By calming ourselves, sinking and relaxing to reduce tension and discomfor, losing our ego to put aside the fear of loss we can see what is coming much more clearly and the quick is no longer that quick because you know where its coming from and going to, and when it will arrive. Which is why there is the saying that the mind leads the qi. The back needs to be loose but straightened to allow the unrestricted use of tenacity from the muscles connected to it and to provide a clear 'signal' with as little peripheral stimulus to the nerves emenating from the spinal cord to the muscles. Hence Taijiquan movements are often described as 'propelled'. Qi is present in the body all the time but it is its specific gathering, focus and transmission that makes it relevant in terms of martial arts.
All comments are most welcome.
The copyright is retained by the author so please do not publish it. Check with me first if you want to do anything public with it. Please distrbute the document complete. This document was written for the benefit of fellow enthusiasts, please do not use it for commercial purposes or profit making purposes.