Song of Form Play (SFP)
2.1 Circular and spiral,
2.2 Our natural movements.
2.3 Be energy efficient
2.4 Being non-linear.
Continuing from the previous post On Learning : Sub-Topic 1.2a.
SFP 2.1 and SFP 2.2 should be read as one. Together this tells you that a human body’s natural movement is never linear but is inherently circular or spiral.
No doubt you can move the tip of your index finger to a point in space linearly. However, your own body will always move in a circular or spiral manner due to the way your body is constructed.
In our Tai Chi training we learn how to move in a circular and spiral manner such that curves can be used for neutralizing a force exerted on us and on the flip side to use a curve to generate power.
SFP 2.3 and SFP 2.4 is also read as one line. It touches on how a non-linear movement is more energy efficient than a linear movement. You can test this idea for yourself. Draw a dot on the ground. Or maybe put a cup instead.
Now run directly to the dot. The moment your feet touch the dot quickly turn around and run back in the direction you started from. What do you feel?
Repeat the test but this time instead of turning around when you hit the dot, run around the dot instead like shown below. What do you feel?
Is there a difference in your feeling if you run slower and if you run a lot faster?
My guess is that you would experience the following :-
a) If you run at a slower pace you will probably feel that the first test is more efficient
b) When you run at a lot faster pace then you would feel you need a lot more energy to slow down and turn around quickly. You will also feel more stress exerted by gravitational force on your knee and shin
c) At a faster pace you will feel that you can turn back using less exertion if you run around the dot in the second test. However, you may still feel that you are slower than when you did the first test
So a question is how can you turn fast in the second test while still using less energy but able to turn as fast as in the first test?
Here’s a test to try that will yield a similar insight into this. Consider the following scenario :-
You walk down the escalator quickly in the picture. You want to turn as fast as you can to your right.
How can you turn quickly using less energy and minimize the effects of gravity on your knees?
For info, I tested this many times whenever I take the train.
I will write about my insight in another post.