Clear As Mud

In the early years of my Tai Chi training my instructor would demonstrate a technique quickly and wait for a reaction from the class.

If we were confused at what we had seen he would say ‘clear as mud?’ and then laugh.

I’ve been thinking of what he’d said and now realise there was depth in that remark besides the humour.

As a beginner, the techniques and most of the classical Tai Chi sayings were as ‘clear as mud’ to me.

I couldn’t see the correct technique or the meaning of a saying because of my inexperience and my tendency to analyse too much.

I now realise it’s about the doing rather than the anlaysing that will clear the mud away.

23 years since I started I still make pleasant discoveries of what appears to be a simple technique or saying by practicing more and analysing less.

It’s something I teach beginners – just do – and you will discover the meaning.

For safety reasons I keep a close eye on beginners so they don’t injure themselves.

As long as they’re within the safety limits of a technique I let them discover the meaning for themselves.

And this can be achieved by constant practice.

Otherwise, it will be ‘clear as mud’.