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Redirect the Chi

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In Tai Chi language ‘rooting’ is the ability to connect yourself to the earth.

It’s an important skill to develop for two reasons;

  1. develop proper structural alignment and stance
  2. to redirect someone’s force against you

Let’s look at the redirection aspect.

Practicing with a partner is ideal but if this is not possible then a punching bag is a good substitute.

Here’s how I do it.

I align myself in an empty stance (one foot forward – the majority of the weight on my back foot) – in front of my punching bag.

Then I slightly push the bag forward with both hands and hold that position for a few seconds.  As I feel the resistance of the bag I relax my shoulders and elbows and redirect the force into my hands, arms, shoulders, spine, legs and into the ground.

Then I change feet and work the other side of the body.

You can do this exercise with any of the postures but I suggest you start with this simple exercise so you can learn easier.

Relaxation and proper alignment are the keys to correct ‘rooting’ and redirection of an opppent’s force (Chi).

The Write Chi

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Recently I turned over a new leaf and my doona cover to get out of bed at 5.55am.

Yes, that’s a.m. not p.m.

Why?

Well,  I’ve decided to finish my first draft of my screenplay and the early start is the only way I can achieve this.

The early start allows me to complete my 30 minute Chi Kung set, have breakfast and then do one of hour of writing before I start my paid job.

It also takes the pressure of trying to complete my 2-3 sessions of Chi Kung and Tai Chi throughout the day.

The Chi Kung set has been an enormous help for creative thinking and writing as it gets the chi to flow.

I think and feel better at that time of the morning and it also energises me at the same time.

It’s amazing what you can achieve when you practice the ‘write chi’.

Really Small Frame Tai Chi

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Several years ago I travelled overseas by plane from Australia to Europe for a holiday.

Every now and again I did some Chi Kung exercises in my seat to stretch out, narrowly avoiding the flight attendant running over my toe or knocking my knee with the drinks trolley.

After several hours I needed to do some Tai Chi so I ventured to the back of the plane to practice and get the Chi to flow.

Well, it was an adventure because I had to manoeuvre my way through a fog of smoke that appeared from the back seats, just below the ‘no smoking’ sign.  There was no point in telling the attendants as some of them were smoking as well.

I was probably better off practicing on the wing of the plane but it would have been a bit draughty so I decided to back myself against the wall and adopt a standing posture.

Embrace the tree posture didn’t work as I had passing traffic occassionaly bump into me. I was tempted to do so fajing but that would have been unsociable.

I settled for a standing posture with my arms to the side and visualised the movements from the form. I could feel the Chi flow again and eventually returned to my seat and made sure I tucked my long skinny legs in, to avoid the trolley menace.

I felt energised and was happy I was able to do my ‘really small frame Tai Chi’ in a confined space.

Shaky? Sink The Chi

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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.