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."

Tai Chi ABC Lesson 2: The First Experience of Qi

Kung Fu begins with sensation. For those fortunate enough to learn from a skilled teacher, the journey is often smoother. A master can guide you through hands-on practice, helping you directly experience Qi. With their guidance, your sensitivity to Qi sharpens, and your skills improve over time.

But what if you don’t have access to a master? Can you still discover the feeling of Qi on your own? Absolutely—you just need the right approach.

Starting the Fire

Think of lighting a barbecue. First, you pick a calm spot, away from strong winds. You ignite the most flammable material as kindling and surround it with charcoal, ensuring there’s enough space between the pieces for air to circulate. With this setup, a single match can light the entire grill.

Similarly, Qi is a natural force that exists within everyone. Just as we instinctively laugh at comedies or feel sadness during tragedies, we have an innate ability to sense Qi.

A renowned Chinese medicine practitioner once categorized people based on their natural sensitivity to Qi:

• Highly Sensitive (Type A): Feels Qi immediately.
• Sensitive (Type B): Feels Qi after a short time.
• Less Sensitive (Type C): Feels Qi after prolonged effort.
• Insensitive (Type D): Feels no Qi, regardless of effort.

To test your sensitivity:

1. Stretch out your left hand and relax it.
2. Form "sword fingers" with your right hand (two fingers extended, resembling a sword, Google the image).
3. Draw small circles with sword fingers about 10 cm (4 inches) above your left palm.

• If you feel something immediately, you’re Type A.
• If it takes some time, you’re Type B.
• If it takes a minute or more, you’re Type C.
• If you feel nothing, you’re Type D.

This test isn’t about excluding anyone. It simply helps set realistic expectations for your journey. While Types A and B may progress quickly, Types C and D can still succeed with more guidance. Sensitivity can also vary based on factors like mood and physical condition, so don’t be discouraged—every living person can learn to work with Qi.

Discovering Your Firestarter

The palm is one of the most sensitive areas for detecting Qi. This is your "firestarter." Your ideal practice setting is wherever and whenever you feel least disturbed—this is your "environment." Relax your muscles and joints, allowing them to "loosen up." This is akin to arranging charcoal for a fire.

When ready, hold your palms as if cradling an invisible ball, in a position that feels natural and comfortable. You can sit or stand—just don’t strain yourself. Quiet your mind, focus your spirit, and let your palms "listen" to each other, like two Bluetooth devices pairing.

Visualize a basketball between your palms. Feel its weight and presence. Then slowly transition to a same-size balloon, noticing how the sensation changes. Finally, let the balloon transform into a lighter big soap bubble, and observe the evolving sensation.

This exercise needn’t take long—3 to 5 minutes is sufficient for beginners. Afterward, save the above feeling in your memory.

The First Spark

If you feel something invisible filling the space between your palms—like a magnetic force pushing them apart—you’ve begun to sense Qi. Resist the urge to intensify this feeling by squeezing or pressing. Let it grow naturally. If it feels pleasant, let that comfort flow from one palm to the other.

When you sense the "bubble" between your palms expanding and contracting on its own, you’ve experienced the essence of "Song" (鬆)—the state of relaxed tensionlessness essential to Kung Fu. Save this feeling in your memory. This is your first "firestarter," the spark that can ignite your journey. Though small, this spark holds immense potential. As a Chinese poet once said:

"Where sunlight doesn’t reach,
Youth quietly blooms.
Moss, though tiny as a grain,
Learns to blossom like a peony."
— Yuan Mei, Moss (袁枚, ‘苔’)

Similarly, Qi arises naturally when you’re in the right state of "Song." The more relaxed and open your palms feel, the better your state. This transition—from basketball to soap bubble—follows this principle.

Moving Forward

This first experience is not theoretical knowledge but something felt and remembered. It’s like falling in love—you can only truly understand it when it happens to you. Without direct experience, even the most detailed Kung Fu texts remain lifeless words.

A skilled teacher accelerates this process by demonstrating the state of relaxed Qi for the student to feel directly. As my grandmaster once said, "I pass my comfort to the student." Through this experience, the student begins to grasp the concept of "Song."

Relaxation allows Qi to flow outward and merge with the surrounding space. Only when Qi manifests in this way can it be considered genuine Kung Fu "Song." This objective result forms the foundation for teaching, learning, and validating skills.

Even without a teacher, you can capture this feeling through the ball-holding exercise. As you practice, you’ll refine your ability to distinguish sensations: first the basketball, then the balloon, and finally the soap bubble. With time, you’ll move beyond feeling your palms to sensing Qi extending outward.

A Lifelong Journey

This first spark is the beginning of a never-ending journey of self-discovery and improvement. From here, every posture and movement—whether standing, walking, or practicing forms—should aim to express and replicate this feeling of "Song."

Gradually, this sense of relaxation will spread throughout your body: from your hands to your wrists, shoulders, legs, and beyond. With practice, you’ll feel your body’s parts "talking" to each other, all connected through Qi.

Your Kung Fu journey begins with this first spark. Take it step by step, and the path will unfold before you.