FREE MAN

In 2010, one major documentary department of Chinese International Channel CCTV4, "Discovery" worked in collaboration with the China Institute of Sports Science Research Center (CISS) to produce this movie on decrypting Tai Chuan skills with the most advanced scientific testing instruments.
It is the first of this kind to be officially approved by Chinese Government. After two years of post-preparation, the key members of this project were finally selected: - Zhang Zhijun is the main testing member who has mastered Tai Chi Chuan's highest level skills. These skills are precisely to be the ones to be decrypted in this movie. - Director Li Xiangchen will lead directly his research team during all this project, to guaranty its program's method and its scientific nature, - High skilled martial artists in Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Dachengquan, Baji, Sanda, etc...such as Dou Chun, Xu Yong, Yu Zhang, Guo Liang, Li Xumin, Yao Yu: all are confirmed athletes with more than 20 years training experience.
And as it will be confirmed during the scientific tests of this project, all the opponents opposed to Zhang Zhijun have in general higher natural advantages such as height, weight and physical strength compared to Zhang. During these physical confrontation Zhang Zhijun will, as his illustrous precedecessors, will defeat easily all his opponents, dealing with gentleness and illustrating once again the saying "four ounces defeating a thousand pounds".
Among the very important results issued from these tests:

1) Director Li Xiangchen will provide the latest scientific analysis of "screwing wrist" often used by top martial artists within combat or sparring. Li explains that during his confrontation with his opponent: Zhang is first stretching his opponent's lever arm. Then he is adding with his fingers pointing his opponent, a first force component: applied on the side of his hand, pressing it down and but also with a second force component which is rotating.

2) When both opponents enter in contact, it was found that Zhang was exerting all muscles involved in his movements a very balanced contraction which leads him to dominate his confrontation. Concerning how Zhang can achieve easy domination, in a relaxed and “elegant” way, Director Li explains as followed: “The core of Tai Chi Chuan is based on two aspects: a) transform one’s opponent attack with the rule “Four ounces defeating thousand pounds” , b) when counterattacking use the rule “thousand pounds defeating four ounces”. Professor Li has also decided to experience by himself a Tai Chi Chuan strike, this time given by Zhang Peng, disciple of Zhang Zhijun. 

He will later give to Tai Chi Chuan a very high degree of evaluation, saying: “Tai Chi(Taiji) defines the highest state in martial arts”.

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