Wednesday



Not talking

Instead of using conversation as a means of self-promotion, try listening and observing. Watch your own tendencies carefully.
Why are you speaking? What prompts the need? Are you talking for the sake of it? Do you have anything to say?
Are you softly spoken and polite, or are you loud and attention-seeking?

Tuesday

Soft

Sensitivity is a real challenge. Become attuned to your sensory realm: see, hear, smell and feel. Quieten your mind through meditation exercises and be here, right now.
Make everything you do soft. Your presence, your interactions with people, your physical manipulation of everyday objects, your voice, your manner.
Softness is not weak or ineffectual. It is subtle and elegant, graceful and powerful. In combat training, softness offers faster response times and less overt actions.

Monday

Slow

Moving slowly does not alert the nervous system. The mind ignores slowness. It is not seen as being a threat.
Watch how a cat moves. It is silent and stealthy, cautious and vigilant. It takes a lot more effort to move slowly. It taxes the muscles and enhances the nervous system.
You need to be in the immediate moment; aware of what is happening right now, of what you are doing right now. 

Friday

Deception

Deception is a major theme in The Art of War. It encourages the martial artist to avoid being showy and obvious in all facets of life.
If strong, appear weak. If capable, appear inept. Encourage over-confidence and provoke carelessness.

Thursday

Anonymity

Modern culture encourages the individual to parade themselves publicly, to broadcast their fighting skills and draw attention.
This is not what The Art of War and The 36 Strategies recommend. It is not good to be noticed.
Anonymity is a common Taoist theme. By remaining humble and quiet, unremarkable and unnoticed, a person can proceed through life freely.
Drawing attention is perceived as being unwise because you cannot determine whether the attention is good or bad.

Saturday

I am so glad to have found such a fantastic club to learn and train in tai chi. Both the teachers, Sifu Waller and Rachel, not only possess significant martial skills and knowledge regarding tai chi, but are also very patient with beginners like myself. I like the fact that in this club, tai chi is taught in a structured method ensuring beginners develop a solid foundation as they progress further. I like that even though there may be a lot of students training, the teachers have time to see how one’s own practice is developing and have time to make suggestions, give explanations, correct any bad practice and give encouragement. I like the fact that the club caters for students of all abilities with beginners like myself to highly experienced individuals who also help beginners.
I would recommend this club to any one interested in tai chi not only as a martial art but also for its health benefits. It is really a superb club.


(Mayur)

Wednesday

Isn't tai chi just slow motion exercise?

No. Some of the training methods are slow, and some are not. As the student gains greater skill, their movements become fluid and dynamic. They move at whatever speed the situation demands.

Slow motion movement, chilled out exercise or dance cannot be considered tai chi. Tai chi is more than this. It adheres to certain parameters, guidelines and rules of practice.

Monday

Sustainable exercise

In the longevity book The Blue Zones, Dr Robert Kane emphasised the fact that many forms of exercise, especially sport, have adverse side effects that impede long-term practice. 
By contrast, as a milder form of exercise, tai chi can be practiced throughout your entire lifespan, making it a safer, sustainable choice.