T’AI CHI PUNCHING IS DIFFERENT

In T’ai Chi we try to use the least amount of energy to gain the greatest
amount of work. To do this we have to know how to use the body
and not just the arm to punch.
Chapter Two: Punching & Kicking: Page 40
If we do not use any muscle power at all and just have a totally relaxed
arm, we are able to turn the waist so that the arm will throw out
at great speed like the principle of the whip. The handle and larger
part of the rope is not traveling very fast but at the end when the whip
cracks, that small end piece is like lightening and has much power.
This is because there is a lot of energy being concentrated down into
a small area. We use this same principle in punching. All we have to
do is to control the fist using the least amount of muscle power so
that it hits its target.
In T’ai chi we use the last two knuckles, i.e. the ‘weakest’ (or are
they). Most so called ‘hard styles’ look in amazement when we use
these knuckles to punch very hard objects with no damage to the
bones. Wing-Chun uses these same bones but with the fist closed
tightly so as not to damage the bones. After many years of practice
we are able to use these knuckles without causing injury through lots
of practice.