The qi is always nurtured without harm.
Let the qi move as in a pearl with nine passages without breaks so that there is no part it cannot reach.
In moving the qi sticks to the back and permeates the spine.
(Wu Yu-hsiang)
Silk
The silkworm spins its cocoon from raw silk.
Each cocoon is made of a single continuous thread of silk measuring
between 1000 to 3000 feet long.
When the caterpillar eats its way through the cocoon, it destroys the
silk.
The Chinese found that the silk could be extracted by boiling the cocoon
and killing the caterpillar.
This practice has led
to the emergence of a number of protest groups who feel that the method is
inappropriate.
Drawing
The thread must be drawn from the cocoon in a very particular way in order to
avoid damaging the silk.
If it is drawn too quickly, the thread will snap.
Too slowly and it will sag.
The action must be slow and smooth, without any gaps and deficiencies.
Dynamic Balancing Tai Chi takes its strength from this operation.
What is reeling silk?
In
tai chi,
the body needs to sustain a consistent vector of force in a given
direction.
This is achieved by aligning the body so that a path is provided for the force
to travel along.
The path is called 'inherent peng'.
It cannot be broken when the body moves or turns, otherwise the ability to
transmit power is lost.
Reeling silk is a means of utilising the connective tissues of the body, along
with soft muscles, spine and waist - in order to provide this path.
The energy wave needs to use your body as a conduit.
If the channel is weak or tense in any way, the wave will be blocked
within.
Your body must be internally strong and loose from the ground to fingertips.
Winding
Reeling silk is markedly different from mere connection.
Its unique quality is the use of circularity.
Spiralling and twisting provide the underlying physical framework for this type
of movement.
'Winding' or 'drawing' refers to action of bringing force towards you and is
reflected in the
jing of rollback and pluck.
'Reeling' is the reverse of winding; in which force is projected (fa jing)
from the body by the use of spiralling.
When you perform reeling silk, your body should move like a caterpillar;
undulating, feeding an energy wave through the entire structure.
Circles and spirals
Tai chi gains its strength by way of the curved, and every movement involves
spiralling.
The twisting and turning of the body in tai chi is usually far more subtle than
in bagwa, with only the barest hint of spiralling evident to the observer.
It is important not to exaggerate the use of spiralling, otherwise the joints
will close and freedom of movement is lost.
As with everything else in your practice,
intent is essential.
Chen style uses reeling silk in a more explicit manner than the Dynamic
Balancing Tai Chi
system.
Inexperienced exponents simply twist their disconnected limbs instead of
unifying the complete structure for every movement.
The use of reeling silk is essential during
self defence, where the wave-like undulations
are used to absorb and redirect incoming force.
Learning
Students in our school begin by
learning how to perform a whole series of qigong/neigong exercises
which lay the foundation for reeling silk.
This takes place in beginners part 1.
In part 2, the same exercises are then reconsidered with a different emphasis.
Coordination and timing become the focus, as well as alignment.
By moving the body in an increasingly integrated manner, the strength increases
and the correct muscles are used for the production of power.
Lines of force are critical at this stage. In particular the maxim:
square on the inside, round on the outside.
Part 2 builds up a lot of physical power and every movement feels to come from
the muscles of the central torso, back and legs.
In the intermediate syllabus, the exercises are re-considered.
Now that the correct alignment exists and the muscles are working effectively,
the focus shifts to rhythm and flow.
Instead of feeling muscular, the muscularity has been internalised and can no
longer be felt.
The kinetic wave is the onus.
Reeling silk skills will not fully emerge in the
beginners syllabus.
It is only later when reeling silk becomes a
neigong that the full power is apparent.
The
intermediate student must
master
the exercises introduced in the beginners syllabus, for these hold the seeds of
what is to come later.
An
experienced student demonstrates reeling silk
in every single movement.
An
advanced student internalises reeling silk
until only the most subtle kinetic wave is left.
Be advised that reeling silk can never be completely internalised.
If you can see no evidence of it in somebody's tai chi then it most likely does
not exist.
Page created 5 June 1999