I was thinking about how Chakra energies apply to ball spin as a measure of the health of a player’s table tennis game. You mat-tested yogis may be thinking, “say what?!”
Chakra is a Sanskrit term that translates as “wheel” or “disk” – one of 7 elusive and mysterious energy centers in the body. They emerged in the writings of the Vedas, ancient Hindu philosophical texts written between 1500 and 500 B.C.E. Chakras flow from the base of the spine through the crown of the head and have the loving responsibility of taking in, incorporating and sending out energy to keep us functioning at optimal levels.
The root chakra (Muladhara, located at the base of the spine symbolizing stability, survival, and security) of table tennis is spin. Imagine the spin today’s high-tech rubber and an advanced player can generate on a 2.7 gram plastic ball that has to fly over a 6-inch net and land within a 4.5 by 5 foot space on your opponent’s side of the table. Skill in action.
Needles to say, table tennis has advanced light years beyond Marty Supreme’s era. Hundreds of table tennis blades and 1,600+ different rubber models span 40 brands on the market today that are authorized by the International Table Tennis Federation. Offensive attacking, defensive, anti-spin, hard bat, pistol grip – the list is almost endless and designed for every level of player.
Generally speaking, attacking players maximize top spin, while most defensive players maximize backspin. Add to those nearly 360 degrees of right and left side spin and you have a universe of possibilities when ball meets rubber. To add to the confusion, there are players who use pips-out rubber – small, raised conical bumps facing outward with lower sensitivity to incoming spin, flatter trajectories and deceptive spin manipulation. Jesus-God-Shiva!
Those spinning wheels of chakra energy in table tennis create a symmetry between ball, player and table surface that combines intense physical exertion and immediate, high-speed tactical decisions for spin and placement. Or as someone quipped, like running a 100-yard sprint while playing chess.
Chakra energies are the ebb and flow and the joy and the dance that is table tennis. A spinning orb of light energy bounces in, and is sent out in a continuous loop that keep us functioning at optimal levels – physically, mentally and emotionally. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu, May all beings everywhere be happy and (spinning) free.