Fa JinFa: a new English verb I just borrowed from the Chinese. To “Fa” means to release.
Jin: the amount of forces one can release.
Fa Jin means to release forces. The training to release Jin and its results differentiate Tai Chi from other styles of martial arts.
Now we possess and have developed the foundation of Tai Chi by holding the ball. This foundation is called Peng Jin. Having Peng Jin built-in, we can begin learning to Fa the different types of Jin.
We all know having more muscle power doesn’t necessarily mean having more working forces. Just like an engine needs a transmission to generate power, we are trying to develop a body mechanism to maximize our output of force.
First and foremost we need to clarify two common misunderstandings about Peng Jin.
The first is that most (if not all) books available will tell you that Tai Chi has eight kinds of Jin and five steps. The eight kinds being: Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou and Kao. This is actually incomplete and can be very misleading. Peng should not be categorized with the other 7 types of Jin. Peng is not a technique as the others are, but is the quality of the body that comes only with sufficient Zhuang Kung practice. Peng, being built-in, is always there and your opponent should always feel it in push-hands. When an opponent’s forces are applied, Peng Jin is what makes it possible to maintain a loose body and solid arms. Peng is not a type; rather it is the foundation for Jin.
The 2nd misunderstanding is that Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, and Kao are the Jins we study. It is true but not complete. In my opinion, they are a poor interpretation for they’re only some of the Fa Jin techniques. Peng is quality of our body. Lu, Ji, An, Cai and Lie are generalized methods of Fa Jin. Zhou and Kao are elbow and torso strikes respectively. Our ancestors did not tell us the detailed techniques and quality of these Jins; therefore knowing these are far from knowing Tai Chi Jin.
Peng is explained above & I’ll explain other seven here:
Lu Jin is the action of deflecting an incoming force by following its direction but adding a little circular sideway force. This is typical when your opponent is pushing straight toward you and you turn about 45 degrees to lead your opponent to move more than he/she planed or expected.
Ji Jin is to nudge with any part of our body. In many cases the unconscious body sloshing makes the best Ji Jin. (This unconscious sloshing is a distinctive feature of our built-in Peng Jin.)
An Jin is a downward Fa Jin.
Cai Jin is an action similar to that of using your wrist movement to pick a fruit from a tree. It is quick and crispy.
Lie Jin is a sideways Fa Jin.
*Zhou is elbow strike.
*Kao is torso strike, including the shoulder, chest, hip, etc either alone or combined.
*(Zhou & Kao are not considered Jin)
I don’t really understand why these eight things were grouped together by our ancestors. They should be in three categories. Peng being one, for it is the foundation for everything in Tai Chi. A second for the techniques of Fa Jin which include Lu, Jin, An, Cai and Lie. Lastly, a category for weapons which includes, but is not limited to Zhou and Kao. |
