Notes on Springs- Energy Storage and Release in Chen Tai chi

A lesson with Paul Chou, recorded by Scott Hunter

The basic theory on energy storage and release is found in Chung Chi - Springs.

0. Posture

Before exploring the phenomenon of energy storage and release (springs) in Chen Tai Chi, It is appropriate to have a beginning handle on body alignment. Energy storage and release requires good alignment and if your attention is needed to achieve the alignment, there is less attention available for the springs. This good alignment is described in the basics and in the classes on the old form.

The following discussion only comes alive when there is personal experience. The exercises described below are offered to facilitate our experience. Doing the exercises is truly part of the conversation.

1. Chi and Muscle Tension

The first principle is that chi fills the body in balance to the tension and opposite the tensed area.

Exercise.

• Gently push the side of your head with the same side hand. Feel the tension on that side. Also feel the chi filling the opposite side of the neck and head.
• Similarly press your forehead. Feel the tension on the front of the neck and simultaneously feel the buoyant energy filling the back of the neck and head.
• Feel how the chi adjusts immediately, increasing as you press harder and adjusting to diminished pressure.

2. Leg Spring

A particularly important instance of this is the development of the leg spring or bow. Literally and actually it is the physical foundation for the power generated in the movements.

Exercise.

• (Horse stance) Stand feet parallel, shoulder width or a little wider apart. It is important to have toes pointing straight ahead. Even if you normally walk like a duck (as I tend to), rotate your feet and so that the toes are as close to straight forward as you can without strain and that the knees are aligned and over the toes.
• Bend the knees and lower the center of gravity while maintaining the open space between the legs. Play with feeling the knees pressing outward.
• Shift the weight from side to side and feel the stability and elastic springiness in the legs.
• Feel the chi on the inside of the legs coming up through the torso. What is it's quality or character? It may feel like a column of energy. Feel the feet on the floor.
• Feel the contact distributed between the heel and the full width of the ball of the foot.
• You may also wish to explore this open stable posture using the first circular exercise with a slight sense of the knee pressing out during the transitions. . Check alignment of toes and knees

Paul said that this stable open position of the legs is fundamental to proper posture and should be discovered in every position throughout the form. He also indicated that it would help the continued knee soreness I have experienced when doing a lot of tai chi.

Certainly there is an immediate change in the quality of movement when paying attention in this way while doing the old form. The legs and knees feel more comfortable and solid. The shadowy sense of the legs collapsing inward is gone. Lateral movement is available immediately.

3. Leg Spring -Energy Storage and Release

In point 2 above, we see how activating the leg spring increases the stiffness and stability of the configuration. This is true for slow or static movement. The full effect of the activating the leg spring is felt when the speed of the movement matches the 'bounce ' of the leg spring.

Exercise.

• Take the horse stance as above in point 2. For this exercise let the torso and arms be held closely, like one block. Increase the amplitude and speed of the weight shifting from side to side.
• Feel the bounce back produced by the stiff spring at the outside of the leg. The chi at the insides of the legs and the body column feels alive and quick.
• Try moving forward or back as you move from side to side.
• Feel the activation and release of the energy in the leg spring.

4. Torso Alive, not Rigid.

The torso can also act as a spring, storing and releasing energy both in bending and also in twisting.

Exercise.

• Repeat the above exercise and place awareness in the torso. Feel it alive and able to bend with its own weight as the leg spring loads up and release as the leg spring releases and the weight shifts to the other side.
• Take a wide stance, feel Peng energy in the arms and upper body. Play with the stiffness of the torso. See how the upper body lags when the torso is soft and the sense of rotational springiness with increasing stiffness.
• Feel the lack of aliveness when the torso is fixed in alignment with the hips. Return to the sense of aliveness in the torso and vary the stiffness and see how there is a level of stiffness that seems to magnify the movement of the hip rotation. A level that transmits or propagates the hip movement to the upper body with increased energy.
• See how the size of the circle formed by the arms and upper body changes, how the torso spring works.

5. Integrating into the Form

These awareness exercises allow us to make discoveries about the body. Incorporating these discoveries into our tai chi practice deepens our practice and allows us to integrate these discoveries into all our movement, and into our life.

Exercise

• Do the form as if the upper body is not yours. As if the upper body, while filled with Peng energy, has no separate activity or movement but simply transmits and amplifies the movement of the lower body. See Also Article Peng Jing.

6. Testing by the Teacher

It is a great gift when the teacher can transmit his understanding of these principles by touch. Gentle pressure on the hip or arm, shoulder, hand or knee can clarify the activation and release of the spring, the presence of unnoticed rigidity or lack of tone and the effectiveness or lack of it in the integrated movement. Even periodic personal contact through seminars, workshops or retreats can help greatly in this regard. It can also help to have a friend provide the pressure. You can show them what you need and they can copy or imitate your action.