Tai Chi striking technique

[BillT]

In his book on traditional Yang family Tai Chi, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming refers to a "whipping action" in Tai Chi striking technique which results in a significantly greater effect of the strike. He contrasts this to transitioning from insubstantial to substantial (relaxed to fixed) as is done in Xingyi or Karate. He uses (being the mechanical engineer that he is) an analogy to a whip where velocity is essentially doubled as direction is reversed. Does anyone know more about this technique? Nobody I know has even heard of it, although none of us are masters of Tai Chi. Thanks, Bill

P.S. I'm aware of the possibility that this may be an advanced technique not taught to people at my level.

[stanton]

BillT,

personal experience.
I am not aware of this technique/method/concept in Yang style, or any other style of taijiquan. Most of wat I know is relegated to shuaijiao or qi'na concepts and they are 'short range' techniques.
Is 'fajin' a whipping action? That is another story.

Certain teachers have insights from other systems that they studied so as it is individual, it is difficult to translate.
If you have studied a two person form or push hands, is there a whipping action in any of the movemnts? perhaps a better insight!!

[Shark]

not a technique per say just a natural effect gained tho practice.t'ai chi work leads one's body arms and hands to react with a whip like motion

[soraya]

Fa jing means to release force which also happens in insubstantial movements like roll back. However the true understanding of it is sudden explosive force like the classics say"drawing a bow shooting an arrow". The force is a springing like elastic force rather than harsh with compressed muscle. At the moment of impact the muscle will compress(substantial)
I could imagine being like a whip, flexible elastic when swinging(in the physics sense), becoming stiff(for lack of a better term) at the moment of touching

I would also compare it to a tennis strike, your arms swing creating swinging force and compress at the moment of hitting. Maybe it is good to look up physics website about swinging theory

[stanton]

BillT,

I do not beoleve there is any specific striking technique unique to taijiquan in that the health individuals show no interest, so it seems the best way is to associate with 'lineage' people so the reality can be translated into usable part of instruction, or awareness.

The proff of the pudding is in the eating so try to contact the honourable Dr. and see if he may simplify.

[soraya]

Well, i think i explained it simple enough. The horourable doctor may put it more simple but i think my level of instruction is quite reasonable too and i am a "lineage" person. The best thing would be physical practice. In "Single whip" Yang and Chen style The striking hand goes left first and than twist right. Take a horse whip and try out.