by Rick Barrett | Jul 26, 2022 | Taiji, Three Pillars
In Part 1 of “An Jin: The “Push of No Push,” I broke down Jin and what makes it so powerful. I then explained the mysterious An Jin, the “push of no push,” and how it needs both Song and Fang to work. This post gets right down to how to train it.
by Rick Barrett | Jul 26, 2022 | Taiji, Three Pillars
My teacher, Grandmaster William C. C. Chen, would often speak of the “punch of no punch” and the “push of no push.” It was his ironic way of saying that the power of the punch or push didn’t come from crude muscular force. What made it work didn’t translate...
by Rick Barrett | Jan 19, 2021 | Elbow, Knee, Three Pillars
I was recently asked to clarify what I mean when I emphasize “setting” the knee to allow the kua to release, or setting the elbow to free up the shoulder joint, or setting the ball of the foot to establish energetic connection with the earth. Setting simply...
by Rick Barrett | Aug 6, 2020 | Taiji, Three Pillars
The Three Pillars is my name for the foundational actions that I have found to be most important to establish the body-mind-spirit integration necessary for the internal martial arts and qigong. These are the shortcuts I have developed over the past forty years to...
by Rick Barrett | Apr 20, 2015 | Taiji, Three Pillars
I devoted a chapter to the kua in Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate and it’s time to clarify what is meant by song kua. (pronounced soong) I recently posted the steps to take to get more from your kua and I’d like to sharpen the focus a little here. For...
by Rick Barrett | Feb 24, 2015 | Taiji, Three Pillars
Understanding the kua is essential to internal gongfu. It’s what connects the legs to the torso physically and energetically. I devoted a chapter to it in Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate: The pivotal point for the nine-channeled pearl is the hip area, known...
