| Tai Chi is a martial art that uses unique principles | | | | find yourself being attacked emotionally, verbally, |
| of movement to generate power for | | | | or even through nasty emails. |
| self-defense. If you watch a martial artist | | | | Most of the time, when someone says something |
| practicing karate or taekwondo, their movements | | | | insulting or rude to you, it's a form of control. |
| will be very tense and muscular. They tend to | | | | They want to push your buttons and get a |
| scream a lot. These are called "external" arts. | | | | reaction. They want to control your behavior. |
| Watch someone practicing tai chi, however, and | | | | Try leading their comments into emptiness and |
| you'll see someone moving softly, gracefully, with | | | | see what happens. Try to remain "balanced," |
| occasional bursts of speed and power. They | | | | mentally and physically, and don't respond to the |
| rarely, if ever, scream. Tai Chi is known as an | | | | bait. |
| "internal" art. | | | | The Internet has spawned millions of people who |
| When an attacker punches at an external martial | | | | enjoy flaming others anonymously. When I find |
| artist, the punch may be blocked with a very | | | | myself the target of these people, I lead them |
| muscular, hard block designed to do injury to the | | | | into emptiness. Their emails are allowed to vanish |
| attacker. | | | | into nothingness. There is no response--their |
| When a tai chi master sees a punch coming, he | | | | attack finds no target. This is an excellent way to |
| takes action so the punch will not find a target. | | | | maintain my mental and physical balance. Sooner |
| Often, the punch will be deflected by a relaxed | | | | or later, the attacker gets frustrated and seeks |
| move, causing it to miss its target and causing | | | | out someone else for their misguided messages. |
| the attacker to go off-balance. | | | | When someone attacks me verbally or |
| It's called "leading into emptiness" and it's a | | | | emotionally in person, I use different techniques |
| beautiful tai chi technique." In the old Kung Fu TV | | | | depending upon the circumstances. Sometimes it's |
| show that inspired me to begin studying martial | | | | best to confront them directly and let them know |
| arts back in the early Seventies, they said (about | | | | you aren't going to be a target for them. Other |
| a Shaolin priest), "When reached for, he cannot be | | | | times, leading them into emptiness works--simply |
| felt." | | | | not acknowledging their attack. |
| As a tai chi artist, my goal is to maintain my | | | | You can probably think of many ways that you |
| mental and physical balance at all time, even when | | | | are attacked, either verbally, emotionally, or |
| I'm attacked. The American Tao philosophy that I | | | | through email. Visualize how you could lead the |
| developed holds this as its primary principle. | | | | attacker into emptiness and try it next time. You |
| This philosophy is useful in self-defense situations | | | | just might find it an excellent way to maintain |
| when you lead a punch into emptiness, but it can | | | | your mental and physical balance, while throwing |
| also be applied at work and at home when you | | | | your opponent for a loop. |