The Journey Within

It’s not the best environment for doing Tai Ji when you have kids circling you in their roller blades or playing football around you. One of these kids actually approached me when I was doing Tai Chi in a public park. The kid said “you do this very well”. Not the opener I was expecting. I said “thanks”.

I went on with my practice, and the kid must have been waiting for me to finish. It took me around 20 minutes to finish my Tai Ji form, and then the kid approached me again almost immediately.

him: Can you teach me?

me: Have you don’t any of this before? do you know what I’m doing?

him: I’ve learnt Karate before.

me: Show me.

he then proceeded with a few “hee yah”, some parries, some blocks, some kicks etc.

I told him this is Tai Ji. It’s very soft. I let him push my hand a little, and I showed him how I use very little strength to make him fall. He was genuinely surprised. I was genuinely surprised by his surprise. I don’t know if he realises the significance of what i’ve just shown him. But hey, there’s no need for more words. I just reminded him that it’s soft. To do Tai Chi, you have to be soft.

Then I showed him “the beginning” (起式), and asked him to watch. He followed, a bit clumsily, but he followed, enthusiastically I might add. Then I asked him to watch again, and asked him if he noticed any difference between what I did and what he was doing. He said I sat lower. So I asked him to try. He did. Then I did it again, and ask him to observe any more differences. He watched. He struggled this time to say anything further. I then asked him to do it again, and corrected a bit. I motioned him to relax his fingers, his wrist, his shoulders. Then he realised what I was saying and tried to relax. Initially, he was doing it a bit like a break dance. After a while, he really tried to relax. I told him the hand cannot be limp. I don’t know how to explain intention. I told him not to use muscles, but to “think” that a force is in the hands, then it’ll be there. I’m not sure if he understood. He’s 9.

I’m 3 times his age, and I can’t claim I fully understand either. But he seems enthusiastic enough. Even came down for Round 2 after seeking his mum’s permission, although I’m not too sure what he told his mum… learning some martial art from some strange guy in a public park?

He seems to feel tired when I noticed his legs started wobbling. I told him not to sit too much to avoid hurting his knee. I told him if it’s painful, it means you’re doing something wrong. So I asked him to rest. Kick the leg about, walk around. We talked a bit, where he’s from, how old is he, when i’ll be around again…

All these started apparently when he noticed that I smile. He said his karate teacher doesn’t smile. I do. I wonder if there is something lost when people don’t smile. Do they not enjoy what they’re doing?

Do they feel the need to appear serious when doing something serious?

I don’t think I was wearing a silly grin. It’s probably closer to an inner smile. But if a karate kid can spot it, anyone can. Try wearing the smile. You are already doing something serious. That doesn’t mean you can’t smile.

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