Two Hundred and Twenty-six

Notes to self:

Take the push in. Ground it. Note how it feels.
Keep the push out. Note how it feels.
Take the push in, at one point cycle it back out, return to sender. Note how it feels.

Wash, rinse, repeat... again... again... again...

Vary the angle of the push, the intensity, the rhythm, the beat, the point of entry. Note how it feels.
Change intent, lose center, regain it. Note how it feels.
Go from push to pull and back again. Note how it feels.

Wash, rinse, repeat... again... again... again...

Stand stationary on both feet, then one foot, then none (if only momentary). Note how it feels.
Move while being pushed/pulled both into and away from. Note how it feels.
Raise center, lower it, contort body changing form. Note how it feels.

Wash, rinse, repeat... again... again... again...

Two Hundred and Twenty-five

Once I know what I feel like when I am performing a Ki exercise correctly I can return to that feeling at will. I can apply the feeling to other Ki exercises so that no matter which exercise I am engaged in, I can use the feeling to cut through the form, which will vary from exercise to exercise, and retain my structural integrity. I can increase the intensity of the exercise in order to strengthen the feeling. Extending the utility of the exercise changes it from a measuring tool to a tool for developing correct feeling to a higher degree.

This method of learning is very simple in execution. It requires of me only the ability and wherewithal to remain focused on what is going on inside of me. To be successful, my mind and body must be tightly coordinated so that both get the feeling as close to simultaneously as possible. In this way, my mind/body state will improve and grow as a unified whole.

If necessary I can use visualization and metaphor to augment my understanding of what I am feeling, but visualization and metaphor are not in and of themselves the learning tools. Correctness of feeling is what teaches.