<span class="chinese-post-title">二、無畏喫虧</span> Do Not Fear Losing from the <span class="chinese-post-title">三無畏</span> Three Fearlessnesses by <span class="chinese-post-title">鄭曼青</span> Zhèng Mànqīng

二、無畏喫虧。太極拳要訣曰。舍己從人。舍己從人哪有不吃虧。故髯之十三篇開卷。便謂要學喫虧。何謂其學也。聽人進攻進擊。非獨不抗。且不還手。尤要黏連貼隨。方能輕輕走化。此意匪淺學及粗疎者所能。況初學者焉得不喫虧。若畏喫虧。莫如弗學。願欲學之。莫若學喫虧始。學喫虧。便是不貪便宜。貪小便宜喫小虧。貪大便宜喫大虧。反此者。即是吃小虧得小便宜。喫大虧而後可以得大便宜。有智慧者。必欲得體用之實。將何從下手。老子不有云乎。專氣致柔。能嬰兒乎。此即太極拳之主旨。學者既從是而學焉。倘能得專氣致柔。便學得喫虧之妙法。則已不畏喫虧矣。歌訣所謂。任他巨力來打我。牽動四兩撥千斤。則已得致柔之效用矣。

"Second: Do not fear losing. The fundamental principle in taichi is: "Yield to follow others." Yielding up your position to follow your opponent is, most decidedly, losing. In Chapter One of my Thirteen Treatises I discussed the importance of investing in losing—but where do you begin? While listening to your opponent's advance and attack, not only should you not resist, and stick to him, then you can lightly turn and neutralize. The sensitivity required for this eludes those with a crude or superficial understanding. Moreover, a beginner cannot possibly avoid losing and defeat, so if you fear defeat you may as well not even begin. If you want to study, begin by investing in loss. An investment in loss eliminates any greed for superficial advantages. Greediness for petty advantages results in minor losses, while greediness for large advantages results in major losses. On the other hand, a tiny investment in loss brings minor benefits, while a large investment in loss brings you great long-term benefits.

The intelligent and sensitive realize a unification of form with function. Where do we start? With Lao Tzu's idea, taichi's prime directive is: "Concentrate your ch'i to become soft and young." Concentrating your ch'i to become soft is the only proper method to invest in loss—then you will not fear losing. The Taichi Classics says, "Let him attack with all he has, I will deflect it with four ounces of strength." At this level you have learned the application of softness."

Translated by Mark Hennessy