Longfei-Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Classic Corner - Spirit
Longfei News Letters - Volume 2, Issue 2

CALM, AGILITY, BREATH, INTERNAL FORCE
Having the above four, then you can return to concentrated spirit: if the spirit is concentrated, then it is uninterrupted, and the practice of ch'i (breath) returns to the shen (spirit).

The manifestation of ch'i moves with agility. When the spirit is concentrated, opening and closing occur appropriately, and the differentiation of substantial and insubstantial is clear. If the left is insubstantial, the right is substantial, and vice-versa. 

Insubstantial does not mean completely without strength. The manifestation of the ch'i must be agile. Substantial does not mean completely limited. The spirit must be completely concentrated. It is important to be completely in the mind (heart) and waist, and not outside.

Not being outside or separated, force is borrowed from the opponent and the ch'i is released from the spine. How can the ch'i discharge from the spine? It sinks downward from the two shoulders, gathers to the spine, and pours to the waist. 

This is chi' from up to down and is called "closed". From the waist the ch'i mobilises to the spine, spreads to the two arms and flows to the fingers. This is ch'i from down to up and is called "opened." Closed is gathering, and opened is discharging. When you know opening and closing then you know yin and yang. 

Reaching this level your skill will progress with the days and you can do as you wish.

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