Form application

Students usually find taijiquan form applications to be difficult to understand and learn.
The reasons why are straightforward:

1. They don't know the form itself well enough
2. They are not using their body in a whole-body way
3. Applications are being perceived as techniques
4. The student is attempting to employ 'external' methodology to an internal martial art
5. The mental representation of the taijiquan principles/combat approach etc is not fully formed 

These problems can best be remedied through diligent study and practice.