TaiChi ABC Lesson1: Don't think. Feel

How to Enter the Tai Chi Hall of Fame

"Don't think. Feel." Bruce Lee’s famous words cut straight to the heart of Kung Fu. It’s not about overthinking—it’s about feeling. Kung Fu begins with sensation and grows through understanding. In internal martial arts, the focus is on the "heart," which guides feeling, rather than the "mind," which controls thinking.

Zhu Guangqian, a Chinese aesthete, once wrote, "'Feeling' is passive, allowing the world to move me." But for Kung Fu beginners, the feeling isn’t passive—it’s active. It means tuning in, focusing, and deliberately capturing sensations.

Imagine learning a new language. At first, listening requires intense effort, trying to make sense of unfamiliar sounds. But as you improve, it becomes natural—you don’t even think about it anymore. That’s how Kung Fu works, too. In the beginning, capturing sensations is deliberate. Over time, it becomes instinctive.

All forms of art involve capturing sensations. Actors tune into emotions, painters notice colours, and musicians hear melodies. Internal martial artists? They focus on internal energy—or Qi—as the starting point.

Understanding Qi

A student once asked their teacher, “How do you cultivate Qi in martial arts?”

The teacher replied, “Qi is always there. You’re born with it. Over time, though, people focus on physical strength and forget about Qi.”

“What does Qi feel like?”

“Words can’t fully explain it. Here, let me show you.” The teacher placed their palm against the student’s. “I relax my joints, release tension, focus my spirit, and let Qi flow. Can you feel it? Now it’s your turn—let me feel yours.”

The above was a snapshot of my first Tai Chi lesson. This exchange highlights the essence of learning Kung Fu. It’s not just about theory but about experience. A good teacher helps students feel Qi through direct interaction, imprinting that sensation on their minds. The student then practices, striving to replicate that feeling, while the teacher guides and corrects. It’s a process of trial and error until the student builds confidence and mastery.

Capturing Sensations

Learning to sense Qi is like tuning a radio to the right frequency. In the beginning, students notice only obvious signals—strong, physical sensations. With time and practice, they develop the sensitivity to perceive subtler flows of energy, like hidden currents in an ocean.

This ability to sense ‘Qi’ energy is called "listening." But it’s not about hearing with your ears—it’s about tuning into your Qi and feeling its interaction with the world around you. As Zhuangzi said, “Listen through the heart, not the ears. Listen through Qi, not the heart.”

This listening connects you to the universe. Qi becomes an extension of your nervous system, allowing you to sense your surroundings, your opponent’s movements, and even the rhythms of nature itself.

The Role of the Teacher

A good teacher doesn’t just show you techniques; they guide you to discover the essence of Kung Fu. Think of the movie Mr. Holland’s Opus, where a teacher helps a struggling clarinet student finally capture the feeling of music.  Mr. Holland delivers the following lines:

"You know what we’ve been doing wrong?

We’ve been playing the notes on the page.

…

There's a lot more to music…than notes on a page.

…

Because playing music…is supposed to be fun.

It's about... heart.

It's about feelings and... moving people…and something beautiful and being alive, and It's not about notes on a page!

I could teach you notes on a page….I can't teach you that other stuff."

Then he invites the student to pick up the instrument, and a captivating dialogue unfolds:

“Let me ask you a question.

What?

When you look in the mirror... what do you like best about yourself?

My hair.

Why?

Well, my father always says that it reminds him of a sunset.

Play the sunset.

Close your eyes. One, two, three, four...”

The music begins, and this time, the student finally captures the feeling. It’s no longer about technical perfection; it’s about experiencing and expressing the music.

Martial arts is no different. A true master helps students go beyond forms and techniques to find "that other stuff"—the feeling, the essence, the connection. As The Little Prince reminds us, "The truly important things are invisible to the eye."