‘Float’ is an important part of ‘sink, swallow float and spit’ in the martial arts. The concept goes far deeper than most people realise.

Sink and swallow to create ‘float’ is a pump. The 4 pumps of chi (ki) in the body are the arches of the feet, the lower back, in between the shoulder blades and the occipital point. The chest is sunk to open the lower back, then the hips, knees and ankles press down into the arches of the feet and release to create float. This is in the qigong exercises in Tai Chi and Sanchin kata in Karate.

When you release the pump you create the vacuum which is the ‘float’ – and chi (ki) whose nature it is to rise, moves rapidly in this state to discharge or ‘spit’ at the hands.

Tai Chi is done in this permanent state of float fed by the continuous pumping from the feet.

There is also a philosophical aspect to float. We learn to float above the suffering in life in a state of peace and tranquility pumping spiritually from earth to heaven. From the earthbound energy of ‘jing’ that wants to aspire upwards to the spiritual ‘Shen’.

The physical enaction in Tai Chi and Sanchin done properly, raises the spirit in this manner.

As above, so below.