COPYRIGHT © JOHN BRACY 2008 - FROM WORK IN PROGRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

How jaw and neck tension relate to power and performance

I discovered the relationship between "smiling" and a non clinched jaw, neck and back pain therapy and training of athletes a number of years ago while working with an extremely tense and locked up client. I had been working with the physically and emotionally rigid middle age businessman for some time trying to get him to relax and thereby more effectively express physical power. He was so tense, it was miraculous he was able to move at all. At the time I had an intuitive, understanding of the relationship between smiling, relaxation and athletic performance. (I later came to understand these in terms of the relationship between tense facial feature-particularly of the jaw-and the holding of tension along the cervical spine.) While training the client in "standing practice," [READ ABOUT STANDING PRACTICE] I tried to get him to become a bit less rigid and smile while he practiced some slow movements, however, any attempt to get him to surrender his characteristic frown was useless. 

As described earlier and in the appendix, [NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EXCERPT]  standing practice is central to Tai Chi and related martial art forms. Early stages of training involve holding specific postures for at least ten minutes (the time it takes chronic tension patterns to release[1]). When practiced correctly, tension most often releases in the neck, shoulder and back after a few minutes. However, in the case in question, the client was unable to relax and held on to tension as if his life depended on it. Encouraging him to smile (and thereby release tension faster) during practice was fruitless. When he really tried he could affect a smile for about a half a second, but his face would inevitably and almost immediately return to its preferred habitual frown. Determined to find a way for him to keep his "smile" in place longer, I grabbed a pen off the front desk and asked him to hold the device sideways with his teeth.  It worked!  Not only did the pen help him break his habitual habit patterns, but when he held the "device" in his mouth he was express more power, move in a more fluid manner and easily sustain a physical training state called "athletic connection."[1] 

Intrigued by the implications of "grubby pen-smile technique," I began to experiment with the newfound training method with both groups and individuals. Substituting the grubby pen on the desk for a more sanitary alternative, students and instructors alike began to use disposable wooden chopsticks in many classes and the practice became popular. Benefits of the unorthodox training were noticed immediately. Both students and humble teacher experienced faster release of tense shoulder and neck muscles, as well as improved ability to understand the elusive nature of relaxed Tai Chi power and the rapid improvement of otherwise sore backs and shoulders by group members caused them to request "chopstick training" more frequently. As more students requested the "chopstick training," and I am sure that for a time we became the largest martial art school purchaser of chopsticks in the west. 

In terms of athletic training associated with what in Tai Chi related arts is referred to as relaxed power, a central tenet is that it is impossible to manifest relaxed power when one is tense. Emphasizing the relationship between special mind-body states described below in part VIII,[not included in this excerpt] advanced mind-body states, because of consciously or unconsciously attained physical and emotional relaxation, allow the individual to achieve optimal potential even while in the midst of conflict. Furthermore, this may be the best explanation for how some very advanced individuals are able to achieve what others call the "miraculous."

Release of dysfunctional jaw and neck tension is one aspect of how not only some of the great masters of internal martial arts such as Morihei Ueshiba and Wang Xiang-Zai, but the worlds greatest athletes, Mohamed Ali, Michael Jordon and others are able to first master relaxed and calm state of mind, even while under stress, and thus attain the incredible.

 [READ ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND EMOTIONS AND INTERNAL POWER]

[READ ABOUT TRAINING TO OPTIMIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CRANIUM BASE AND TOP OF THE CERVICAL SPINE (BACK OF THE HEAD TO TOP OF THE NECK)]

[1] Descriptions of "athletic connection" along with tests for the attribute are included in the appendix.

[1] However, note that correct posture is essential. When incorrectly taught, posture exacerbates pain and tension.