Rod on May 9, 2015 wrote:The classics say that “to go left one must first move right and to move up one must first move down”.
This teaching can be looked at in a few different ways but today I’ll be talking about counter force, what it is, how to train it and what to watch for.
Counter force – a contrary or opposing force or tendency
When one first learns the very first form in Yang style tai chi (commencing the forms) the body will likely rise with the arms and fall with the arms. While this is intuitive, it is actually incorrect. One must initiate counter force to perform the movement correctly.
First of all, the arms should never move by themselves. The arms and hands are the last part of the chain so to speak and should only move due to the energy reaching them after the base has initiated a sequence of events.
In “commencing the forms” the base is drawn down into the earth followed by the torso. It is this drawing down of energy, base through torso that then allows the arms to float up. This is the counter force one should cultivate.
Example, if you want to push a car along a level road, you’ll have to push your feet against the ground in order to get it moving, that’s the same counter force as in “commencing the forms”. Push one way to get something moving in the other direction.
Now, when the arms are in the raised position, you should again push into the ground at the base and feel the head pulled up as if by a string. The counter force of this upward energy allows the arms to float down.
One can find this same energy in the majority of the forms.
Cultivating counter force is simple. All one has to do is pick a singular form (example – ward off) and perform that one form by itself. When training the form first concentrate on the downward/sinking feeling (base first then torso) and then just let the arm rise (float up) into position. I would also suggest changing the breath to an inhale as the arm rises. This strategy will really soften the form and allow the arm to float.
After 10 repetitions on each side, move on to another form.
Single whip is the best form with which to cultivate the counter forces of centripetal and centrifugal force. Centripetal force is the condensing spiraling energy that funnels a large potential down into a concentrated point. This is seen in nature everywhere from tornado’s to spiral galaxies. Centrifugal force is the expansion of the same condensed energy outward. In either case the amount of energy remains the same whether condensed or expressed.Once you start to cultivate counter force watch for its potential uses. Push hands practice will open up many opportunities to play with as will a negotiation or a conversation.
Keep training,