Taiji Quan is a Chinese martial art with millions of practitioners worldwide-loved by people regardless of age or sex-that also attracts many adherents from other styles of martial arts. As such, it is quite flexible, adaptable, and full of possibility. However, although Taiji Quan is a martial art with combative capability, regrettably its combative aspect has been lost. In fighting tournaments, competitions, etc., there is no record of a Taiji Quan practitioner being victorious in over one hundred years. It is an officially recognized fact in the martial arts world that Taiji Quan cannot be used.

However, any style or system is but an entrance to martial arts. Each style or system inherently conceives of martial arts and combat from its distinct point of view, and regards its opinion as normative and absolute. As such, they stop at the level of one-dimensional subjectivity. There can be no objective knowledge regarding other styles if one has not graduated from style. The training system from which graduation is forever impossible is predicated upon mind control through information management, restriction of action and movement, and emotional control. The restraint of subjectivity precludes the possibility of Essence-Recognition and Evolution, making the subjectivity of style and system the summit of achievement, stopping at the dimension of self-orientation.

Furthermore, the inability to apply training is a condition that is not only restricted to Taiji Quan. It is a well-known fact that many martial arts and Budo, despite years of training, cannot use their form. In Budo for example, the use of “one-two punch” and combination technique of high and low kicks constitutes “use.”

“An admonition opposes the ear, and truth wakes one from dreaming.” Regarding? martial arts schools and contemporary Bushido, which claim their methods can be used, the truth is they can only be used in three situations: 1) if a student is the partner, 2) if a smaller, weaker person is the partner, and 3) if an amateur is the partner. When a partner becomes an adversary, an experienced martial artist, or a fighting expert, the claims of usefulness fall short; a deplorable state indeed. A martial art must be effective against any opponent.

In the event of a sudden conflict, one cannot select the opponent’s body type, school, style, etc. In Sun-Tzu’s classic of military tactics, “The Art of War,” it is said “Know yourself, know your enemy, and never lose in 100 conflicts. Know yourself, know not your enemy, win half the time, lose half the time. Know not yourself, know not your enemy, and surely lose.” It is easy for the mouth to say that the “self and enemy are known,” and easier still to hear the words. However, in school-based martial arts and the contemporary classification-management of fighting styles, it is difficult to actually study technical principle and tactical law.? For the martial art from which graduation is impossible, as in Budo, this constitutes the condition of “not knowing oneself,” and the vertical division-organization by school and style creates a contemporary condition of “not knowing the enemy.” Physique, style/system, technique, and skill level are all examples of information about an opponent, but in a sudden conflict, it is difficult to know such information. Furthermore, it is impossible to know all martial arts and fighting styles/systems, as they number in the thousands.? Also, there are many people who have studied in more than one system of martial arts. Therefore, as long as consciousness is limited by the subjectivity of fighting style and system, it is impossible to objectively “known the enemy.”

The Proposal of Master Su Dongchen’s Essence of Evolution:
“To know oneself and the enemy” is to maintain objectivity. Of course anyone will become emotional if the faults of their style or school are touched upon.? Because humans are emotional animals, emotion often supercedes fact, and if there is too much emotional speech and conduct, people can become blind.? Therefore, Master Su of EOE proposes the following direction to bypass emotional consideration, with the common starting point that “style is the entrance of martial arts, and system is but a part of combat.” (see index).

Because styles of martial arts and fighting systems have prepared their own framework of thought, their fate is to think and reason within the limits of that framework. For example, although Taiji Quan includes Chen-style, Yang-style, Wu-style, Sun-style, etc., it is impossible for Y-formula Taiji Quan to comment upon X-formula Taiji Quan. This state is not limited to Taiji Quan; Judo for example is “only Judo” from beginning to end, and cannot objectively evaluate jujutsu, aikido, wrestling, Shuai Jiao, Sambo, etc. Styles and systems of martial arts have an inherently narrow technical theory and combat method, therefore they are not in the position to comprehend other styles and systems. One cannot exceed the framework of style and system if one’s aim and direction are confined to those styles and systems. To exceed these frameworks, a conversion of one’s thinking is necessary.

There are countless forms in Taiji Quan, so many that one can only guess the true number. However, all arts under the umbrella of Taiji Quan share three common elements: 1) the Taiji form opening, 2) the Taiji “13 Postures,” and 3) the elements of “martial arts,” i.e. defense, striking, throwing, etc. Through logical verification and actual, physical proof, one may transcend the style framework and system regulation to discover the Essence of Taiji Quan.

EOE Proposal: Taiji Quan is not slow - it is constant speed. Taiji Quan is not soft - it is wave motion.
1) The Definition of Taiji Quan:
“太” - Tai: the Sun, or a very large thing. EOE Theory: Tai represents diffusion/expansion, the idea of becoming large.
“極” - Ji: the “limit” or “extreme” point, the last place. EOE Theory: Ji represents the convergence/contraction which occurs once an extreme point of diffusion/expansion is reached.
“拳” - Quan: literally, “fist.”? There is shape understanding, which ends interpretation at the level of a literal fist. EOE Theory: the depth understanding of fist is recognition of the “fist formation movement,” and its possibilities of application.

2) Essence of Taiji Quan:
The Essence of Taiji Quan is the “Taiji Opening,” which is the beginning motion of all Taiji Quan styles. The degree of research regarding the Taiji Opening is connected with the level of depth recognition of Taiji Quan.

3) Foundations of Taiji Quan:
Taiji 13 Postures = 8 methods: expansion, pulling, press, push, pick, tear, elbow, leaning, plus the 5 elements: center, front, back, left, right.

4) Martial Arts Elements:
Technical advancement of defense method, striking method, and controlling method.? Tactical deployment in long range, middle range, and short range. Movement conversion including small posture, medium posture, and large posture.? Physical evolution from point-line method to crossing method to spiral method.