Momentum force: A force with inertia. Momentum force is simply the force generated by movement. It is an active power. Sometimes this force is unstoppable. What we usually hear is “it’s hard to gather overwhelmed water”, and “the arrow sent out” is this kind of force. In the simplest terms, we throw a stone out, and once it’s out, although in the air, we are no longer able to change its direction or force. Synonyms: active force, dynamic force.
Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang
In Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method, we believe that this kind of force belongs to the one that is easily “borrowed” by the opponent. Unless absolutely necessary, try not to use this force. Therefore, this kind of force is not advocated in Taijiquan. Of course, this can also be strengthened through practice. But this force can be said to be a natural force in the usual sense. Even if you don’t study and practice, everyone is born with this kind of force to some extent.
On the contrary, another kind of force: static force (also called structural force, immobile force, passive force) is not like this. An object itself can generate a force by adjusting its structure. This force has no inertia and no direct external force. This is a powerless force. For example, a chair itself has no power, but when you sit on it, you can’t do anything to it. That is, it can give a corresponding(equal) force that dissolves the force you give. This kind of force is the one that Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method focuses on. We spend a lot of energy to study this force, to train this force.
Original post in Chinese by Master Chen Zhonghua. Translation-Yuxin Liu
