Beyond Resistance: Tai Chi's Inner Art to Qinna Joint Lock Defense

Discover how Tai Chi masters transcend the ordinary approach to joint lock defense, moving beyond resistance to achieve effortless freedom. Watch as we reveal how each level of internal skill offers a unique solution to seemingly unbreakable holds.
🔥 The Five Levels of Freedom:
1. Fascia Mastery
• Turn their grip into a controller of their balance
• Use tissue connection to read and redirect their force
• Create instant structural advantages
2. Song Relaxation
• Use relaxation to become immovable
• Return their force through earth connection
3. Qi Power
• Float or sink the energy inside their force
• Transform their force through Qi's inner quality
• Dissolve the force that had sought to overwhelm you
4. Neijin Control
• Harmonize with universal energy to dissolve conflict
• Move opponents effortlessly through natural movements
• Transform their attack into mutual flow
5. Yi Mastery
• Redirect intention before force manifests
• Turn their own focus against them
• Achieve freedom through mental mastery
🎯 In this eye-opening demonstration, discover:
✅ Why resistance often strengthens joint locks
✅ How to rise above physical conflict
✅ Real-time applications against common locks
✅ Training methods for each level of skill
Perfect for:
• Tai Chi practitioners seeking deeper understanding
• Martial artists interested in advanced defense
• Those looking to transcend force-based solutions
• Anyone fascinated by internal power principles
🎓 Join Shifu Chester as he reveals:
• The principle of each level of skill
• Live demonstrations against resistant partners
• The keys to effortless freedom
🔔 Subscribe now for weekly insights into advanced Tai Chi principles!
💬 Share your experience: Which internal skill has most transformed your practice?
🌟 Ready to master these principles? Explore our complete curriculum on the 5 stages of Tai Chi Internal Skill:
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#TaiChiDefense #MartialArtsWisdom #QinnaDefense #InternalPower #JointLocks
Consider: Beyond fighting force, what kind of freedom will you achieve when you transcend it entirely?

[@kingofaikido]

Hehehee..! It's nice the way you break down the different qualities. I've experienced them all and use them but haven't seen or distinguished them in the same manner you have for teaching purposes. Thanks for the categories! Interestingly, other arts, such as aikido, also use these skills. Just a couple of points worth sharing about this lock. 1) you'll get a better lock if you twist the wrist (as your student was doing) but apply the force straight down the middle, down the centerline of the opponent. You can also rock a little forward and back (like shift weight, the more imperceptible the better). Often, the initial resistance is taken for granted, so (in aikido, for example) we figure out various ways of nullifying the expected resistance by changing angles imperceptibly, for instance. 2) another way of talking about it is that we work on counters of counters: such as by applying a wiggle, a small serpentine movement, or zig-zagging side to side...again imperceptibility is key. In taichi terms, this is about taking the opponent's slight tension in his hand, even when he is doing sung, to lead him. Of course, it gets a bit silly in the end because, once learned, it's not productive to do competitively, because of the high risk of injury...and the confusion which results about who is doing what to whom..! In the end, the person who knows more, who can sense more or quicker what's about to happen, and who can sung more, wins. In other words, like in taichi, the more conscious person succeeds. But the teaching, the underlying lesson, is the same principle of sung, to sense and respond, ideally with heart-mind. ;)

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing the Aikido perspective. I love how you phrase it in "the more conscious person succeeds". Very well said! From the heart-mind. :)

[@lsporter88]

It would seem that a Tai Chi Master could only be stopped by another Tai Chi Master. I say that without having ever watched you teach any real striking or weapon forms. If most people understood what they were seeing (witch most won't) they'd be frightened maybe, but they would gain the utmost respect for this art. Great video.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You may be right and to the extent that mastery makes our skill higher and beyond resistance, I still have some way to go because I definitely still get stopped sometimes! But I am improving and enjoying this journey. 😃🙏

[@aureumsilentium6518]

I have a question for Shifu Chester: is it possible to use Paypal for payment on your website? Thanks.

