#yielding

Ann Branson, Quaker minister (1808–92)

Taikiken and The Art of Pushing Hands to Effectively Control Your Opponent in close range combat! Taikiken is a dynamic and powerful martial art that originated from the principles of Yiquan in China. It was further developed and refined in Japan by Kenichi Sawai, resulting in a system that emphasizes natural movement, mental focus, and holistic body alignment. One of the most distinctive aspects of Taikiken is its practice of pushing hands, an exercise designed to cultivate sensitivity, balance, and the ability to respond to an opponent’s energy. When practiced correctly, Taikiken pushing hands can be a highly effective way to understand and control an opponent, making it an invaluable asset for both self-defense and personal development. Historical Roots and Principles Taikiken’s fundamental principles come from Yiquan, an internal martial art created by the renowned Wang Xiangzhai. Yiquan focuses on developing internal power through standing meditation (zhan zhuang) and relaxed, natural movements. Kenichi Sawai encountered Yiquan while in China and brought these teachings back to Japan, eventually founding Taikiken. At its core, Taikiken prioritizes the cultivation of one’s intrinsic energy, also known as “ki” (in Japanese) or “qi” (in Chinese). By learning to harness and direct this internal energy, practitioners develop robust physical strength, a heightened sense of awareness, and a deep mind-body connection. Through this combination of physical and mental training, Taikiken becomes more than just a fighting system: it is a way to refine one’s overall health, vitality, and internal resilience. The Essence of Pushing Hands Pushing hands (or “tuishou”) is a training practice found in many internal martial arts. In Taikiken, pushing hands refines the practitioner’s ability to sense, follow, and redirect an opponent’s force without relying solely on muscular strength. Instead, practitioners use relaxation, proper structure, and timing to control the flow of energy and maintain balance. Sensitivity Training Central to Taikiken pushing hands is the development of tactile sensitivity. By keeping a relaxed, alert body and focused mind, practitioners learn to detect slight shifts in their opponent’s balance and energy. This heightened awareness is what allows them to anticipate and neutralize attacks. Rooting and Alignment In Taikiken, proper body alignment is essential. A strong “root” means the practitioner can ground themselves firmly, preventing an opponent from easily uprooting or throwing them off balance. At the same time, the practitioner learns to stay relaxed and to move fluidly, avoiding the rigidity that often causes tension and weaknesses in one’s defense. Yielding to Overcome The core philosophy behind Taikiken pushing hands is to never meet force with force. Instead, practitioners learn to blend with or yield to an incoming attack. By redirecting the opponent’s energy, the practitioner can guide it away from themselves and take advantage of the opponent’s momentary imbalance. Continuous Flow Pushing hands is not a static exercise. It involves continuous motion and adaptation, mirroring the fluidity of real self-defense scenarios. Practitioners keep their energy smooth and connected, ensuring that they remain adaptable to whatever the opponent may attempt. Controlling Your Opponent When effectively practiced, Taikiken pushing hands grants a distinct advantage: precise control over an opponent. This control arises out of a unique synergy between relaxed power, sensitive listening skills, and strategic redirection: Off-Balancing By detecting an opponent’s shifts in weight distribution, you can gently nudge or guide them off-balance. This technique requires minimal strength but demands refined timing and positioning. Timing and Distance Pushing hands instills an acute sense of timing and distance. In a real self-defense situation, this means you can effectively close the gap or maintain just the right distance to neutralize strikes and grapples.

(None of this Freebird design bullshit.)

I think we can all agree we did not in fact “live” but died because of those words.

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

I yield