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To Move like a sphere is crucial

In this lesson master Chen went over some details on 6 sealing and four closing, as well as section 5 of Yilu. In the middle he took some time to explain moving like a sphere, as well as providing a physical example with a medicine ball. Using the medicine ball, he showed that the only way to get proper grip and move the ball is if it is pushed horizontally through the center of mass. If it is not pushed perfectly and allowed to rotate, what at the beginning feels like a good grip on the ball will result in a grip of next to nothing.

*** Please note, this is my description of a physical demonstration so not directly quoting Master Chen ***

This is difficult to explain without a physical demonstration – I recommend the one in the video of course – however consider the following scenario. You are trying to push a ball that is able to rotate without changing your grip, you place your hand on it where you guess the center of mass is located and begin to push.

Without being 100% accurate on the center of mass, you will feel at the start as if you have control over the sphere, but it will begin to rotate. As the rotation happens your push will have less and less power applied to the sphere until you reach the extremities of the sphere and fall off a cliff so to speak. All the while the opposite side of the sphere is returning your power back at you.

*** End of physical description ***

Master Chen said:

“At the beginning you are dodging and you think you are rotating. You need to understand what is dodging and what is rotating. If you are dodging you go back, rotation is that I never move. If I don’t move, whatever you do goes back 200, 300%.”

Master Chen showed me the difference between dodging and rotating. During the rotation there was an axis that never moved. When this axis was established it allowed me to send back power against the push through the rotation.

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