Introduction to Ding Shi

 

Tai Chi is not about learning as many forms, styles and applications as you can. It’s about realizing the internal aspect of it and deepening it. The Nei Kung (internal technique) training has always been valued as the core content of Tai Chi training system by all masters in China. Tai Chi without Nei Kung is just an empty shell. The beauty, the true power and the real benefits of Tai Chi all come from the internal side of it.

The Ding Shi (holding postures) training handed down by the late grandmaster Wu Tu Nan has been used by Master Li Lian (a student of Wu Tu Nan) in his teaching as the basic training to prepare students for the traditional Wu-Style long form (85-step). In this training method, the student has to hold each posture for 1-6 breaths. The complete form performed in Ding Shi fashion will take a minimum of 60 minutes. From my personal experience, learning Ding Shi from Master Li Lian has proved to be an invaluable experience in my Tai Chi practice. It has deepened my understanding of all the core values of Tai Chi, build up both my physical and internal Chi strength and improved my postures. For me, it simply has opened up a new dimension to the infinite world of Tai Chi. Therefore, I strongly recommend that all Tai Chi players learn Ding Shi regardless of your schools or styles, whether you are just an amateur or an experienced practitioner, or even an instructor of many years standing. You’ll find that learning Ding Shi and incorporating it into your daily practice or teaching can bring you benefits in many-folds.

What the masters said about Ding Shi:-

Ding Shi is the basic form training method adopted in Wu-style Tai Chi. It aims at strengthening the practitioner’s stamina and physique so that his Nei Kung (internal power) can be constantly strengthened.   – Wu Tu Nan

Tai Chi form practice comes in two different stages: Ding Shi (holding postures) and Lian Shi (continuous postures). The two are identical in physical forms but different in pace. Ding Shi involves holding each posture for 1-6 breaths while Lian Shi requires postures being performed with fluidity leaving no gap in between. This is because the two methods have different focuses and aims.

Generally speaking, Ding Shi is identical to Zhuang Kung (standing postures) in that it focuses on increasing the strength and quality of the practitioner’s Jin* and Qi. With persistent practice, the student will gain Tai Chi Qi* which will get constantly strengthened.

– Li Lian

 

Watch demonstration by Jian Xiong

Read the article: The Importance of Ding Shi Practice in Tai Chi

[Translator’s Note:]

 

Jin – There is no English equivalent for Jin. It is different from Li (force) in that it is not based on physical power and effort. It can be interpreted as an end result or expression of Qi that’s been accumulated inside the practitioner through years’ of training. So, Jin can be seen as a kind of trained force or re-conditioned force. To apply Li involves tensing up muscles in certain areas of the body, but to apply Jin involves applying the intent initially to direct the movement of Qi which finds its expression in the physical movement of the trunk and limbs. To generate Tai Chi Jin is a process going from the centre to the peripheral just like an explosion which has to start from the centre before spreading outward. So, Li is isolated force while Jin is co-ordinated, integrated and trained force. The difference between the two can be compared to water from a hose (Li) and pounding waves at sea (Jin).

 

Tai Chi Qi –Qi generated and accumulated through persistent Tai Chi practice. Qi气 is traditionally translated as Chi or Ki as in Reiki. But to call it Chi can be misleading as people often mix it up with the 极(pronounced jee) as in Tai Chi. Qi simply means the life force or vital force that supports life itself and its flow inside our body has a direct impact on our health (see Tai Chi and TCM ). One common misunderstanding in the west is that Qi means the breath or the air we breathe in and hence the mistake of applying breathing exercises or breath control in Tai Chi training. Qi is one of the three basic elements in Tai Chi training, the other two being Yi (intent) and Jin.

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