By Phillip Starr
First off, the correct word for this condition in Chinese is “song” (松), which translates roughly as “loose.” It doesn't imply that one should become “wet rag” relaxed or flaccid; rather, one should be loose, flexible, and elastic, and use no more muscular effort (to accomplish a given task) than is absolutely necessary. There is no residual tension stored anywhere.
Of course, it also applies to your mind. Remember that your body is but an outward expression of your mind; if your mind is tense, so your body will also be tense. The mind is relaxed because it isn't attached to anything. Deep, rhythmical abdominal breathing helps foster a relaxed mind.
Tensed muscles don't move very fast. In fact, they're an impediment to quick, smooth movement. This is one reason why, in punching for instance, the fist is NOT squeezed tightly at all. To do so creates unnecessary tension in the hand, wrist, forearm, and even the shoulder. In so far as handling various weapons is concerned, it's the same; the weapon shouldn't be gripped tightly at all. The hand(s) should maintain a proper grip (all of the fingers grip the weapon, none of them hang loose) at all times but prior to delivery of a strike/cut, the grip isn't tightened because that impedes proper handling of the weapon and hence, correct, precise technique. If the grip or any part of the body is tense, too many unnecessary muscles become involved. This results in flawed technique (although it may LOOK good, it's wrong) as well as fatigue.
Coaches and instructors in all activities – from baseball to combat shooting – constantly remind players and participants to RELAX...both body and mind. Relaxed (song...remember song?) muscles REACT FASTER than tensed muscles. If you watch (a video) of an experienced, well-trained group of special forces operators or SeALS clear a “shooting house”, you'll notice that they're not tensed up at all...in fact, they're very relaxed. That's one of the reasons why they can respond so efficiently to threats. If your reaction time is giving you problems, unnecessary tension may very well be the culprit.
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Learning to relax when standing still, performing basic techniques, and performing your set is one thing...but doing it under pressure is another. By “pressure”, I mean the very real possibility that you might catch a punch in your mouth... It's more a mental exercise than physical. If your body tightens up under pressure, it's because your mind is fearful and has caused it. This is where two-person routines are most helpful but they should be practiced only AFTER you have learned:
To stay relaxed in a static pocture. Completely relaxed.
To perform basic techniques while maintaining a relaxed condition.
To perform your forms while being relaxed. NO tension!
And that's going to take a while...maybe 2-3 years at least.
Once you can do those things and maintain a relaxed condition throughout, ONLY THEN should you attempt the tw-person routines. Each one should be practiced regularly until you can do it and stay relaxed at all times:
3-Step Fight
1-Step Fight
Freestyle 1-Step Fight
You're looking at several years of practice... especially if your training partner attacks powerfully, doing his best to strike you! Then the threat is REAL and your mind darned well knows it. Teaching it (and consequently, your body) to remain relaxed under this very real pressure is going to take some time. Don't try to hurry it. Ever. This is one reason why SeALS and other special operators train constantly, regardless of how much experience they have.
This is the key to understanding what the famous lawman of the Old West, Wyatt Earp, meant when he explained how to survive a gunfight...
“You have to take your time...in a hurry.”
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