must conform to the free flow of chi and jin.

Wu Gong-Tsao tells us that all forms “will be relaxed, alive,

and steady naturally.”1 The movement of chi is associated with such aspects as lightness, calmness, letting
go, and the spiritual. Jin, like bread dough, has its own tempo and peculiarities. Jin and chi mutually interact,
overlap, and support each other. The concepts that govern chi and jin vary from the Newtonian laws that
govern the material plane. The purpose of this chapter is to attempt to describe these concepts. Undoubtedly
the reader well knows how intangible some of these are.
The Iron Shirt
The exploration of chi and jin begins with the static postures and the principles of Iron Shirt. One of the
beauties of the Universal Healing Tao style is the simple way that it teaches the Iron Shirt. Much of the
mystique has been removed to unveil a natural body structure that is conducive to chi flow in all the major
meridians with a focus on the Governing and Conception vessels. The consequence of improved flow in the
meridians is improved chi flow and functioning of the organs. This, in turn, leads to better health and the
realization of the power, strength, and coordination associated with it. Strength is attained because the
muscles are elongated to their ideal length and performance characteristics. It is called the Iron Shirt because
it makes the chest and abdomen resistant to direct blows.
Because the structure is opened and aligned, the chi and jin can easily flow. Poor coordination is associated
with blocked channels, while open channels allow fine coordination. For example, even the simple warm-ups
of ankle and wrist rotations become awkward when the lower leg or wrist channels are blocked. This leads to
broken and uncoordinated moves during the performance of the complex slow form, and jin cannot pass
through the structure. There is no quick or easy way to fill the body with chi. Rather, the cultivation of chi is
a combined endeavor of the body, mind, and spirit, encompassing almost every aspect of our daily living,
including what and how we eat,