the rolling grappling for position in ground fighting is like the transitions in the form its the "setting up" of technique rather than the technique or move in of itself. or like good push hands it is all principled play that can come out into any move within the form.... so in four hands at any time it could become any move of the form. Grappling is like that.... rolling for position then a technique is applied (arm bar, kimura etc...) I think this it what makes it hard to see, the rigid attitude of "THIS IS THE APPLICATION FOR BRUSH KNEE PUSH" just makes it hard to see the wood for the trees!
I think this is also a fundamental issue with presenting information in today's media forums, with Tai chi and BJJ there is a technical break down of principles that get layered up to endow the practitioner with skills.... So we present videos or photos of 1 layer of skill or principle and it is seen out of context and so misunderstood.
through some of my reading on jiu jitsu I have come across the idea that it can be described as the art of yielding
The Principles of Yielding
- When forces collide there is destruction.
- A large force needs only a small force to redirect it.
- Yielding is more effective than resisting.
these are principles taken form a jiu jitsu school.
Tai chi has the very same principles I have picked some phrases from the classics to illustrate this point.
A feather cannot be placed,
and a fly cannot alight
on any part of the body.
The opponent does not know me;
I alone know him.
To become a peerless boxer results from this.
There are many boxing arts.
Although they use different forms,
for the most part they don't go beyond
the strong dominating the weak,
and the slow resigning to the swift.
The strong defeating the weak
and the slow hands ceding to the swift hands
are all the results of natural abilities
and not of well-trained techniques.
From the sentence "A force of four ounces deflects a thousand pounds"
we know that the technique is not accomplished with strength.
