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How Bonsai Chi helps improve our hand and eye co-ordination

Hand-eye co-ordination is the process of controlling our eye movement with our hand movements.  A skill we start learning from as young as 4 months, which is when babies tend to start bringing objects to their mouth so they can determine what it is.   A normal part of child development and academic success, hand-eye co-ordination is also important for adults, as it’s a skill we use on a daily basis.  All our Bonsai Chi exercises assist and improve our ability to know which is our left and right, whilst improving overall co-ordination.

Having good co-ordination allows us to do activities simultaneously, e.g. we see the ball moving and place our hand on it to stop/catch it.   The instruction goes from the eye (seeing the movement or object), to the brain (processes what the eye has seen) and then instructs the body (how to grasp, reach, touch the object).

Types of motor skills

We have two different sets of motor skills, fine and gross.  Fine motor skills use our small muscles, such as hands, wrists and fingers, Gross motor skills use larger muscle groups or the entire body.  Some examples are:

• Fine motor skills – gripping, aiming, reading, writing, doing up a coat
• Gross motor skills – walking, running, jumping, driving, catching or kicking a ball

Tests can measure the success of our hand-eye co-ordination, and there are many ways that we can work to improve it.  Activities that don’t take a lot of time, just 15 minutes a day 2 or 3 times a week and you’ll see results.

How does Bonsai Chi improve hand eye co-ordination?

How often are you consciously aware of your body positioning and movement?  Possibly not that often, as the hand-eye co-ordination skill has become a habit, so we move without conscious thought.  Proprioception refers to the body’s ability to perceive its own position in space and movement of the body.  So for example, you can close your eyes and touch your nose.

During our Bonsai Chi exercises we often take a step forward.  When you’re about to step you don’t look at the floor to see exactly where you’re placing your foot, you lift and place it down, apportioning your body weight as you do so, maintaining a straight back and remaining upright.  Your eyes know where you need to place your foot, and via the brain sending instructions through your body, you place (not stamp) your foot at the appropriate distance, apportioning your body weight appropriately as you do so.  Known as Proprioception or Kinaesthesia – the sixth sense of self movement and body position.

As we age our ability to perform tasks with the same amount of accuracy and speed as when we’re younger declines, this is often caused by the loss of function to multiple areas of the brain.  Age related changes in visual perception can also affect this, along with many neurological disorders, genetic factors or physical injury.

All movements require communication from the brain, if these pathways are compromised then our reaction time, dexterity and responsiveness will decline.

Studies have shown that exercise can help improve hand-eye co-ordination, with Tai Chi being identified as one of these activities (Bonsai Chi is based on karate and kata so is slightly different to Tai Chi).

Exercises to follow

Below are two Bonsai Chi exercise suggestions that you can build into your daily life, which will help improve and maintain good hand-eye co-ordination.

1 - You’ll require a tennis ball for this drill.  Start with your feet shoulder width apart, back straight.  Always listen to your body, only twist as far as is comfortable.  When you step forward ensure both feet are flat on the floor keeping your back straight.  Do not stretch with your arms, it’s your arms natural reach.

2 - This exercise will help you move your arms independently as well as at the same time.  Again ensure both feet are flat on the floor when you step forward, do not lean forward, keep your back straight, it's your body's natural reach only.

I hope you've enjoyed following these drills.  Please click to read my blog 'How to improve your posture'