BECOMING SUPRA

Chapter 16.1 Bali: Æsh

Weeks of practice had made my body leaner, my muscles tougher, I could kick with exactness and chop with precision.

"Today we learn about the foundational centers," said Jing, Fei closing in.

"The first foundational center is the heart," she said, tapping my chest, then slowly sliding her hand down, down, one and half inches below my navel, "the second foundational center is the lower dan-tian."

When Jing Fei touched my lower abdomen, I felt a live-wire snaking like a live-current.

"Foundational centers are vaults where you can store energy to later use and expend at will."

Jing Fei paused ... and looked beyond me, her eyes tightening into squints, I turned and followed her line of vision and found grandma watching from the beach house garden. Jing Fei bowed to her in greeting, grandma frowned in response, her frown travelled to Master Xiang who was making his way towards us, then shaking the sight of us all, with a sharp pivot she started pacing her lawn. She didn't approve, it was evident.

"I'm stealing your student," said Master Xiang, as he neared us.

"A student worth stealing," said Jing Fei.

I bowed to Master Xiang, the honor was mine.

"Let me demonstrate the importance of strong foundational centers. Now, push my body with all your might."

Master Xiang was sturdy but small, a backward fall could easily break his bones.

But Jing Fei encouraged me. "You need not worry, if anyone is going to get hurt it is going to be you. Father is a Qi-Gong Master."

"Qi Gong Master?"

"Yes," said Jing Fei.

"The kind that can repel an army of men just by raising of the hand?"

"Allow me demonstrate. I command you to push me," said Master Xiang.

This I had to see. Jing Fei told me to move back so as to gain traction before the thrust, I started ten feet back then charged him with speed. As I entered his circle of influence, before skin to skin contact, I was thrown high into the air towards the sea. My body flumping into the water like a sack of grains.

This is incredible! I was stoked. Without even the slightest of contact Master Xiang was able to propel my body far out to sea!

I swam back to shore. Amazed. "How did you do that?"

"I'm not using the strength of my hands, I'm using my chi, my chi that is stored in my foundational centers. With sufficient chi one can even bend gravity."

Master Xiang positioned himself again. "This time I will propel you to the far left of the bay. But don't fall like a fool. If I am using my chi to eject you, you should use your chi to land efficiently."

I charged Master Xiang but before contact I was once again jettisoned into the air. I fell into the water right where he said he would project me. As I was falling, I straightened my spine and fell feet first.

Treading my way to the shore I said, "I want to learn how to do this. Please, will you teach me?"

Master Xiang smiled, non-committedly.

"First you have to master control. Through the mastery of control, you will learn how to dispense the precise amount of energy at the desired moment. A push can make you fall, a push can also kill. Chi is very powerful. Without strong foundational centers you will not know how to control the chi. Jing Fei must first work on strengthening your foundational centers," he said, "only then can we take it to the next step."

Maybe if I work hard enough, he will be willing to teach me. Imagine, the control I could master. Imagine, just imagine if with the lift an arm a subject could be thrown up into the sky and fall like a puppet.

I set out to practice with renewed gusto.