The other day, after push hands practice, some of us went to the concourse, where many people practice. G, who is my friend, greeted an older Chinese man there, who I had seen many times. They pushed some, and exchanged understanding. Others pushed with him a bit. G. explained some things to this man about me that are personal. His English-used name was John.

I pushed with him a little bit, and he tried to teach me a few things and quickly discovered how little I know, and how it can be a bit difficult to teach me, especially using Chinese words.

Then something most astonishing happened.

Suddenly, without warning, he made my entire body +fall into the simplest drill. And it was absolutely amazing; I did not know what I was doing, I was not thinking, I had no idea what was happening to me. My body did the drill as if I were born to it — entirely naturally, without thought or effort, without me even knowing what I was doing.

And I felt, for the first time, the +flow I had seen many times in other practitioners, but never felt. And now, as I remember this, tears of gratitude come without cessation. I will always treasure that moment and the memory of it.