by Dr. G. S. Torres
Péng (弸)
They say in Tai Ji Quan that 4 ounces deflects 10,000 pounds. How can this be so? First, you must have “Péng 弸.” Peng is why the Xíng Yì Quán 形意拳 practitioners do the standing meditations of I Quan 意 拳 (Yì Quán) sometimes referred to as Dà Chéng quán” (大成拳). The great Grand Master Guo Lien Ying 郭连荫 (Guō Lián Yīn) would often be seen “standing” in the “Universal Post” position 站桩 (Zhàn Zhuāng). Below are the nine points that Grand Master Kwok 郭和毅 taught to do while doing I Quan, Universal Post or Ta Ji Quan forms. Please don’t confuse this péng 弸 with the péng 掤 of the 8 gates.
Eight Gates or Eight Energys/Strengths 八门 / 八劲 Bā Mèn/Bā Jìn
The chief energies/strengths are the 4 primary hands or primary directions and the four corner hands or four diagonal directions are for assistance. The four primary hands are the basic rule and the four corner hands are the alternatives.
The four primary hands (four cardinal directions) (四个主要 手 – Sì Gè Zhǔyào Shǒu)
- Péng Jìn 掤勁 Ward off (in Tài Jí), Quiver (in Cantonese), Bīng掤 (in Mandarin)
(outward) – Ward off, Tai Chi’s essential energy, power of flexibility and resilience (born in the thighs), energy of defensive attack, under opponent’s hand. Attack. Evading is to attack. Yang or hard.
- Lŭ Jìn 履勁 (Carry Out)
(inward) – Pull or Roll-back, Péng in reverse energy – energy of friction and rubbing, evade and adhere. Over opponent’s hand. Defense. Evading is to attack. Yin or soft. (Péng changes to Lŭ is the inward drawing of silk, and Lŭ changes to Péng is the outward drawing of silk. These are the two basic energies/strengths of Tai Chi.)
- Jĭ Jìn 挤勁 (Press)
(outward) – Press, two hands when they are joined. Energy of two forces combined, when there’s not enough péng jìn. Two energies combined as one, energy of dexterity. Adhering is to attack.
- Àn Jìn 按勁 (Push)
(inward) – Push, Listening energy, single and double finger/palm. Lower péng jìn, used in sinking, creating pull force. The posture of àn looks as if one is preparing to push one or both hands. Àn from the front = péng jìn, Àn from the left or right = lŭ jìn, Àn combined = jĭ jìn.
The Four Corner Hands 四个角手 – Sì Gè Jiǎo Shǒu (four diagonal directions)
- Căi Jìn採勁 (Pick)
Roll-pull, reverse of jĭ jìn, incline downward towards the rear. Energy of two forces divided. Here use fingers for Tai Chi Chin Na techniques. Like picking fruit, one hand grabs branch down and other grabs fruit. Outside hand is péng and below hand/grabbing is căi. Don’t use căi horizontally toward the back, it must incline downward toward the back. Use căi on only one of the opponent’s arms, not both.
- Liè Jìn 列勁 (Line up, Arrange)
Split, Tai Chi’s small strike energy. Begins quickly a few inches from opponent. Energy of striking (first line of defense). When liè is used by one hand the other hand must have inside drawing of silk energy to keep the body in balance. The hands can mutually interchange their use. Liè is used to draw silk outward toward the opponent when you are very close. This strike can’t stop half way you’re committed, so strike quickly and very close the body.
- Zhoŭ Jìn 肘勁 (Elbow)
Elbow strike by moving the arms up & down (Liè’s second line of defense). After you over extend yourself and căi and liè won’t work, now use zhoŭ, elbow strike after wrist or from wrist.
- Kào Jìn 靠勁 (Lean Against)
Shoulder strike. Used in a slanting direction, a strike by the whole body, body strike (Liè’s third line of defense). Again, used after over extending yourself. Shoulder strike kào, knee strike kào, stomach strike kào, back strike kào. Kào is used when the hands and feet are tied up.
Peng drawn inside = Lu, Peng combined = Ji, Peng drawn down = An, Peng divided = Cai, Peng followed by a strike = Lie, Peng turning and elbow striking = Zhou, and Peng turning and body striking = Kao.
Wŭ Fāng 五方（Five Directions）
- Forward (Jīn (金) Metal)
- Backward (Mù (木) Wood)
- Step Left (Shuǐ (水) Water)
- Step Right (Huŏ (火) Fire)
- Center (Tŭ (土) Earth)
The twelve rules for developing Péng 弸 From Guō Lián Yīn 郭连荫
- Keep the body centered
- Sink the shoulders
- Sink the elbows
- Keep the wrists straight
- Keep the butt tucked in
- Keep the knees bent
- Step light (empty step)
- Feet must be empty and solid
- Top of the head turns
- The back rotates
- Waist (tight) connected not slanted
- Lower belly rises
- First point: 2 arms connect above elbow and below shoulder
- Second point: 2 thighs follow each other
- Third point: Back bow collects energy at the chest (chest is neither concave nor convex).
The Nine rules for developing Péng 弸 From Torres Tă Jiā Lì 塔嘉利
- Crown as if suspended from a thread
- Eyes looking into the distance (eye level)
- Ears listening inward
- Tongue to the roof of the mouth
- Head as if balanced on a pin
- Neck and back straight (up and down)
- Sink the chest, raise the back
- Abdominal breathing
- Drop the pelvis
14 Examples of Bú 步 (stances or steps)
- Breaking Step – like Tai Chi stance, used to half step and twist so ½ step and you can sink then twist (toes come up) then make contact and toes go down, then strike. Frontal attack.
- Backward Step – step back with toes then rest of foot (step back repulse monkey).
- Rolling Step – when the foot turns as a result of following the body. The sole of the foot creates friction. Foundation of Neutralizing energy.
- Rising Step – going to a rooster stance, knee kick.
- Sinking Step – stepping down with foot from a rooster stance.
- Withdrawal Step – stepping to the side, from inside to outside.
- Collecting Step – stepping from the outside to the inside.
- Curved Step – outside step forward for attack or defense.
- Slanting Step – stepping diagonal to left or right.
- Horse Step – horse stance, L stance, has double sinking step.
- Fishing Step – horse step to the side where the hand and thigh help each other, cloud hands.
- Empty Step – Empty stance while top of body rises and inside receives (lift the plams).
- Turn the Body Over Step – putting spine in position to twist for a strike.
- Pushing Step – front foot advances and the rear foot follows (forward stepping and leaping forward).
- Note Step 1 & 3 (Breaking and Rolling) are the Foundation of Tai Chi Foot Work.
Xiǎo Zhōu Tiān 小周天 Little Universe Cycle
Another postural point is to touch the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth. This is called closing the gap in the Xiǎo Zhōu Tiān or Little Universe Cycle. This cycle is the conception vessel Mài 任脈 in the front of the body and the Governing Vessel Dū Mài 督脈 in the back of the body which connect at GV1 Cháng Qiáng 长强 (Long Strength) and CV1 Huì Yīn 会 阴(Meeting of Yin). Both end up at the mouth where they don’t touch, hence the tongue touching the roof of the mouth closes the loop at GV28 DuìDuān 兌 端 (Correct Exchange) and CV 24 承浆 (Receiving Fluid).