Archives for August 2010

Shaky? Sink The Chi

Quotes like ‘sinking the Chi’ can be obscure so the following is a a practical example to help you understand and feel the concept.

I regularly practice a Chi Kung technique which I call ‘Shaky’.

I stand in the ’embrace the tree’ posture.

Then I shake my entire body for 60 seconds.

This sounds easy but it is very demanding. After about 30 seconds it’s normal to breathe heavily and feel tension in the arms and the shoulders.

When I start to feel these sensations I ‘sink the chi’ so I can remain calm for the entire 60 seconds and get a proper work out.

Here’s how I do it.

I focus on visualising, dissolving the chi down to my tan tien and keeping it there.

If the chi rises I repeat the process until I reach my target of 60 seconds.

This simple technique is important in any cardiovascula Tai Chi workouts such as weapons, self defence and general repetitive movements.

So if you are on shaky grounds, don’t forget to sink the chi.

More tips on push hands and sparring by Guo Shifu. I like his explanation and demonstration on sparring and moving like a ‘sphere’.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SliCE30sM&feature=related[/youtube]

Here’s a very good explanation and demonstration of Push Hands and sparring by Guo Shufu.

I’ve watched this clip several times. The first few times I concentrated on reading the subtitles and then focused on the actual demonstrations.

It’s certainly a great resource if you want to learn the finer points of Push Hands and tips on sparring.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYFcUxep9TE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

I’ve trained with Western doctors who believed in Chi.

And I’ve read about a Tai Chi master who doesn’t believe in Chi.

Is Chi real?

Well, I can’t prove it exist. And it doesn’t matter if Chi exists, technically anyway.

To me the concept of Chi is more valuable rather than proving its existence.

And the way to understand the concept of Chi is to reflect on the philosophy of Tai Chi and practice the movements.

When this is done over a period of time you will then be able to ‘feel’ the Chi ‘regardless of whether it exists or not’.