The secret of tai-chi power 6 - Cai

Cai (採 - Collect) is not a clear concept to comprehend. In the classics, it was said to be a defense against an attack by Zhou (肘 - elbow). In Chinese culture, oftentimes systems-of-practice (martial arts included) are packaged as "easy-to-remember" systems. An example in tai-chi eight methods: Peng (棚) against Luo (捋), Ji (擠) against An (按), Cai (採) against Zhou (肘) and Lie (挒) against Kao (靠). In the system of Pushing-hand-form Big Luo (大捋)， Cai is used as a defense against Zhou (Elbow). Then what is Cai? And how is its execution finds affinity in possible combat situation?

In a nutshell, the method of Cai is to trap your opponent's movement (usually by joint-locking), pivot him at one of his feet, and then turn your body and throw your opponent to the ground. In Big Luo practice, it is elbow lock throw, against an elbow attack. In aikido, the common throw is wrist lock throw. The ability to successfully execute such throws in actual combat will require a big difference in combat ability (inborn and trained) between the contestants.

The final question: How do tai-chi practitioners make use of his chi-practice to execute Cai? The answer is "His third-eye should go after his shoulder".

Aikido wrist lock throw