Returning to Center -- the Goal of Self-Defense and Life

finding your center philosophy self-defense tai chi balance wuji Aug 17, 2011

We were videotaping a lesson for the instructional website a few days ago -- basic principles of stepping in Hsing-I Chuan.

You begin in San Ti, and whatever you do next, your ultimate goal is to establish balance and return to San Ti.

You can attack, defend, take your opponent's ground (one of the primary objectives in Hsing-I), but as soon as possible, your mission is to return to San Ti.

The same is true in Tai Chi. An opponent attacks -- force comes in. You relax, adapt, neutralize the force, counter, all the while seeking to return to wuji - absolute balance, centered both physically and mentally.

Bagua is the same. As you change and adapt to multiple attackers, you try to maintain your center, capture and control the center of your attackers, but with each movement, your ultimate goal is to return to the centered dragon stance.

Wuji is a state of absolute balance -- of nothingness. From a martial perspective, it's a state of supreme awareness within relaxation. Once you begin moving, as you must do when an opponent attacks, everything separates into a state of imbalance, but like the yin and yang, circling and swirling and spinning and softness and power, the end goal is to return to wuji.

The internal arts and philosophies can be used in daily life, too. You might be having a pleasant day when someone does something unpleasant or mean-spirited to knock you off-balance. It usually isn't a physical act. Most often these days, it is a verbal or emotional attack, including at work or online.

I can tell you one thing for certain. My marriage would have a LOT more arguments if I did not make it a point to remain centered. It really can help you maintain a happy life.

The goal of a good centering philosophy is not to NEVER be put off-balance, but if you are, your goal is to return to balance, mentally and physically, as soon as possible.

Think about this the next time you practice self-defense, when you drive, when you are at work, or when you are online.

--by Ken Gullette

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Returning to Center -- the Goal of Self-Defense and Life

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