Induction course Monday 14th September

 The next induction course starts Monday 14th September. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

What do school members get for their money?

• Attend once or twice a week 
• Train up to 2 hours a night
• Fully-differentiated syllabus 
• Authentic skills 
• High quality tuition • Professional learning environment
• Extensive range of skills available  • Address individual health concerns & training requirements
• Extremely thorough exploration of the art(s)
• Study new material every week
• Work through the full curriculum
• Receive regular corrections, tips & pointers
• Request bespoke tuition
• Access to highly detailed school DVDs
• Discuss taijiquan theory and related philosophies with Master Waller
• Attend workshops, boot camp and class social events • Advanced level of understanding
• Follows the teachings of the Tai Chi Classics
• Explore 1300 page on-line taijiquan database with guidance from Master Waller

Resources

We offer a lot of training opportunities for students.
There are also various resources on offer.

If you are struggling, then watch the form, exercise or drill on DVD.
Read the website.
Study the books on the reading list.
 

Attention is very different from what is usually called concentration.

Concentration is usually associated with a state of over-tension manifested by a furrowed brow and interference with breathing, almost as though one were trying to hold everything in place so as to be able to focus totally on a certain aspect of one's surroundings.

(Michael Gelb)

Understanding

A good rule of thumb is this: if you don't understand something then you probably can't yet.
Huh?
Understanding requires a framework; a context, a foundation.
A nursery school child may want to discuss Shakespeare or Dostoyevsky with the teacher, but are they capable?
Surely, they must learn the alphabet, sentences, the entire structure and use of language before a more in-depth exploration is even possible...

Review your performance

It can be quite challenging to look at your own performance and ask whether or not is was any good.
Many students can be quite harsh on themselves and demonstrate unrealistic expectations.
Others have the impression that they are already skilled and are looking for confirmation of this.

Recognise that are no doubt making countless mistakes.
Accept this.
It is OK.

Even if the instructor were to offer a list of corrections, you may not yet be capable of addressing the points listed.
This is to be expected.
Understanding takes time.
Go easy on yourself.

You need to look at your performance in simple terms.
Note obvious errors.
Correct these as well as you can.

There is no need to be judgemental or overly critical.
You are where you are.
You are only as good as you are.

Grades

The beginners grade spans ungraded to orange.
Intermediate level is green - brown (part 2) - and there is a massive ability gap between those two levels.
Yet, it pales in comparison to the experienced, expert and advanced syllabus: 5 belts of hard material in which you are typically learning and applying a new form with every dan grade.

I recommend patience.
If Sifu thinks that you are ready for something, it will feature in your grade.

It is in the black belt syllabus for a reason

Students ask Sifu to demonstrate black belt material on them and then experience a great shock because it was way more scary than they'd anticipated.
Here's a tip: it is in the black belt syllabus for a reason.

There are 10 belts before you take the first black belt grade.
This should tell you something...
Your body needs time to loosen, strengthen and be prepared for the experienced syllabus.

You need time to cultivate internal strength. You need to know how to fall safely.

Requests

New starters quite often say things to Sifu that sound quite reasonable at the time, but in hindsight are really not so smart.
Like the man who wanted to skip 17 grades and start learning the advanced syllabus on his first lesson.
Such a request can only reflect naivety, ignorance and arrogance.
 
It is better to begin with humility.
And to be careful what you say. 
Sifu has an astounding memory and will remember everything verbatim.

White belt - it came with the uniform...

In martial arts circles, the white belt is seen as being the belt that came with the uniform.
This should give you some idea of its status.

Passing the white belt syllabus is not a great feat.
Students should endeavour to learn the basic material as quickly as they can.

Internal concerns

In order to perform any given activity correctly, you need to unite mind, body and emotions.
Consider:

1. Balance
2. Reach
3. Alignment
4. Relaxation
5. Composure

Are you moving in the internal way?

Gaining the ability to move correctly is very difficult, but attainable if you are patient and show tenacity.
Take the time to be present.
Make the best of every opportunity to learn.

