Dialogue between External and Internal Martial Artists

By Andrea Placidi

This is an illustrative dialogue between an external martial artist and an internal martial arts teacher on relaxation-in-action (or wuwei as is explained in Ch. 16 of Way of Now).

External: The soft, slow movements of taijiquan have no martial value: this must be the impression of those who come from martial arts training but have never practiced taijiquan. 

Internal: Keep in mind: the movements of taijiquan can be practiced at breakneck speed, for example in the second routine of Chen family taijiquan; yet, most players only practice the slow forms of their taijiquan lineage. 

E: Is it that slow and soft movements are more useful in combat?

I: No. Speed is a matter of life and death in combat. 

E: Why would they practice so slowly then? Is it because if they can execute the movements slowly and with precision, they can also execute them very fast?

I: No. It would be silly if the only goal of a slow routine was to eventually execute it at breakneck speed.

E: What other goal is there?

I: Achieving relaxation.

E: I have heard this before. It sounds stupid. It’s not like you would want to be all chill and relaxed when facing a violent opponent; nor you’d want your plane pilot to be all easygoing and relaxed, cocktail in one hand, cloche in the other..

I: You have a point there, but not the one you are thinking about.

E: What do you mean?

I: It is true that more often than not when you tell somebody to relax the effect is exactly the opposite. Other times, the person will feel relaxed but their action will become less effective, like in the case of a plane pilot who is intoxicated.

E: What is the point then?

I: We need to agree on what relaxation means.

E: We all know what relaxation means.

I: That is why we need to define it.

E: How clever. How would you define it?

I: Not going against your own action. 

E: I don’t see how moving slowly should help you not going against your action.

I: It doesn’t.

E: I don’t follow. 

I: Moving slowly is necessary at the beginning to realize how you are always sabotaging even your own simplest actions, like shifting weight or raising your arms. 

E: What happens when you realize that you are going against your own action?

I: In the beginning, you notice the strain this puts on your muscles, joints, and nervous system, not to mention the mental suffering that these create.

E: Can you do something about it?

I: By noticing this, you can begin to let go of some of the unnecessary part of your action.

E: What happens then?

I: Your action acquires certain qualities, which derive from its being more optimal.

E: What are these qualities?

I: You already know.

E: I don’t.

I: Your movements become responsive, comfortable and effective. Just like those of a taijiquan player executing the routine.

E: I see what you are getting at. But going back to their martial value, these relaxed movements cannot be truly powerful, can they? 

I: Relaxation is the power.

E: I thought our viewpoints were going to be reconciled, but now you throw this oddball..

I: There was a great taijiquan master who was asked why none of his students had reached his high level.

E: And what did he have to say?

I: That his students never took him seriously when he told them that relaxation is power.

E: You bet they wouldn’t!

I: Do you remember the definition of relaxation I gave you?

E: Not going against your action.

I: You missed one of the aspects of that statement.

E: Which is..?

I: When you are not going against your action, then, by necessity, you are also doing 100% of what is needed for your action. Do you see now how power arises from relaxation?

The external martial artist puts some water to boil for tea.