Abiding by the Soft in the Martial Arts

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the Taoist principles of abiding by the yin or abiding by the soft. Specifically, in Taoism, this means that one should favor approaches that are flexible and adaptive rather than rigid and forceful. The essay uses the martial arts as examples of this principle at work in human endeavors, specifically drawing on examples from kung fu and aikido.

From the Paper:

"Abiding by the Soft in the Martial Arts On the surface, one of the hardest principles to understand in Taoism is the idea that individuals should favor the yin principle in their lives, or, rather, that they should abide by the soft. Conceptually it is rather counter-intuitive, especially in Western culture, which often favors strength and brashness over subtlety and finesse. But that is the basis for the point that Lao Tzu was making when he advised fellow Taoists to abide by the soft. It is the idea that all actions will eventually be dominated by the yin principle. Taoism is built on this assumption. While this can seem complicated to understand, it is nevertheless apparent in many human endeavors. Specifically, I will draw on examples from the martial arts to illustrate just how abiding by the soft can be especially useful in mastering those skills."

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