The Principle of Muscle States
In Taijiquan, the muscles of each body part shift—without any fixed sequence—among discrete functional states. In this framework, four such states are defined by how they respond to External Forces: gravity and impact.
1. The Principle
Distinguishing these states is pivotal for studying mind–body interaction in motion. They manifest under the conscious command of the mind rather than instinctive reflex and can therefore be observed most reliably in Taijiquan practitioners (and in related internal arts with similar principles).
The four states are Pure-Relax, Tightening, Yielding, and Holding.
2. The Definition of States
- Pure-Relax: A state in which muscles not presently supporting posture (against gravity) or powering movement (against external pressure or through internal effort) are released from engagement.
- Tightening: A state in which muscles that raise or propel a part—or the whole—of the body tense to generate movement by internal effort when usable External Forces are insufficient.
- Yielding: A state in which muscles under pressure lessen their tension under the direction of Yi, allowing part or the entire body to move by absorbing and repurposing External Forces (e.g., gravity or impact) rather than meeting them with internal resistance.
- Holding: A state in which selected muscles are Relaxed under Yi only to the degree that the segments engaged in maintaining a posture neither yield to nor overpower External Force, keeping their relative geometry unchanged under load.
Taijiquan Framework 