[@40JoCharles]

Lovely 🙂🙏🏼☯️

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for your kind comment! 😃🙏

[@JaroBerce]

Zongqing Lin, Thank you for your insightful response and for sharing the video explaining how locks can be overcome. Naturally, this raises an important question: under what circumstances do joint locks truly work against a knowledgeable and skilled practitioner? Is there a spatial limitation or positioning where an opponent can be effectively "framed" and unable to resist the lock? Or is the knowledge of how to defend against joint locks a universally applicable skill, regardless of the situation? I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this fascinating topic.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Fantastic questions! In the Tai Chi context of defending joint locks, the person who better controls their Zhongding, and can seize their opponent's Zhongding, will prevail. That is to say, the person who can maintain their awareness and intention from being hijacked, will be able to control the flow of these exchanges. Does that make sense? My video posted today "Beyond Physical Balance" begins our series of videos exploring Zhongding! 😃🙏

[@JaroBerce]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi yes I do 100% agree with you: who is more relax and in self control has enormous advantage! 👍🙏

[@matt_iles]

World Tour!! We need to train with you in person!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

That would be awesome! What is your geographical area? 😃🙏

[@matt_iles]

@@phoenixmountaintaichiLondon, UK.

[@kingofaikido]

Caveat: Sorry, I meant 'some masters' use what I described below but they rarely teach these explicitly. We just learn them as a result of personal interactions with them and piece together the learnings later from reflection and analysis. As far as I can tell, this is the traditional pedagogy. It takes time and personal growth, unrelated to anyone else's. Whereas, there is a way of transmitting these lessons clearly, without fear or favor, so that everybody can 'see' what's going on, such as how Chester teaches. I'm making the transition in my own teaching method. I'm half way there, one foot in tradition. But I think there's some value in silence and secrecy in the sense that the onus then is on the student to let go more. Part of learning, perhaps the biggest, is to unlearn less useful forms as we learn more sensible (more "efficient" or more "natural") ways. Sometimes, these new ways of doing things are dimensionally different, which means (I hope you'd agree Chester) that we have to drop the hold we have on older ways of doing things. This 'letting go' seems a much more difficult task, especially for Westerners I find, perhaps because people feel comfortable with 'knowing certain ways of doing things' which come with the stamp of righteousness (e.g. "my master taught it this way": therefore-it-is-right school of thought...why then 'change' anything?'). Whereas, if we follow the Tao, everything is essentially about change. I guess this is where the rubber meets the road. It's where East and West differ in their respective definitions of knowledge. And who's to say Eastern teachers haven't been influenced by Western modes of categorical thinking..!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Oh I more than 100% agree ha ha. When I see my students take my teachings too seriously, I remind them that everything we learn is really just a tool, a training wheel, an aide to help us to get to the next level. And at that level we may not need everything that got us here. When we were little we rode tricycles and then we let go of them to enjoy bicycles the go faster and with more agility. In our 5 stages of training Tai Chi internal mastery, each stage you master certain things to become aware of certain things. We keep our growth in awareness, and often times the applications we leave behind because at the next level you will be able to use more efficient and effective applications. When we arrive at the top of the mountain that is when we will really set up the picnic and have a party, play with all the applications in their fullest most enjoyable capacity. Thank you for sharing this fantastic discussion! 😃🙏

[@robertjordon1984]

Thank you Sifu Chester excellent demonstration demo of qi-na, I notice his arm-drag had no effect as you simply shrugged it of. Would be interesting to see you use those same yi/neijin skills performed on an opponent who has a neck lock, but I guess a taichi expert would not end up in that position to begin with unless surprised. I notice that the opponent looked like he winced in shock as you performed Ji or Press on him. I have read Ji is a Triangulating force from the feet, head and hands, is this true or is it just a case of putting your Yi behind you which then thrusts them back?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Good observations! Ji reflects back their force so to the extent his wrist was slightly twisted to begin the role, the force was twisting back into him causing some discomfort. Ji has an element of triangulating from the feet head and hands yes. Good point! I can show. video about neck lock. You're right to think you should avoid that position, because as it closes in and they are only squeezing, your options of defense decreases, but there are still options that we will explore later, particularly in Yi Mastery! 😃🙏

[@andrewearlwu554]

Suggestion, do a breaking of a chokehold from behind that is already locked in. Though you have shown anti mma takedown neutralisation before, i find it hard to visualise the break? Peng or An to destabilise but how to separate the arms?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Good idea! As the hold becomes more locked in your options decrease. Before they fully get there you can redirect the approach and hold. Once they have the hold and they are only squeezing, you can Peng or An to destabilize so that you can move your body to a better position to initiate a counter. Also by seizing control of the Yi to squeeze and pin you, you can make it easier to separate their arms. Post a question to our online forum and I’ll discuss more with you! 😃🙏

[@andrewearlwu554]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi Ok

[@andrewearlwu554]

1st 😊, for views too

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Ooo a totally winning moment! 😃🏆

[@ziggydog5091]

It is easier to counter chin na than it is to apply it.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

That’s very true! You can see too how in BJJ competitions how many matches don’t end in a submission and are decided by points. Qinna can be quite useful in their own circumstances too though! 😃🙏