On Four Kinds of Launching - reflections on Taiji
Author: Yi-jing Zhang | 
The launching of Taiji is outstanding. To throw the opponent three meters away is usually seen, and well-trained practitioners may well throw opponents to ten meters.
This power comes from softness and integrity. Only when the body is extremely soft can all parts of the body work to the same direction in the same time. However, the launching of Taiji differs from individual to individual, depending upon the skill as well as personality. Essentially speaking, it can be said there are four kinds, or four tastes, i.e., heavy, light, clear and blunt.
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Heavy launching. If the launcher is strong and good in integrity, he may launch heavy jin. But this heavy jin is by no means hard. Hard jin is partial, while heavy jin is integral. To further illustrate with the metaphor of body as a spring, he is making use of the opponent's push to press his body to accumulate his power.
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Light jin If the practitioner manages to catch the right chance and to launch in the right direction, and is good in making use of his opponent's attack, he may launch light jin. The launchee will feel somehow like gone in the wind. To further illustrate, it is like to have the opponent "slide over" and push the opponent's tail.
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Clear jin A quick practitioner may launch clear jin. This jin is like a thunder--it comes with a total sudden and is extremely quick. To further illustrate, the body is like a pressed spring which spans at the practitioner's will.
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Blunt jin A not well-trained practitioner or beginner only launches blunt jin. He has to catch his opponent and holds with strength before throwing opponent away with hard push. In this situation, the opponent knows in advance that he is to push.
It must be emphasized that good launching, be it heavy, light or clear, has to be in accordance with the criterion of "not known by the opponent". This depends upon making use of opponent's strength and the explosive power from softness. To acquire this capability, one has to appeal to the training of softness and agility. The authentic Taiji is endless search for higher and higher degree of softness, and thus for integrity of the body and good ability to detect the opponent's as well as his own situation. There is no middle way between softness and hardness, just like there is no middle way between integrity and partiality.
An extract from the book by Yi-jing Zhang from Chongching, called Taijiquanlichuanzhen (Authentic Taichi Theory).
