Tai Chi: When Force Meets Qi

What happens when we meet force with Qi in Tai Chi? What is Qi—and how can it be demonstrated in a tangible, observable way? In this video, Susan Thompson isolates and applies the internal force of Qi to reveal how it can affect another person’s structure without relying on physical strength or mechanical technique.

This is a focused exploration of Qi as an internal principle, shown clearly and simply through live interaction. The demonstration uses a partner with no prior Tai Chi experience and no preparation. What you see is spontaneous and unrehearsed—a clear window into the energetic qualities that define advanced internal Tai Chi.

Qi (氣) is the foundational concept in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and internal arts like Tai Chi. It refers to the vital force or energetic process that animates and sustains all life and natural phenomena. In Tai Chi, Qi is not simply a metaphorical energy — it is the dynamic use of energy within the body and the universe, shaped by yin and yang interactions and your own intention.

The traditional Chinese character for Qi is 氣, composed of:
气 (steam, vapor)
米 (uncooked rice)
Together, they express the idea of invisible energy arising from material transformation — the steam (energy) that rises from cooking rice (matter). This reflects Qi’s dual nature: it has no fixed form, yet it arises from and influences the physical world.

⚡ Qi is the body’s intrinsic life force—a subtle, intelligent current of bioelectric energy that moves within and around all living beings. In Tai Chi, Qi is not imagined or symbolic. It is a real, trainable capacity that flows through intention and internal organization such as postural structure and the state of Song. When accessed with clarity, it can produce clear physical effects without tension or struggle.