In the intricate mechanics of Taiji, Indirect Power is not about conflict at the point of contact, but a chain of structural alignments that transforms the body into a high-leverage machine. By establishing a “Handle” on an opponent—a fixed point of contact that remains unchanged—the practitioner shifts the source of movement away from the limbs and into the kua, waist, and heels. This method relies on the “Analogy of the Train,” where each additional joint engaged adds a new carriage of force to the engine, resulting in a cumulative pressure that overwhelms linear resistance without a corresponding increase in effort.
Central to this mastery is the distinction between Positive and Negative strategies, governed by the geometry of contact. Through Positive Indirect Power, the practitioner maintains a steady point of contact while expanding the internal distance from their anchor to create a mechanical advantage. This expansion effectively increases the “lever arm” of the body, applying the physics of torque to multiply “four ounces into a thousand pounds of force“. By ensuring that power is added sequentially and locked into a single unit, the Taiji practitioner moves from the struggle of “one-on-one” direct power into a sophisticated system of indirect transmission where structure trumps raw power.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 42 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English   Year: 2026 Location: Edmonton, Canada
In this class, we discussed that every action must be a stretch. By definition, a stretch requires at least one non-moving dot, and one moving dot. Without a non-moving dot, it is just a toss. As an example, in the first right turn in the first move of yilu. It requires a non-moving vertical rod, and when we turn to the right, it is a stretch around the vertical rod. At the same time, the tip of the left hand middle finger and the middle of the chest form a horizontal rod, as we turn to the right, the left elbow stretches around this horizontal rod, and this also drives the left hand along the horizontal rod outwards.
Simon asked: "How to train to make myself stronger?". Kelvin answered: "That's not the right question to ask. We don't make ourselves stronger, but what we train to do may make the opponent feel that way. We train to match the opponent in terms of angle, speed, and power. Assuming that we are not leaning against a wall, the only solid and non-moving place is the ground. We match the opponent by redirecting his/her incoming force to the ground, this requires us to adjust/rotate our joints, and keep ourselves not moving."
We train the redirection of incoming power through the wall-pushing exercise. We learn to align our body as we use the hands to push against the wall. The push on the wall must be matched by the foot pushing the ground.