The Cheng Hsin Martial Art of Effortless Power

 

The goal of the Cheng Hsin Martial Art of Effortless Power is, as the name suggests, to develop an effortless ability to deal with conflict. Like Aikido, Cheng Hsin emphasizes joining with an opponent, rather than fighting against them.

To be skillful in martial arts, as in any physical activity, requires development in a number of areas;

  • Body-Being - the physical body with its posture, nervous system and movement patterns
  • Power Generation - adequate to achieve our goals
  • Perception - accurately accessing what is going on with ourselves, others and our environment
  • Mind - being clear, aware and focussed 
  • Techniques - specific processes for using power to affect an opponent
  • Interactive Skills - ways to relate so that we can meet our goals without struggling
  • Freeplay - Games to develop handling unrehearsed situations effortlessly

Body-Being

To acknowledge that our physical selves are not separate from the mind (perception, thought, emotion, memory, association) Cheng Hsin uses the word Body-Being for this important aspect of training. In harmony with the goal of effortlessness we train 5 Body-Being Principles;

  • Relaxing - completely releasing physical and mental tension
  • Centering - moving and relating from the centre of gravity
  • Grounding - aligning with gravity to develop a solid connection to the earth
  • Being Whole - feeling and using every part of the body
  • Being Calm - allowing the mind to be undisturbed by circumstances

 

Effortless Power

Effortless Power is generated by harnessing the natural elasticity of the body, its intrinsic strength. We use the compressible/stretchy nature of the body like a ball or bungy-cord. By allowing ourselves to be compressed into the ground, rather than tensing up and pushing away from the ground, it is possible to generate power without effort. To create the necessary alignment between opponent and ground certainly requires us to move but the power itself is the result of compression, not muscular effort. Of course, as this is not our usual way of moving, it requires some training. Here is a demonstration of effortless power applied to a push.

Perception

We act relative to what we experience. Therefore we can become much more skillful by experiencing ourselves, other people, and our environment more accurately. This is called listening, being sensitive of everything, all around, in the present. Cheng Hsin practice makes use of a wide variety of exercises for developing clearer perceptive skills, which leads to more skillful interaction.

Mind

Whenever we are training the body we are also training the mind. Peter's earliest breakthroughs in martial arts came from working with the mind. When he began to teach Peter realised that a lot of what holds people back is how they think about. Noticing and freeing ourselves of ineffectual ways of thinking and handicapping beliefs leads to a more openess and possibility.

Also, harnessing the mind through visualisation can develop qualities of movement that would otherwise be difficult or cumbersome to achieve .

Techniques

Techniques are specific ways in which to use effortless power. The techniques of the Art of Effortless Power share the fluid and spiralling qualities of Aikido, include uprooting skills like those found in Tai Chi, and throwing techniques like those of Judo. There is a strong emphasis on footwork and manoeuvrability inspired by Pa Kua Chang and designed to enable agile boxing skills.

Interactive Skills

There are many ways of relating to an opponent, for example whether we even think of them as an opponent or not. Cheng Hsin martial arts are founded on following the actions of another so that we can join with them to create a result that suits us better than it does them. Some of the other relational qualities that we want to develop are leading their actions, borrowing their power and intent, and remaining in an advantageous position. Developing interactive skills requires some sort of unscripted practice which brings us to...

Free-Play or Games

Cheng Hsin Martial Arts abound with games. Some are of limited scope, designed to highlight and develop a particular principle or skill. Others are much more open, with players working to pin, throw or project their partner while avoiding the other’s attempts to do the same to them. Without free-play there is no way to develop real interactive skill, it is like learning all the moves and strategies of chess without ever playing a game. Most of all, these games are the most enjoyable and rewarding part of practicing the Art of Effortless Power.