Principle #6 - Use Intent, Not Strength

When you practice Tai Chi Chuan, your whole body must be relaxed. There must not be even one ounce of strength in the sinews, bones, and blood vessels, or it will result in self-restriction. When you have achieved complete relaxation, you become more flexible and agile in your movements. You will be able to move freely and easily. Some people may wonder: “How can we develop power without using strength?” This is because our body possesses meridians, just as the earth possesses ditches and channels. If the channels are not blocked, water flows smoothly. Similarly, if the meridians are not blocked, Qi flows harmoniously. If the whole body is tense with strength, Qi and blood flow are blocked, and movements become sluggish, uncoordinated and awkward. Yi in Chinese can be translated as “will” or “intent”. It is said that where the Yi goes, the Qi will flow. If you use will/intent instead of strength, then you can easily direct the Qi with your mind. If you do this persistently, then you will develop true inner strength and your QI and blood will flow smoothly every day, throughout your body, without interruptions. Easy right? With a few decades of practice, I am sure you will succeed. The Tai Chi Chuan classics say, “When you are extremely soft, then you become extremely hard and powerful.” The arm of a Tai Chi Chuan expert is like iron wrapped in cotton and is extremely powerful and solid. External martial arts like Shaolin Kung Fu rely on superficial force, while Tai Chi cultivates true internal strength. For example, if you’ve been practicing Qigong or Tai Chi for a while, then if you bring a focused awareness to your index finger, you will naturally feel the Qi flowing there. That is the power of Yi. But if your muscles are tense, and more importantly, if your mind is tense, then the Qi will not flow. That’s what Tai Chi scholars mean by strength; Don’t muscle it. Relax, and then the Qi can flow.