Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Chen Xiaowang Says to Defend From All Directions -- What Does That Mean?

Chen Xiaowang put a student into a good posture, one of the positions in "Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar." When he put the student into the proper stance, Master Chen stepped back and said, "Now, he can defend from all directions." 

At the time, I wasn't sure what he meant. Now, I think I have a clearer idea.

360-Degree Dynamic Awareness. One of the things we cultivate in this martial art is a state of awareness. When Chen Xiaowang puts you into a standing posture, you aren't just doing qigong. He tells you to "listen behind you." This means to be aware of everything around you at all times. In daily life, this means taking your eyes off your cell phone and being present at all times -- walking across a parking lot at the store, driving in the car, or when you are in a potentially dangerous self-defense situation. And when you come in contact with an opponent, you are aware of his energy and where it is being directed.

Sensitivity and Responsiveness. Awareness then applies to your ability to "listen" and quickly understand where an opponent's force and intent are being directed. You develop an ability to quickly recognize a push, for example, and are able to respond instantly to neutralize the force and adapt, then counter. Sensitivity and responsiveness are often trained through exercises like Push Hands. In public, you remain aware of "intent." It doesn't mean being paranoid, just aware. 

Body Unity and Flow. "Defend from All Directions" implies that you don't block or deflect with an isolated limb. Your body should move in a connected, cohesive way, with peng jin, with taiji principles and body mechanics, ready to recognize, neutralize and counter energy (force) from any direction.

Strategic Positioning and Footwork. We learn to hold postures to build our structure, to develop muscle memory of correct structure. We learn Push Hands often in fixed stances to work on sensitivity (listening skills) and responsiveness. But in self-defense (and in advanced stages of Push Hands) you must constantly adjust your position and use footwork to adapt to an opponent's force and maintain your balance. Your goal is to maintain your mental and physical balance while your opponent loses his -- usually, you help him lose his physical balance so you can counter. And you can have solid structure when holding a stance, but that doesn't help a lot unless you can maintain it while moving. So practice moving with partners and build skill in positioning and footwork.

Maintain your Center. In achieving "song" in your Taiji, developing good structure and a relaxed state of readiness, you also work to calm the mind. When an opponent uses force, you are able to "hide" your dantien, your "center," so he doesn't find it to put you off-balance. At the same time, you maintain a calm mind ("center" yourself), seeing a self-defense event as it happens without judgment and without panic, and doing what you have to do to recognize and adapt the force, neutralize it, and put your opponent off-balance (lose his center) so you can counter. Remaining calm in your mind and body is a key goal. It doesn't mean "soft." It means relaxed and ready for action. There is nothing soft about good Taijiquan. Part of remaining centered is to be aware of everything around you, so you can see how all these principles tie together. Then be the eye in the center of the storm.

When Chen Xiaowang says a Taiji person should be able to "defend in all directions," I believe he is pointing to our goal of total-body integration and 360-degree awareness -- to be able to recognize and change to adapt to force and remain balanced, both mentally and physically, and maintain our structure as we move and respond to an opponent's action without using brute, tense muscular force. 

You become like a sphere. No matter where you are touched, you can recognize and respond instantly, maintain your structure, and move with balance and power, like a beach ball you jump on in a swimming pool. The ball gives a bit, maintains its structure, then spins you into the water, and there is nothing you can do about it. 

It's a worthy goal that takes time to achieve. And that's why we practice.

-- by Ken Gullette

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