Even a small shift of a body part weighing only a few ounces
requires an adjustment in order to stay in balance, or more commonly, engenders
a state of tension, in order to compensate for being out of balance, even
slightly. Each extra movement increases tension, and can be dysfunctional far beyond
what the size of the movement would suggest, making the difference between a
form which exhibits an elegant simplicity and grace, and that which Mr. Chow
would sometimes call “Similar to T’ai Chi”.
Attention to detail in this case is very practical, and very
functional, and is not merely obsessive. It should be noted here that it is not
at all necessary to execute the form perfectly in order to gain the benefits.
It is however, extremely profitable to strive to improve one’s form, as
exemplified by Mr. Chow’s example of the magnifying glass:
If one places a magnifying glass between the sun and a piece
of paper, if it is held at exactly the correct distance, the paper will burst
into flame. In a slightly different position the paper will be warmed, but the
effect is much less. Indeed, if the glass is positioned in exactly the right
place, it will even melt metal.
One place where the application of this concept might prove
advantageous is in adhering to the standards – wrists and shoulders often at
the same height, knees when bent are bent to the distance of just as far
forward as the toes, elbows sinking to a right angle, with room for a hand
width between the elbow and the body, and so on.
Another place is in shifting the weight more fully onto one
leg before lifting or moving the other leg. This is useful at all levels – if
one is shifting the weight ninety percent, or ninety nine point nine percent, in
each case improvement will provide immediately observable benefit to one’s
form. When one is balanced on one leg and one turns, it is easy to stay in
balance and easy to maintain a relaxed state. If one is what Mrs. Chow called
“Double weighted”, as one turns, the weight subtly moves around between the
legs and tension is created to adjust for this shifting in the balance,
immensely reducing the quality of the relaxed state desired in one’s form.
