That controversy will appear in different forms. One of those concern references to the origins of the art. The reader will notice those are quite different from some popular stories that purpose to explain the beginnings of the art ­­–– and the “internal tradition.”

Other controversies concern the bio-mechanics of the discipline. For example, one bio-mechanical rule also applies to ba gua (pa-kua) and hsing-i (xingyi) : In practice, to apply power and awaken internal energy, it is critical that the knee not go past 90 degrees in relation to the ground.

In the pages that follow, new terms and ideas will be introduced.  An important theme that follows is that the meridian lines (acupuncture channels) of the body are not imaginary “energy” lines, but piezo-electric physical structures that become enlivened and electrically charged when one’s practice of arts like t’ai-chi are performed correctly –– the implications of this principle are many. As will be discussed, they affect both health and power. The way a practitioner accesses and works with those structures affects his or her ability to develop internal energy.

Important:  Although some “standard” ways of practice will be challenged, the points that follow are not intended to diminish or denigrate the practice of the reader or other practitioners. The presentation that follows is designed to give you ideas about how to improve and gain further mastery in your practice. The reader is invited to consider that which is useful and ignore the rest.