“Someone said that one still must use force in Taichi. Is this true?”
“The Classics said, “When the really soft reaches its limit it becomes really strong.” Taichi strength arises internally and is based on suppleness and relaxation. The more you practice the supple, the more quickly you will gain internal strength. If you still have tension someplace it will prevent the accumulation of internal strength. When you relax, your arms will sink easily and become heavy; otherwise, they will float. (…) Those people who say you must use force usually have excess strength or practice with a hard style and won’t give it up. They can’t believe that at the limit of suppleness lies a different quality of strength. Such people never obtain the essence of Taichi.”
Aus: Tai Chi Ch’uan Ta Wen – Questions and Answers on Tai Chi Ch’uan von Chen Wei-Ming. Dieses kleine Buch kann ich allen Tai Chi-Praktizierenden wärmstens empfehlen. Es vermittelt auf relativ leicht verständliche Weise die grundlegenden Prinzipien des Tai Chi. Leider ist es zur Zeit nur sehr schwierig zu bekommen. Doch die Suche nach dieser Perle der Tai Chi Theorie lohnt sich.