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Summary: Cheng Hsin Lite
Comment: And I mean that in a nice way. Ron Sieh studied with Peter Ralston about the time Ralston won the world championship in China. Ralston later put his teachings together in this book: Cheng Hsin: Principles of Effortless Power. Ron's book seems to be written at about the point where he has made Ralston's teachings fully practical -- which is good but has the unfortunate effect of not offering much beyond Ralston's teaching. You could do well to pick this one up, see if you are interested, and then go the whole hog on Ralston's book. Or you could just enjoy this one. As persons, I prefer Ron anyway. But then a world championship has to do _something_ to your ego, right?
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Summary: Bounce or Uprooting
Comment: Bouncing or uprooting the person is not mystical. First, relax and create a feeling of sinking into the earth. Connectedness with the earth is the fundamental principle to the bounce. The feet are integrated with the earth. Gravity is pulling body mass towards the earth. The legs and feet are supporting the body from falling. The knees are slightly bent and have a rubbery characteristic. External force is perceived and directed from the center through the legs, to the feet; and a counter-force is generated. Just like a bumper car hitting the edge of the pit, the reflected force is compressed by the legs and reflected back through the body into the opponent. So minimal external force is amplified and reflected back into the opponent with maximum effects. The hands or body propel the opponent back as the reflected force exceeds the force of gravity holding the opponent down. The hands or upper body are the transmitted force generated from the legs
and center.Think about walking. Each step is a balance between falling to the earth and a counter force pushing back. A connectedness exists between the minds timing perception which connects with the earth and generates an counter force pushing the body back up. Likewise, as an external force is approaching, a connectedness needs to be perceived relating time to impact and the counter force necessary to bounce the opponent away. The external force compesses the your body downward to the earth. A certain degree of compression is realized and expansion series initiates at will cause the counter force. Expansion generates a greater force greater than the force of gravity holding the person down causing causing a bounce or uprooting. The degree of bounce or
uprooting depends on the intent and degree of expansion.
The discovering the center-line means finding the opponents body location where yielding becomes difficult. The body pivots around the center. Double weightedness means pushing too hard, at a miscalculated center and losing one's own center of balance. If one pushes against a door thinking that it is rigid but instead it swings free open; the over extension will cause him to fall. This is called double weightedness and is bad. The test of double weightedness is the objective of pushing hands. If the body is soft and yielding to external force the center can not be discovered. However, any points of rigidness or resistence can be compressed and the opponent's center of balance exploited causing him to step back or jump back to absorb the incoming counter-force.
Focusing on feeling increases awareness. Remove the ego of looking good and start thinking about the moment. Surrendering and yielding to the opponents movements allows you to blend with them. Blending is the key to find their center. Blending can lead to a bounce or a yield, control, and neutralization. Blending can start at formation of intent by your opponent. A punch, kick, tackle can be sense before it starts. It more important to feel what the person will do and blend with that feeling. Feeling is more important than seeing. With experience fighters the feeling is very stubtle. Connectedness with your body, the earth, and the opponent is the key. Remove the ego of superior strength, credentials, pride, and prestige immediately proceeding listening to feelings. Concentrate on the sensation in the body: breathing, integration with the earth, confidence, integrated energy, and feeling the other persons energy.
Relaxation increases the ability to connect with the earth. Relaxation reduces the number of mistakes in technique. Relaxation keeps the body soft and prevents the centerline from being
discovered. Test this principle by having a person push forward gently on your shoulders, swing
your body with the force. Alternate between left and right parts of the body. Repeat the push on the left and right hips also. Relaxation is the key to not getting bounced during pushing hands.
Focus on the purpose of the technique. Executing a technique without understanding the intent will result in failure even if it looks perfect. Technique changes as the understanding of the purpose changes.
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Summary: Insights into the nature of Tai Chi practice
Comment: Ron Sieh delivers some very strong insights into the mental nature of the internal boxing arts. He wants to make it clear that the relationships and emotional states inherent in conflict are of the utmost importance. He asks one to reflect on the direct sensations of being alive and aware, recognizing that direct awareness is the source of speed and efficiency in boxing. Without obscuring his advice with extraneous lecture, Ron insists that a boxer dig deep and study hard to earn the high level of body awareness that we seek to achieve, and thus fulfill all the potential inherent in the subtle boxing arts. An excellent primer.
