Two days ago, I learned the following at the weekly t’ai chi practice east of the Capitol:

– Allow no more pressure on your body than you would allow on your eyeball. To avoid such pressure, yield powerfully, and push substantially with the ch’i, using no more than 4 ounces.

– Be soft. Do not brace against a push. Do not stiffen. Create substantial space between you and your opponent. Sometimes leaning is needed. One can lean back and still have a straight line from the head to spine.

The foregoing lessons apply to non-physical conflict, too.