Feelings are energy: we rarely talk about emotions in Taijiquan

I’m currently reading The Art of Fighting* by Priya Parker. The book is about conflict in groups. And Taijiquan is mostly practised and learned in groups.

One short sentence made me stop:

“Feelings are energy.” The Art of Fighting, Priya Parker, p. 13

We talk a lot about energy in Taijiquan. And we rarely talk about feelings. And if we do, they often get brushed off. At least that is how I experienced it many times. Let me give you examples.

Feelings in Taijiquan: when frustration gets a quick fix

A feeling I hear a lot in Taijiquan: “I’m frustrated that I don’t practise as much as I want.” The most common answer I hear: “Then just practise more.”

Technically, that’s true. But it skips the feeling completely, and the frustration stays. A different reaction could be as simple as: “Yes, that’s frustrating. I know that feeling too.”

Feelings in Taijiquan: push hands needs trust

Trust matters a lot in Taijiquan practice. I only want to be corrected, touched, and tested by people I trust. Pushing hands with a forceful, dismissive man is simply no fun. Unfortunately, that’s the reason I avoid push hands, and why I prefer classes with people I know well.

So feelings shape where students show up, even when nobody talks about them.

Feelings in Taijiquan: when a student shows up crying

I have seen it a couple of time: a student shows up to class crying. To me, that’s a sign of trust: this class feels safe enough to come to on a bad day.

I’m not sure many teachers are prepared for that, and staying calm obviously helps. But I really recommend anyone who leads groups to learn not only about Taijiquan moves and applications, but also about social dynamics and how to create that kind of trust.

I am sure there are many more examples. And all of these examples do not mean that we need to turn Taijiquan class into therapy sessions. But acknowledging other people’s feelings, being kind to fellow students and teachers, and understanding that everyone experiences Taijiquan a little differently are often enough.

I’ll keep reading The Art of Fighting* and share more in an upcoming post. The title fits, after all: Taijiquan is an internal martial art 😉

Until then, I would like to hear from you: how do you deal with Taijiquan emotions in your classes and workshops?

Happy Qi!
Angelika