Harris from Wu (Hao) Tai Chi Association UK.

8/11/2001

Jin is the result of combining hardness (bones) and softness (tendons and qi) accurately. It involves the loosening of muscles, sinking of qi, contracting of tendons, and the extension of bones–all at the same time, and at the moment when they can work together to

produce powerful force. As such, it requires a lot of techniques and responsiveness be able to control so many things so fast, and timing has to be very precise. Jin is an essential element of most internal martial arts.

Note that most internal martial arts focus on the training of tendons, as opposed to muscles. Even though tendons might be considered just a special form of muscles by medical professionals, they’re vastly different from muscles when it comes to internal martial arts trainings. Many high-level martial artists don’t appear to be very muscular due to their focus on tendons’ trainings.

 

Wu (Hao) Tai Chi Training Tips

Wu (Hao) Tai Chi Training Tips

These are selected excerpts from class lectures in loosely chronological order, as they are introduced to the main class. The chronological order matters because it shows how each requirement is introduced over time, after the student has learned previous ones, and how each requirement is refined and modified according to the learners’ progress.

On Single-move practice, etc.

On Single-move practice, etc. (3/24/2001):

  • Practice the first 3 moves of the 49 form when you don’t have time to practice the entire forms everyday, such as when traveling. This could be just as effective as practicing the whole 49 forms.
  • Practice the 49 form in times of 2, i.e., practice the 49 form for 2, 4, 6, etc., times each session.
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