Scott Meredith - JUICE Radical Taiji Energetics

JUICE

RADICAL TAIJI ENERGETICS

SCOTT MEREDITH

JUICE

Copyright by Scott Meredith

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-1478260691

ISBN-10: 1478260696

Interior Design: The Fast Fingers, http://www.thefastfingers.com

DEDICATION

To the memory of the genius master jeweler,

WANG ZONGYUE ()

who cut, polished and set

the radiantly mysterious gem, Taiji.

To the greatest Taiji master of his generation,

BENJAMIN PANG JENG LO ()

who is in no way responsible

for any part of this wild book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX A: Are You Experienced?
(The Training Testimony of Sun Lutang)

NOTES

All translations from the Chinese and Japanese (ancient and modern, literary or technical), appearing in this book are the original copyrighted work of the author unless otherwise explicitly sourced. The Zheng Manqing quotation on p. 18-19 is by Douglas Wile, ( Zheng Manqings Uncollected Writings on Taijiquan, Qigong, and Health ).

Most Chinese characters are traditional, with occasional variation including adoption of simplified characters, based on common usage, personal preference, and accepted historical precedent in names, among other criteria.

Most Chinese transliterations are Pinyin, with occasional variation including adoption of Wade-Giles and other variants, based on common usage, personal preference, and accepted historical precedent in names, among other criteria.

All sketches are 100% original artwork produced for this book, copyright 2012 Scott Meredith. Anatomical diagrams are derivative artwork copyright 2012 Scott Meredith, derived in part from licensed 3rd-party graphic materials.

Sometimes the 3rd person plural form of pronouns is used for singular to include both genders, at other times I use the gender-contorted singulars; s/he, him/her, and his/hers.

DISCLAIMER

All practices, processes, and methods described in this book are provided for entertainment purposes only. All martial arts practices including Taiji entail risks including, but not limited to, permanent disability and death. The reader is fully responsible for his or her own health and welfare. Never engage in Taiji or any other physical practice except under the immediate and ongoing oversight of currently certified and licensed health care professionals. Before beginning any activity, you must undergo a comprehensive physical and psychological examination by a qualified, currently licensed health care professional, and comply strictly with your health care providers guidelines and recommendations following this examination. Do not attempt anything described in this book without the full knowledge, consent, and personal supervision of a qualified, currently licensed physician or other qualified health care professional. If you experience any pain or difficulty when engaging with the ideas presented in this book, stop immediately and consult your healthcare provider. This book is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem or concern, consult your physician. The publisher and author are not responsible for any specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision and are not liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person reading or following the information in this book. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites, books, or other sources. While best efforts have been used in preparing this book, the author and publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind and assume no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or programs contained herein. Protect yourself at all times.

PREFACE

The shuddering echo of the Gion temple bell

tolls the impermanence of all things.

The brilliant-hued flowers of its double-trunked tree

affirm the sole truth, that what flourishes must fall.

Like a springtime evenings wisp of dream,

the strong are broken at last

to end as dust before the wind.

- Heike Monogatari (13th century C.E.)

Taiji, to me, isnt primarily for health, nor for self-defense and martial arts, nor is it for reducing stress in daily life through mind-body balance, or any of the other clichs. To me, Taiji is performance art . That conjures visions of pretty poses in the park, on a sunny spring morning. Or the flashing fists and flailing silk tassels of a Chinese New Years day Kung-Fu show. But those are shallow spectacles, mere theatrics. Im talking here about the deep performance art which reaches the soul. Deep performance art is when I send a man who outweighs me by 70 pounds stumbling or hurtling backwards with a soft touch. Deep performance art is when I seem to evade like smoke the rough grasp of somebody far stronger than myself. Even if that same person could seriously harm me were we to fight for real, even if onlookers may smirk that hes having to play my game, even if he could stalk me tomorrow with an Uzi and blast me into Swiss cheese still, just for an instant, when I see that questioning look in his eyes, when I hear that note of amazement in his voice: Howd you do that ? What was that? then I know Ive achieved arts deepest purpose - opening a quick window on wonder : Is there something else?

FABLE

Long ago in a far-away land, the King yearned for the deepest secret of the Art, to gain its powers and pleasures. He summoned the realms greatest wise men and most learned scholars to a royal audience in the high tower. As they jostled and murmured before the golden throne, the King commanded them: Silence! I desire for myself the powers and pleasures of the Art. But long, hard practice does not befit a King. I wont knock for empty years outside the Arts door, rather will I batter it down with Knowledge alone! I give you, my wisest scholars, wizards, and magi, one year to distill for me the boiled essence of the Art, as short and simple as may be. Go now, and work well - lest your heads pay the forfeit of your task.

When the leaves had browned, and greened, and browned again, the King assembled the wise men and commanded: Tell me the Arts great secret, as short and simple as may be. So the oldest and wisest of them bent low before the great throne, and his arms trembled as twigs in the storm, yet he held high a small scroll, saying: O King, we have squeezed and scraped and squashed the Art down to but a single word, that your Majesty can easily gain for Himself the powers and pleasures it may yield.

The King spread the scroll and read the single word that held all the Art. That word was merely this:

Relax

And the King said: You have done well to be so brief with the Arts great secret. But I cant use it. This word alone does not make the Art mine. I therefore grant you another year to boil down the Arts essence for me. Give me no more than a single sentence - yet sufficient that I may have the powers of the Art, and the pleasures thereof. And mind well that your heads shall pay the forfeit of your task .

So it came to pass that after the snows had fallen, and melted away in the earth, and fallen again, the King summoned the wise men and commanded: Tell me the Art, as short and simple as may be. Give me the one sentence - sufficient that I may have the powers of the Art, and the pleasures thereof. The oldest and wisest of them bowed deeply before the throne and his arms trembled the more greatly (for another year had passed) but his face beamed as he handed up a scroll to the King, saying: Sire, we have smacked the Art down to but a single sentence, that your Majesty may have the Arts powers and pleasures.