Vol 25, Issue 3/2006
Yi – Qi – Jin
The path to “essential energy” in Taijiquan
By Frieder Anders
“Jin” is an elemental concept in Taijiquan, as in other Chinese martial arts. However, there are different ideas about what Jin actually describes and how this inner strength arises. Frieder Anders describes how, in the Yang style according to Yang Shouzhong, simple muscle power is transformed into Jin through the guidance of the mind. An essential aspect here is that each action is first undertaken in the mind, giving the movement an intention which extends beyond one’s own body.
