Thinking vs. Doing Part I

It can give us a unique view of our Tai Chi to consider the difference between thinking and doing, especially with respect to learning. Consider you learn that the capital of Virginia is Richmond. Now I test your knowledge and give 100 tests asking the capital of Virginia. Each test you give the correct answer. 100% of the tests are correct. 

Now consider you learn to shoot a free throw. Let us use Stephen Currry as our shooter, the best free throw shooter in the history of the NBA. Curry has averaged making 90% of his free throws. Not 100%. It is a definitive feature of our being that we can “recall” a mental image with 100% accuracy, but our actions, our behaviors vary from trial to trial.

Our thinking can be perfect, we can always give the correct answer, but our doing is imperfect. Why? Is it the implicit nature of movement? Is it the chaotic nature of our being? Why can't we always apply the correct force at the correct time to make a free throw? We can always say "Richmond." This variation is part of the reason we practice Tai Chi every day. 

More in Part II