It may be obvious that learning the techniques of Tai Chi might be beneficial for the performance of the many other martial arts, but after 25 years of practising Tai Chi with Tony, I have found it very beneficial in a few other activities. The suggestions that I have outlined below may well be open to some critism by the professionals but I have been quite surprised by the improvements that I have found.
Ice Skating
Possibly roller skating/blading as well. Skating backwards – if you just step backwards you will probably fall over. The technique outlined here is exactly what is learnt for one of movements in the Tai Chi form (Step Back and Repulse Monkeys).
- With knees slightly bent sink your weight into the left leg.
- Turn your body at the waist into the diagonal, about 45o or less to the right.
- Pick up you right foot and step out sideways to your body (not behind you).
- Place your right foot down carefully in the direction you are moving. No weight in it yet. It is an ’empty step’.
- Turn at the waste to face back in the forward direction as you sink your weight into your right leg. Both actions must be closely synchronised to maintain core strength and balance.
- Repeat with the left leg.
Swimming – Front Crawl
This technique requires a change of thinking. Try concentrating your energy into turning your waste and just let you arms do their own thing. However, it does also require you to make use of the shape and structure of your arms as learnt when doing the Tai Chi form. I have found this produces a noticeable increase in speed and is much less tiring.
- Starting face down in the water with the right arm straight and extended forward as normal.
- Turn your body at the waist towards 90o to the right, your face may come out of the water if you prefer to breathe on this stroke. You may find that you do not need to turn your neck much in order to breathe.
- At the same time bring your arm down with your hand following a line down the centre of your body. Your arm will go into the classic slightly bent shape as it does this, then straighten again as you push the water behind you. It is most important that you synchronise this with the turn of your waste.
- Swing your arm out of the water to the forward position as you turn to repeat the procedure with your left arm.
Extra tip (scientifically proven) – swim with a strong wrist but a relaxed hand. Your hand will rest naturally to form a paddle with your fingers slightly bent and just slightly apart. The tip of your thumb should gently touch your index finger, otherwise it tends to wander. The optimum space between the tips of your fingers is 8mm and relaxing your hand makes that close enough. Water passing through the narrow gap between your fingers produces eddy currents that actually increases the area of the paddle thus formed.
“The waist is like the axle and the chi [vital life energy] is like the wheel.” (Tai Chi Classics)