How Tai Chi Absorbs a Hit: Expanding Instead of Tensing

*What if the safest way to take a hit… wasn’t to tense?* In this follow-up to our exploration of Tai Chi’s penetrating power (Toujin), we turn the question around: *How does Tai Chi receive force?* Rather than bracing or clenching, traditional Yang-style Tai Chi trains *Song*: a method of expanding internal pressure through the fascia, inflating the body like an airbag or yoga exercise ball. When done correctly, incoming force is dispersed throughout the entire structure instead of being absorbed by a single muscle, joint, or the neck. In this video, Power Slap athletes *Rod* and *Emanuel* experience the difference firsthand. We compare: • Taking punches and slaps while *tensed* vs *Song-expanded* • How impact travels through the body in each state • Head and neck stability under force • Why fascia-based pressure reduces pain and structural shock • How expanding inner pressure increases balance and composure You’ll see how improving Song doesn’t just make strikes hurt less; it makes the entire body more **stable, unified, and resilient under impact**. Taking a hit is more than willpower and muscle strength. It’s totally about structure, pressure, and intelligent force management. --- *Part of the Phoenix Mountain Tai Chi series on Internal Power* Exploring Toujin (penetrating power), Lengjin (cold power), and the fascia-based mechanics behind true Tai Chi strength. . If you’re interested in maximizing striking effectiveness, receiving force without damage, or understanding what internal power actually is, this series is for you. ⚡ Follow his journey to learn Internal Power at our channel! 👊 Unleash your inner power: https://www.phoenixmountaintaichi.com... #TaiChi #InternalPower #PhoenixMountain #PowerSlap