| THE FISH PLAY While studying Tai Chi I found that the more modern the style of Tai Chi, the greater the difference between the form and the ancient theories. Sometimes the movements simply contradict the main and most important statements of the theoretical basis. My opinion is that the old theories were all right and the modern forms are not, but something was even missing (but not wrong) in the theories itself. Finally I understood that the God created us in the most logical and reasonable way. If the position of the body mostly kept vertical (and there is a great reason for this during a fight), there is only one way to move naturally. Any other ways of movement will cause unnecessary and wrong use of energy. The natural form of the movement can be described as Yin-Yang (more exactly two fish in one circle,- the fish can be small and the circle can be big). The similar points of every pair of opposite limbs or parts of the body (even if these parts are stiff like pelvic or the head) always will move this way (symmetrically and in the opposite directions) otherwise the brutal force will be applied in order to produce �internal circles� contrary to the Human Nature and to the Universe Laws. I call this phenomena �the fish play�. The movements, all the movements with no exception, will be like whip thanks to this form and to the kind of delay created by the spine and joints of the body. The hands in their natural condition are free and do not hold any tool. The legs (or one leg while stepping or kicking) are connected to the tool (the Earth by means of friction) and are free only while jumping (two legs) or kicking (one leg). So the empty hands move unrestricted while the legs are not. The very important point is that no active twisting of any limbs applied at any time. The closing and opening movements of hips will produce the initial turning for every fish play round and are followed with delay by the shoulders and the hands. The shoulders will operate the hands in the way which is similar to hips action, but shoulders are based and depend on the hips movements. With this in the mind we have to remember that upper body (torso, shoulders, hands and head) will also influence the lower body (hips and legs) by means of vertebra. The limbs, legs and hands, will also open and close in every joint. Different shapes and energy level of hips and shoulders �fish play� will cause different shapes of the �fish play� of limbs and in general smaller aquarium of hips smaller aquarium of the limbs. So called small hand technique (mainly performed by wrist and palm) is a result of very minute aquarium of hips and shoulders. The opening will start the turning and initiate the closing of the opposite side of the body. The closing will initiate the opening and redirect the turning. They are �the backs and bellies� of the fish. The bellies can be converted to the backs (and thus the direction of the turning will be changed) by simple addition of the energy. These openings (now not only theoretically but also practically and bodily) also will be responsible for the energy issuing. This is why the attack is defense and vice versa. Every internal movement and also the breathing are performed in the same way exactly. The movements of the fish are followed by the �pulsation� of the sizes of their bodies. The �aquarium� itself turns, rotates and also pulsates. The turning of the �aquarium� actually the reason for the �fish moving�. The hands always embrace �aquarium� and two inner surfaces of the palms always point to the center of the rotating ball or �aquarium�between them. The coordination between all different internal and external elements and movements is very simple but must be shown rather than described verbally. The important thing here is a total coordination between all parts of the body. For example the kick which is a �fish play� performed by always two legs will be initiated by the �fish play� of the pelvic and hips and will be followed in the same time exactly by the �fish play� of two hands having the same direction as a play of the kicking and a standing leg (never only one hand moves, but only both hands together in coordinated manner) and of the head. The walking, stepping, turning, kicking, punching, pushing and any other movement are done in the same manner exactly and are the same movements. They �flow� from kick to punch, from kick to kick and so on in any possible combination of techniques. |