Hi Audi, Jaime, Nick
In conjunction with the idea expressed in Audi's statement, "My understanding of one difference between the martial approach of T'ai Chi and that of many "external" styles is that the latter focus on acquiring and perfecting a repertoire of offensive and defensive techniques, whereas T'ai Chi focus on learning to manipulate the energy flow between you and the opponent. In doing form, we should not be practicing techiques in the Karate sense, but be practicing how to manipulate jin through our bodies with our "yi" or will, " I see Tai Chi as a general-purpose martial art in the sense that Tai Chi is in the precepts applied to movement, not the movements themselves.
We are learning how to move our bodies in the most efficient ways. Physical combat is a living thing, and chances are, the most effective moves will often be variations of what is usually done. You don't have to get into a stance, you can move well from whatever position you're in.
I like the chess, energy analogy.
I enjoy chess a great deal, and I have used the 'energy' picture (in chess) for awhile. Once, after a very long day of chess, I looked up and noticed that the person standing on my left could capture another person behind and to their left, like a knight move! I realised I'd been at it too long and went home.
Audi wrote, "In T'ai Chi, rather than focusing only on the particular configuration or posture of our opponent, we should strive to envision the lines of force that the opponent is manifesting." Interestingly this very idea was put forth as part of a Jedi's power in Episode 1 of Star Wars.
As for the four 'energies' I mostly think of them as different directions. Consider what you can do with an incoming basketball. You can bat it up, to either side, or down, and you can catch it or return it. Now envision the basketball getting heavier or faster. What do you need to do to keep the impact of it away from you?
David
[This message has been edited by DavidJ (edited 04-10-2001).]
[This message has been edited by DavidJ (edited 04-10-2001).]