by Paul Chou

Peng is a tensigrity, as Master Pan put, like an umbrella. Tensigrity is a structure make by sticks, act as compression members, and cables that act as tension members. So if you hold an opened umbrella at your hand still, then any push against the surface of it will be transfer to your holding hands.

The frame of the umbrella that transfer force to your hands is Peng. While your hands that hold the umbrella still is the root. Using this umbrella, hands example, we symbolize the function of root and Peng. The capability of space occupying in a fighting is the key point for a success fighter.

However, how strong you can make the backbone of an umbrella? How strong you can built your root that holding it? Different MA develops different model and training method to improve those two issues.

1/ One branch in MA develop their speed and body kinetic while using their body mass as the foundation of power issuing. And the key is to break the opponent.s strong holding.

2/ while the other branch focus to the fully utilizing of their natural resources. By developing their structural integrity (Peng) to strength holding capacity and align their movement with intention so that the integrity is maintained through out the whole session. They use earth as their mass base and issue themselves with this mass stand behind them.

To the second approach there are both external and internal MA. They apply the theory to certain degree, and they choose the best fit for their interesting scenario. That is saying, they have both developed Peng and rooting to different degree. The only difference is how they use their root and Peng to gain advantage in fighting.

Taichi has its unique way of manipulate its Peng and utilize it.s root. That differentiates itself from all the other art. Remember the classic lyrics:
1/ follow the other then you will have yourself, though you have yourself you still choose to follow.
2/ attract him in, lost his focus and lead him to lose his balance.
3/ use his own energy to fight him.
4/ Only you can perform the 1st, you can demonstrate the 2nd. Only after the 1st and 2nd being achieved you can use his energy to fight against him.

So, with a slight touch in each contact point, by following the opponent.s movement, his pressure can not affect you. Your joint are free to rotate, your muscle are free to reconfigure your body in fast movement. There are two must conditions for the above implementation, the Peng and Rooting. So in 1st note: .you can have yourself,. means you can maintain your own Peng and Rooting.

This constantly existent of this Peng and rooting draws the desire and intention of the opponent. Like playing Chess, you trap him into a difficult position. His strong axis is now targeting nothing, while his weak axis have your waiting. At this moment, use your Peng and rooting, slightly contact his weak point, (Gape of Peng), still use silk reeling, step in and occupy the position. Your joints are fully twist so the rigidity is extreme. Your mass velocity is operating to the extreme speed and drill into that point (because you don.t need to fight against his resistance, No. 1 note). His whole nature power will activate by his reflex system. Against your momentum and fully rigid structure frame, his energy bounce back with your entire kinetic input. The No. 3 note can be achieved.

This is the Taichi practitioner's way of manipulate their Peng and Root. Is it an art? Does it have a limit in improving yourself? Do you need to be extremely strong and big to use it?