In my last posting we covered the important concept of mental flexibility in tai chi, and in life. Today I’d like to talk about how the concept of “aggressive non-aggression” applies to tai chi and to life. This term may sound like a oxymoron. I assure you it’s not. Allow me to explain.
The aim of tai chi is to learn to listen to your opponents energy while remaining mentally and physically open and flexible. If you’ve ever worked to attain a state of heightened awareness, awareness that allows you to respond without preconception, you’ll get this right away.
Our minds are incredible machines. They can respond to stimuli before we are even consciously aware of it. If you’re able to cultivate this ability you’ll find you can actually become consciously aware of the process. When this happens, the World appears to move in slow motion. Highly accomplished martial artists have cultivated this state of mind to astounding degrees.
In tai chi I think of this receptive state of mind as being truly non-aggressive. You are simply waiting for your opponent to act. When they do, you immediately respond in kind, turning their aggression back on them. To the majority of opponents it will appear that you can read their minds. What you’re doing is feeling their attack as it is initiated and then moving before they’re able to. This is aggressive non-aggression.
You sometimes see people who appear to make all the right moves. I believe what is happening most of the time is that they are taking action and responding to their environments as conditions change. They make as many mistakes as anyone else, but they are extremely quick to fix them or to alter course. This is very different from constantly second guessing every decision; it’s looking for feedback and responding to it. These people appear to have an almost magical ability to read the future.
When you believe you’re ready, try taking another page from the tai chi playbook and cultivate a heightened state of awareness in your life. You’ll find you won’t have as much time to get upset over the little stuff because you’re too busy looking for another way to “get it done”. I’m still working on both of these traits, but as I get glimpses of them I’m finding this easier and easier to do. The real trick for me has been to maintain the focus.
Your thoughts?
John
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Sheldon (75 comments)
766 days ago
I must admit I have only experienced this effect a few times before, once when I was a kid and the hay bail stack that I was sitting on toppled over a barbed-wire fence, the world slowed down and there was heaps of time to plan an escape.
Second was in a Kung fu Grading, and Third was in a tournament, and I landed a good back kick that sent the guy flying.
But I did not know it could be cultivated.
John Crewdson (479 comments)
765 days ago
Sheldon,
I believe the way to cultivate it is to practice, practice, practice until it happens, as it did with you during grading and in the tournament. People will sometimes experience this during a car accident. I don’t know if this can then be turned on and off at will but I think anything is possible.
John
Sheldon (75 comments)
765 days ago
Cool John,
That I can do… Sifu Morgan now has me training for over 2 hours a day on my own, as my time here in Melbourne draws to an end, he has a few things he wants to teach me before I go, so we’ve stepped it up somewhat.
Sheld
John Crewdson (479 comments)
764 days ago
Sheldon,
Sounds exciting. Enjoy and the best of luck. Where are you headed now?
John
Sheldon (75 comments)
764 days ago
Probably back to Sydney for work… Oh my legs are so tired at the moment, I know it’s a short term bitter vs sweet thing, so in a week or so I’ll either wind the training back a touch, or my muscles will adjust to the new regime.
John Crewdson (479 comments)
762 days ago