Cheng Manqing's words on Tai Chi

[ChangWuJi]

“ ...My discussion on fearlessness is intended only for those willing to exert effort. First: Do not fear bitter work If you do you will never progress....Second: Do not fear losing. The fundamental principle in taichi is:“Yield to follow others.”....Third: Do not fear ferocity...When you penetrate the basic principles of taichi you possess a spirit of great fearlessness.”

 

"In the chapter entitled “Swimming on Land” from my Thirteen Treatises, I spoke of envisioning the air we breath to be like water. Water can swirl and accumulate into a powerful force--its insubstantiality waxes into substantiality. Conversely, if we can imagine a powerful opponent as inconsequential as a puff of air, we can make his substantiality wane into insubstantiality.”

 

“ ...There are some ignorant individuals in the world who foolishly believe they can skim off the cream of taichi and apply it to other martial arts, but they merely lack the capacity for serious study. It takes total dedication and a commitment to taichi alone to ever approach the level where your sinews harmonize with your vessels or marrow hardens your bones. Such profundities cannot be penetrated by a casual approach to taichi.”

 

“ ...The human body has three layers of membranes-outside the muscles, outside the tendons, and outside the bones. These membranes act like an inner tube, and t'aichi strengthens these membranes so that they become impervious to blows.”

 

“ ...Carry your head atop your body with the same sensation as if your were suspended by your braided hair from the rafters above. If your head bobs and swings you may practice taichi fruitlessly for thirty years.”

 

“ ...I have distilled my forty years of teaching experience into twelve simple words: Swallow the heavens ch'i; tap the earths's strength; prolong life through softness. Each of these three principles has a specific body point to develop ch'i. Remember that ch'i is transported by blood, so that circulating your blood invigorates your ch'i”

 

“ ....T'ai Chi Ch'uan is consistent with both philosophy and science.”

 

“ ...The only true secret in taichi is the phrase:Your mind is the commander. Your mind moves the chi and chi transports your body through an initial impetus. Your hands and feet never move independently but wait until your waist clearly receives the mental command-then they follow the waist. So when we read that in taichi the hands should not move, this includes the feet. Also, remember to move as if every part is strung together on a single thread.”

 

“ ...To learn T'ai Chi Ch'uan, it is first necessary to learn to invest in loss.”

 

“ ....To invest in loss is to permit others to use force to attack while you don't use even the slightest force to defend yourself.”

 

“ ...Can taichi really be learned solely from a book, without any teacher? An excellent question! The ancients believed firmly in an oral tradition and the absolute necessity of personal instruction. So though taichi self-cultivation is an arduous task, success is certainly possible if your goal is health and vitality. If taichi's self-defense application interest you, however, you must take every opportunity to practice push-hands with others.”

 

“ ...The most important point in t'aichi is relax. Many people can't relax, and when they meet an opponent, they become tense. A single twist and pull, and they're finished; they've closed their door to learning and have stopped progressing.”

 

“ ...Taichi is the crystallization of mankind's most profound philosophical ideals. Its subtle and essential elements raise it above every martial art, and makes perfection more elusive than any beaux-art.”

 

“ ...How can you “use four ounces to deflect 1000 pounds”? It is accomplished by causing the weight at the opponent's center of gravity to be off balance. Then, even if you don't use four ounces to deflect him, he will topple anyway.”

 

Here is an interesting site dedicated to him:

 

http://www.chengmanching.com/index1.html

 

BTW Jiggy have you read "Chinese Boxing: Masters and methods" and what did you think of Smith's book? Smith also wrote a recent book called "Martial Musings : A Portrayal of Martial Arts in the 20th Century".

 

For him to personally try out many skilled martial artists and then to conclude that Cheng Manqing was the best of them is significant. Cheng Manqing was taught by Yang Cheng Fu, grandson of Yang Wu Di. During the War of Resistance, Cheng was invited by the British Counsel General to give demonstration of his martial art at a reception held in Chungking at the British Embassy. Attending the demonstration was a British military delegation, and two or three of the men accepted invitations to test themselves against Cheng. With but a raise of his arm and turn of his body, Cheng sent every opponent tumbling several feet away. Cheng later held a demonstration at a reception for American forces stationed in Chungking, with mutch the same results.

 

[ This Message was edited by: ChangWuJi on 2002-02-15 22:13 ]

[dtstiachi]

another great post ChangWuJi

[Shorin Ryuu]

I've read Cheng's Thirteen Treatises as well as the two Robert Smith books you mentioned. All were quite enjoyable reads.

I've also heard from another source saying in Hong Kong and Taiwan challenges, the Tai Chi masters would perform extremely well against other fighters.