Beyond root and load path

It has been a while since years ago I borrowed the concept from structure dynamic 'load path' to explain how Peng energy transfers pressure from contact point to earth. I believe most of our practitioners are able to master it in their form as well as push hand.

The situation is: you have governed the 'Yang', 'solid' energy. As I once did, your steps are solid, balanced and express energy through out with great sense of control.

Now, what's the next step? From this rooted load path, you drive your movement from feet up, express power through your finger, fist. At this stage, your movements, energy fluctuate in a very intensive way that flow through the form without effort. At this stage, opponent feels the spiral like power difficult to follow not to mention to counter.

Ok, your opponents are not very happy about it. They comment: that's not Taichi! The good Taichi is using opponent's energy; it should demonstrate elegancy rather than power.

They are partially correct. The achievement you have is a necessary intermediate step, not the stage great master demonstrated in their generation, not the one the story tells.

Let.s look at where you are now? You are at a stage that master Pan would say: .very good!.. He used to say: .Why yield? The silk reeling already redirect.. .Why listen, the opponent has already lost balance, you.ve already stepped through..

However, master Pan.s saying is to encourage us. Master Pan himself didn.t stop here. He move on to that stage with pure elegancy with all his energy embedded. He used to let me grasp his hand and move around while I feel not a single trace of resistance, though he is in perfectly connecting and ready to use my energy at any instance.

Therefore, if your opponent tells you: .That.s not Taichi., don.t be angry nor frustrated. You are on the right track, just not there yet.