The secret of tai-chi power 3 - Ji

This is my third post on tai-chi power. As previous, I shall try to explain the tai-chi eight methods in the light of the practice of contemporary combat. I believe an understanding of these eight methods from this angle can help modern practitioners of tai-chi (who can be defined as someone who practice for health benefit rather than for combat) better prepared by unexpected situations that basic self-defense might be required. Going back to the subject, what is Ji (擠) in tai-chi? Ji means: squeeze or push against. Then how it is relevant to combat situation?

Ji is similar, in attacking objective, to tackle in MMA (American football or rugby). Both move at close range and intend to push your opponent to the ground. The difference is that the execution of Ji doesn't involve attacking your opponent's legs or hips, and not by brute force. In Ji, a tai-chi practitioner moves "quietly" (i.e. trying not to alert his opponent's forceful push back or retreat) but speedily, trapping the opponents hands. In Ji, a practitioner thus step speedily forward, manage to "squeeze" his opponent to stand with parallel legs (i.e. not one in front of the other), and bump him out/down with Ji-jing.

The last but not the least important question: How to focus one's mind to effectively execute a good Ji-jing? The answer is "Move your spinal cord towards the sole of your front foot". Needless to say Peng (float) jing is also involved to guaranteed an application of full-body Jing.

Squeeze and push (擠) in tai-chi