Masters say that “Advanced Techniques are simply the Basics Mastered”.
Silk reeling can definitely take you deeper into your Tai Chi practice and greatly improve your health. It depends on how you practice your silk reeling, not which patterns or how many patterns you practice. Knowing multiple silk reeling patterns or attending multiple silk reeling workshops does not automatically equal success in elevating and deepening your silk reeling skills!! IT’S HOW YOU PRACTICE SILK REELING!!
When you reach a level of skill and understanding in your silk reeling practice, that’s a signal for you to make mindful, physical and spiritual changes that will take you to the next level of your silk reeling journey. Sometimes a particular silk reeling pattern will bring out the changes within you but most often you have to go back to the basic roots of silk reeling to bring out the changes from within. Time doesn’t dictate advancement, diligent, correct practice and a strong silk reeling foundation does!! Paying attention to the smallest details of every movement and pattern in your silk reeling practice, every time you practice, puts you on the path to continued mental, physical, and spiritual growth in your silk reeling skills!!
The difficulty lies in the trap of getting caught up in the pattern instead of keeping a “Beginner’s Mind” which will keep you connected to your foundation no matter how long you’ve been training in silk reeling or how many silk reeling patterns you’ve learned!! A large majority of Tai Chi Silk Reeling students fall into this trap!! It’s not about the pattern but the knowledge the pattern is trying to impart!!
Silk Reeling patterns were designed as training vehicles to help every part of your body, lead by the mind, move as one. The body mechanics of silk reeling are “generated by the feet, directed by the waist, expressed through the back and issued through the hands”. They are repetitive spiral movement exercises with emphasis on the ground connection, waist connection, knee alignment, kua sinking, opening and closing of joints and dantien rotation. These continuous spiral movements develop “spiral energy” within the body and are the building blocks of Tai Chi Chuan.
From a healing perspective, silk reeling exercises loosen the joints, enabling freedom of movement. They also benefit the sinews and muscles and improve circulation. The circular movements of silk reeling strengthen the connective tissue and increase the secretion of synovial fluid which lubricates the joints, keeping them supple.
From a martial perspective, the movements develop spiraling energy within the body. Chen Tai Chi Master, Chen Xin, outlines three principal benefits of silk reeling in relation to martial application. He states that silk reeling energy can:
operate as a revolving energy, rebounding any incoming force. The faster an opponent’s energy comes, the faster it is bounced away. This requires the body to be full, relaxed and sensitive.
be piercing, like a spiraling bullet. This is a powerful and penetrating energy when applied during an attacking maneuver, whether it is delivered with the fist, elbow, or foot.
act as a neutralizing energy, teaching the practitioner how to lead any incoming force to emptiness.
Silk reeling is an essential part of all systems of tai chi training. In addition to major health benefits, silk reeling practice strengthens and trains whole body coordination and grounded body alignment. It is silk reeling that helps you to develop the beautiful, graceful and powerful movements of nature upon which Tai Chi is based.
We’re going to have a lot of fun together experiencing the “silk reeling road to self discovery”!!