A third and more difficult test of rooting skills is the un-liftable stance. The skilled practitioner stands in a wide horse stance with his arms hanging wide to his sides. Two people position themselves, one at each side and place their hands under the practitioner s arms. Then they attempt to lift him together. As they try to lift the practitioner can sink his root deeper, if he is skillful he will cause the two lifters to loose their strength and force them to either disengage or collapse as he sinks.
Energy rooting is the first level of chi kung skill.
Once this has been achieved to some level of proficiency the student must also learn how to move with this root. A static root is one thing, but a dynamic root is quite another. The dynamic root comes from first learning the static root and then refining this skill until he is naturally centered and sunk. Then with correct footwork and in chi sau training the student learns to maintain that sunken energy while in motion. If done correctly the moving root can produce surprisingly fast body motions.