How to Peel a Banana

I have always peeled bananas the same way you probably do: Grab hold of the stem and yank hard. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the step pops off. Sometimes I have to bite the edge of the stem to get it to peel.

Here's how monkeys peel bananas:

Turn the banana around the other way.
Pinch the tip of the banana. The banana peel will magically split into two.
Easily peel the banana.

It's so simple and easy, and I have never had it fail.

What does this have to do with Daoism?

If you want to learn how to do something, look to the experts. In nature, the experts on banana peeling are the monkeys.


Now here is a picture of a cute monkey.

Who was Zhang Sanfeng?

Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-mythological Daoist figure who is credited with all sorts of things, from acupuncture to Taijiquan.

The phrase "semi-mythological" refers to the possibility that he may have been based on a real person. Actually, people who have done better research than I have suggest he may be based on two different people. Regardless, he has been credited with a lot of stuff he didn't do.

Did Zhang Sanfeng invent Taijiquan?

No. Zhang Sanfeng is credited with inventing the 13 Postures, of which Taijiquan uses a specific variation. I'll publish a post about the "Old" 13 Postures soon.

Let's Cut the Cr** about Tai Chi

I don't usually do this kind of negative post, but:

Let's face it. There's a lot of gray area in the art of Taijiquan. It covers a lot of ground.

But there are some things that Taijiquan is, and there are some things that Taijiquan isn't.

Taijiquan is a martial art, whether you want it to be or not. You don't have to study it with the express aim of hurting people, but it's in there.

I get a lot of people showing up to my classes in the park angrily proclaiming that Taiji isn't a martial art. It's funny, because the people who developed it all seemed to think it is a martial art. Some of them even wrote whole books of applications.

You could argue whether it is an effective martial art or not. That's at least arguable, and I don't blame you if you think it isn't. But saying Taijiquan isn't a martial art is a bit like saying your parents never had sex because you dislike the idea.