20/06/2024
Think differently
Every art form/discipline originally has its own uniqueness. Taiji founders chose the internal principles of Tao as its underlying principles and philosophy. Thus, its uniqueness requires it practitioners to internalize the principles of this art before understanding the various ways it can be applied. This inner practice is not easy. It is counter intuitive to most approaches to other martial arts and requires mental fortitude , spiritual discipline, and physical rigger.
Taiji’s layered approach requires one to be non-attach momentarily to external outcomes in order to bypass the default cognitive processes i.e. the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight, freeze or freak) and train the parasympathetic system to relax and digest in the face of conflict. Yes! This is difficult. It means dropping one’s ego and the pre-programmed survival mechanism we have relied on to this point to survive. It also means letting go of our artificial perception of masculinity, strength, and power in particular to self-defense. This can be particularly difficult for men based on our social programming, physically, and privilege.
It has been my observation that many Taiji practitioners are looking outward, comparing their art to other marital arts not recognizing the jewel they possess. This narrow perspective is limiting the growth and the possibility of this art.
Therefore, it is true one cannot short circuit the work required to transform oneself in this or any other embodied liberatory art.
Taiji is a mental transformation. I believe Albert Einstein said and I paraphrase “One cannot expect to get different results while attempting to use the same old thought processes. That is an act of insanity.” To make breakthroughs in any discipline it requires thinking differently and letting go of preconceived expectations.
