Originally Posted by
imperialtaichi
Keep it simple. Keep it natural.
Understand that true Yi does not come from intellectualising the concept. Learn to switch the brain off and turn on your heart/instinct on. Then you will lead your Qi. All these Yin Yang question becomes self answering because you will also understand the Yin and Yang nature of Qi.
We will use a simple punch as a training example: learn to punch with less force, more Yi and more power penetration.
In the beginning try the punch in a controlled enviroment; punch your training partner, let him feel and describe to you the effect of your punch. Experiment with your Yi until you get the desired result. Of course, you will also have to let the opponent punch you too, so you can help him develop. A good punch is one that seems only like a tap, but the receiver should feel like being hit by an iron ball (or as one of the guys I tapped yesterday at a Kung Fu gathering describes, "feels like being hit by a log").
Once you get decent result, of course test in out with someone you don't normally train with during sparring.
And of course, in a real fight, don't be obscessed with techniques, focus on destroying the guy and let your habits win your fight.
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You must continue to test your progress on partners and opponents; you don't want to waste years of training (like many internal people do) chasing things that does not work.
Another example: I didn't learn to take hits by imagining or reading; I learn to take hits by getting hit.