Like Water for Tai Chi

In tai chi, water is often used as a metaphor for chi.  I guess air could be used as well, but water just fits so perfectly.  Water always seeks to lowest place available and fills it completely.  We want to be grounded when playing tai chi so thinking of your root as water can be helpful when developing it, and remember developing anything in tai chi never really ends.  You could also use the analogy of tree roots for grounding; however, water moves more quickly than a tree and it fills in all the empty spaces.

If you’ve ever tried to apply any form of rapid force under water, such as a kick or punch, you know how difficult it is to do.  The water doesn’t resist you completely.  The more force you use the more resistance it provides.  It allows you to apply force, but it makes you work for it.  It drains you of energy and you can’t get away from it.

In push hands exercises, where you feel your partner’s energy, you want to stick to your partner like water.  If they move away you move in.  If they move toward you, you move around them applying slightly less force than what they are.  If they apply explosive force your aim is to accept that force and direct it back to them, to attack like water whenever possible, or to simply let it play out without effect.

Water doesn’t have a force of it’s own.  It borrows from whatever is acting upon it.  A raging river is using the force of gravity while a still pool of water uses your energy to move.  Water never tires, it simply moves with whatever is applying force to it.

Next time you’re practicing try feeling your body’s energy as water.  Allow it to move your waist, your arms, your legs.  This is being loose with structure.  If your posture is off, you’ll learn to feel the energy being cut off like a kinked garden hose.  If your posture is good, you’ll feel the energy flowing smoothly.

Your thoughts, experiences?

John

P.S.  I found this beautiful picture here:  http://zhtw.treknature.com/gallery/photo11564.htm

Be Sociable, Share!

•