Authored by Zhang Yaozhong (张耀忠) Translated by Joshua Hehr
Time flies like an arrow, the sun and moon like a shuttle. It has been three years since my revered teacher passed away. At this moment, my heart is filled with endless emotions.
My teacher was a martial artist renowned throughout the world, an authority on Taijiquan, and also our good teacher and helpful friend.
The various methods my teacher taught me during his lifetime have benefited me for life. Words cannot express my gratitude for my teacher's kindness.
I once made a vow before my teacher's portrait: one heart in life and death, promoting Taijiquan. I will compile into books all the various methods my teacher taught me and the precious materials he left behind. To promote my teacher's martial arts philosophy, I will spare no effort.
There are many people speaking today, and time is limited, so I will only discuss one experience from practicing the form.
What I want to talk about is the wonderful secrets of the Taijiquan preparatory posture.
The preparatory posture, although not counted among the thirty-seven postures, has extremely important methodology. It is the Central Equilibrium skill among the Thirteen Postures of Taijiquan.
My teacher said: Among the Thirteen Postures of Taijiquan, Central Equilibrium is primary, and the other twelve postures are secondary. With Central Equilibrium comes everything; with Central Equilibrium comes transformation.
So how can one achieve Central Equilibrium? Whenever we perform the preparatory posture, after entering stillness and relaxation, there will be a swaying sensation as if standing at the bow of a boat. My teacher told us: first think of the mingmen (Gate of Life point), then think of the navel, repeat three times and the swaying stops, the body's center of gravity becomes stable—this is Central Equilibrium. This clearly reveals that visualizing the mingmen and navel is the secret to maintaining balance. When we practice the form and push hands, we all need to maintain our own balance. This is the skill of dynamic balance, which is Central Equilibrium skill.
Based on my teacher's guidance, when I practice the form, whenever I encounter a sitting stance, I visualize the mingmen point (silently reciting two phrases); whenever I encounter a bow stance, I visualize the navel (silently reciting two phrases); whenever I encounter kicking or stomping movements, when my fists cross I think of mingmen; when my palms separate I think of the navel, as if my hands at one moment grow from the mingmen, at another moment grow from the navel, sometimes combining with mingmen, sometimes combining with the navel—in any case, it feels particularly powerful.
Wang Zongyue said in the Song of the Thirteen Postures of Taijiquan: "In every posture preserve the heart and contemplate the use of intention, achieving this without feeling it costs effort." My teacher said: Every movement of Taijiquan has intention within it, so when practicing the form in daily training, one must pay attention to intention, using intention everywhere and not using force. Without intention, it does not become Taijiquan. The so-called intention is the mental method. When I practice the form using the mental method my teacher taught of visualizing mingmen and navel, I feel everything responding perfectly, following my heart's desires, delighting in it, with endless joy.
When I push hands with others, as soon as I make contact I think of mingmen and navel—neutralize then strike, request then release. It works very well. This mental method our teacher taught us is enough to serve us for a lifetime.
This mental method of visualizing mingmen and navel is called "fetal breathing method" in Daoist practices; Laozi called it "bellows." In plain language, it means working the bellows, also called pulling and swaying.
When the mingmen and navel move back and forth, the heavenly gate and earthly door are also moving, the six spheres of the human body are also moving, laogong and yongquan points are also moving, the eight extraordinary meridians are all moving—inside the human body it is like overturning rivers and stirring seas, surging unceasingly. The various channels within the body open up accordingly, and the health-promoting effects go without saying. The method is simple, the effects are tremendous. Health cultivation and combat skill—killing two birds with one stone.
I will certainly carry on my teacher's instructions and promote Taijiquan to benefit all humanity!
Appended: Three Song Verses for the Preparatory Posture: (1) The preparatory posture begins all affairs, the whole body inside and out relaxes the muscles. The four limbs and spinal joints open, pores expand to let qi pass through. (2) Two feet together pressing yinling, tailbone and nose tip come to align. Two eyes gaze level into the distance, the whole body comfortable and heart delighted. (3) The preparatory posture has no movement, the Three Powers Standing Post skill is indispensable. Intention guards zhongji with an unmoved heart, a calm mind can subdue external enemies. September 1, 2007