Self Defense Lessons #1, by Robert Agar-Hutton

Robert Agar-Hutton offers really sound lessons on the self defense applications of T'ai Chi.

T'ai Chi is an art of simplicity.  You want to do the least possible to get the most result.

The challenge for beginners is to learn the principles and movements, so they practice the form correctly.  But for them to apply the form for self-defense, they must be able to do two seemingly contradictory things:

1. Through conscientious, daily practice, the form ought to be come second nature.  That is, they don't think, they don't deliberate.  They simply do the form naturally, and let the mind - or i - command the chi.  They become at one with the flow of their chi and the energy of the Universal around them.  
2. Through even more conscientious, daily practice, advanced practitioners know to let the situation dictate how they ought to apply what they've learned.  You see, the form is only a means to a end, which is strengthening body, mind and spirit.  Then, it becomes a platform for departure or variation.  That is, the form is modified according to the threatening situation, and even discarded if necessary.

It was Bruce Lee who talked about the form of no-form.  It wasn't formless per se.  Rather, in brief, it was anything goes - strategy, technique or ploy - when it's a life-or-death matter and you must defend yourself.