Form is not easy

Tai chi chuan form is often portrayed as being easy to learn. This is a common misconception.

It is important not to think of tai chi chuan form in terms of external kata.
Kata and form are ultimately not the same thing.
Form teaches 'a way of moving'. A style of using your body. A habit.

A kata is considered 'correct' if it looks accurate and crisp.
This is not the case with a tai chi chuan form.
A form must be performed in a relaxed manner, with attention to how the power is being generated.
Every movement must contain peng, and would be completely useless without it.
A comprehensive understanding of how to apply every nuance of form is necessary for true understanding.

Practice & patience

Two things hamper students:

1. Failure to practice
2. Lack of patience

How much you practice is your concern.
Everyone is different.
Just be aware that class attendance, home training and taking advantage of all training opportunities will affect progress.

Patience is an underrated virtue in modern society.
However, you cannot suddenly become skilled at anything complex without long-term study and commitment.

The steady, patient student makes strong progress and feels the rewards of their practice.

3 years of basics

Traditionally, at least three years of dedicated training were required before a student could be considered to have acquired a rudimentary knowledge of tai chi skills.

(Zhang Yun)

Beginner

Beginners must have knowledge of the basic 16 qigong exercises, along with the initial partnered drills.
There is limited martial training.

The emphasis is upon improved coordination, relaxation and a grasp of the rudimentary theoretical considerations.

What does your school offer?

Our school offers:

1. Lineage
   - this is about who taught who
   - your instructor's knowledge can be traced through generations of teachers, right back to the founder
   
2. An experienced instructor
   - Master Waller trained with Peter Southwood for 20 years
   - he has been teaching tai chi since 1995
   - he has been training martial arts since 1975
   
   
3. A qualified instructor
   - Master Waller holds a post-graduate certificate of education
   - he is registered with The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
   - he taught under Peter Southwood's close guidance and supervision for several years
   
   
4. A fully-differentiated syllabus
   - a syllabus offers an incremental learning program that enables all students to become skilled at tai chi
   - the layers and levels of the syllabus are interlocking and interconnected
   - there is an ongoing accumulation of both knowledge and skill
   
   
5. Assessment
   - regular, consistent, thorough assessment is essential to ensure quality and understanding
   - progress can be proven
   
   
6. Grading
   - this ensures that all students study material appropriate to their own ability level

Key factors

Learn what the key factors are:

1. Key points
2. Ninja skills
3. Tai chi chuan principles

Apply these - as best you can - to every activity in class.

Slow down

If you rush, you will make a mess of things.
Tai chi chuan is synonymous with slowness; keep this in mind when you practice.
Being slow enables you to notice things.

Your body will not adjust to new activities as quickly as you would like it to.
It is necessary to give yourself time, to be patient.

You cannot force an outcome.

I went on to find that the solution to many seemingly difficult tasks is not to 'try harder' but to leave oneself alone.

(Michael Gelb)

Step-by-step

It is common to see new students attempting to jump ahead: trying out more complex skills prematurely.
This may be the result of enthusiasm.
Or it may be impatience.

Whatever the cause it usually results in failure.

Skills take time to cultivate, explore and understand.
There are no quick fixes, no shortcuts, no sudden enlightenment.

The danger with ignoring the step-by-step learning process is that you begin to follow the dictates of your own ego, rather than the direction of the instructor.
You are imposing your own agenda.
What you value and regard as being important is unlikely to coincide with the values of your teacher.

Be simple and methodical.
Follow every exercise and drill step-by-step.
Do not deviate.
Do not add or remove anything from the instructions provided by your teacher.

If you were capable of doing a more complex application, you would have been shown it in detail.

Begin with a clear idea

Every exercise, drill or form posture (pattern of movement) has a simple purpose.
Determine what this is and start from there.

Many drills are training a wide variety of skills simultaneously.
Do not be put-off by this.
Focus on the most basic, simple concern and work on that.

If in doubt, ask the instructor for clarification.

Ungraded

New starters work through the first 8 qigong exercises.

Lessons are divided into: 30 minutes qigong, 30 minutes form and 30 minutes partner work.