when we talk about ranchu?
a "doggy" guy from another platform who is all about movement especially the power, expanse and fluidity of dog gaiting. There are much diversity amongst our discussion especially so when what is swimming in the water is so much different from what is gaiting on a vast open field. Nevertheless absorbing and as interesting as it can be relating our ideas of deportment,standing beauty and movement...we share numerous common understanding when we really get to the core of "What is good swimming" in ranchu.What is Good Swimming....
In all honesty, it is never an easy subject to pin down in a few words what is good ranchu swimming and in most instances, while trying to figure out what is good swimming, we end up getting more confused especially so when good swimming is never the same like adding one plus two equal to three. Nevertheless I will like to share that... The prelude to good swimming is a fish must be balanced. Now here we go... how to tell a fish "is balanced"....we are talking about abstract art at its finesse. As art to be understood and appreciated..it is having that "feel" and learning through observation and most important of all willing to go over and over again that "feel" and share that "feel" with like minded friends and culminating in your own ranchu journey of discovery. As all mechanics about swimming is observed in a white basin...Ranchu that is balanced and swimming in a round basin must be comfortable to swim in one direction and comfortably and naturally reverse and swim in the opposite direction. In plain language a "balanced" ranchu should be abled to swim comfortably clockwise and anti clockwise. The exhilarating point for me after seeing a "balanced" fish swim clockwise and anti clockwise is to see the fish swim through the centre of the basin. If a ranchu is not balanced and there are many reasons why. For example the ratio between the head, body and tail of the ranchu if skewed disproportionately will have impact on how the ranchu swim. Unbalanced ranchu tend to swim comfortably in one direction and seldom have the courage to naturally swim across the basin. Below I like to share one of my (this year breeding)swimming clockwise and anti clockwise and cutting through the middle of the basin. Please be mindful that a "balanced" fish need not necessary be a powerful swimmer and need not necessary equate with winning in competition. In a simple analogy...a well tuned car need not necessary be the fastest car in a race...there are other attributes like engine size,tyres etc.
