Energies Of Tai Chi Part 6 - Cai Jin ("Pluck Energy")

Cai Jin, like all the Tai Chi "energies," is a method of dealing with force. If you have ever plucked an apple from a tree, you know the principle behind "Pluck." If you pull an apple slowly, the branch bends down with it. If you "jerk" the apple suddenly and quickly, it snaps right off the branch. Cai Jin is the ability to suddenly take away the opponent’s structure by disrupting their base and direction. Instead of pulling with the arm, Cai Jin uses whole-body connection and timing to steal their balance at the moment they are committed. In this video, I break down what Cai Jin actually is, how it works, and where it shows up in Taijiquan. When Cai is correct, very little effort is needed. Pluck is about: Catching the opponent at the moment of commitment Using the body—not the arm—to create the action Disrupting their alignment and base And maintaining your own structure while they lose theirs When Cai is correct, the opponent doesn’t feel like they’re being pulled. They feel like they have been jerked in a direction they weren't expecting. Their structure disappears, their balance is gone, and they can’t recover in time. Like the other jins, it can appear in many ways—not just through the hands, but anywhere the body is connected and able to transmit force. I’m Ken Gullette, and I have studied, practiced, and taught Taijiquan since 1987. I have learned from top Chen family masters and their disciples. I teach students around the world through my videos and my "online school" at www.internalfightingarts.com. Members study 1,000 videos and learn with me in live Zoom sessions. My teaching centers around internal body mechanics and the relaxed power they give you. I do not use mystical mumbo-jumbo in my teaching. This is the sixth in a series of eight videos on the "energies" of Taijiquan. Enjoy.