The concept of “sinking” and the pendulum force

I have found the control of sinking during Jinho Lee’s tai chi lesson. It’s not easy to understand the concept of sinking. However, if you fall many times, you might as well give it a go. Yesterday is one of those blue days whereby I fell down and at the same learned how to sink down to the gravity pull of the earth. I believe the words of Jinho Lee is absolutely true. Practicing Tai Chi regularly will prevent from falling down again.

When we fall down, our muscle is tense and therefore the impact of injuries are higher. Equally if we sink or compress into gravity, the chance of falling down and losing your balance will be minimized.

Yesterday while practicing with Jinho Lee, I am able to control the sinking of my body. For the first time, I learned both the sinking concept and holding my balance. Let me describe my experience and findings.

1. When you are ready to accept anything, everything is possible. Like falling, sinking, balancing, whatever it is, you just needed to follow. Of course you don’t want to fall down if you can prevent it. This is the fundamental thing in doing any sport. If you want to do Tai Chi, you must first accept Tai Chi, that is be ready to learn and practice the basic foundation steps.

2. Concentration and focus play the ultimate key aspects in obtaining the feeling of sinking and the pendulum force. Without concentration, your body can sink, but at the same time, you are fighting against the sinking sensation that you are trying to do. This will create the negative effect, because you are not sinking into the ground naturally and using the gravity force. Fighting against the sinking will only make your body more stiff.

3. Breathing plays an important part of Tai Chi. Breathe in and breathe out. Many of the Tai Chi moves combine with the flow of inhales and exhales. Breathing is a good way for meditation. When your mind is confused, breathe in and breathe out slowly. It takes away the distraction.

4. Make sure you have a good posture. Remember you are holding a huge beach ball wrapped around your chest, your arms, making them curve and soft. Your tail bone (or pelvic bone) curve inward, drop your hips, and your head hangs like a skeleton with a string pulling from above. Balance your body well by making a rectanglar shape with the position of your feet.

5. If you have done steps 1-4, then I will introduce the concept of sinking. The sinking comes from gravity. This means when you sink, you are sinking deep into the ground. If you feel the sinking and not fight against the sinking, you will feel your body drop to a length where you can control when to come back up again. Never fight against your own body weight when you try to sink. If you do that, you will not get enough internal force.

6. Twisting. When you feel the sinking, wait and sense the gravity pull. Control your sinking. When you are ready, you can twist your leg to bounce back up again. The twisting force combine with the initial sinking will create the most powerful internal force. This is not recognised by many, as this is not something everyone has the patience to learn. Sink, sink, sink, look at your opponent, and when you can  control your sinking, twist your feet towards the direction of your opponent. Your opponent will feel the force.

What I described in steps 5 and 6 is the concept of pendulum force. Sinking into the gravity pull of the ground, and when ready, twist your feet and bounce right back up. This will create the ultimate force. Keep practicing, you will also experience this force I describe above.

- Written by Shirley, 2010