The mind as a weapon

The mind is more powerful than the body.

Without achieving the appropriate state of calm awareness, picking up a stick or throwing a punch is a waste of time.

Intent powers the weapon, so the mind must be trained far harder than the body.

Be realistic

Although we teach weaponry, unarmed self defence comes first. If you cannot defend yourself against a punch, kick, grapple or knife, why bother learning how to use a sword?

Weapons practice in the lower grades is quite limited. The weapons are seen as a means to develop other skills, rather than an end in themselves. They can help to train whole-body usage and improve fa jing.

What is the point of doing weapons?

·  precision
·  better peng
·  increased strength
·  increased striking power
·  better muscle tone in the arms, back and torso
·  agility and footwork (none of the weapons forms are slow forms)

 Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools.

He uses them only when he has no choice.

Peace and quiet are dear to his heart.

And victory no cause for rejoicing.

If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;

If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfil yourself.

(Lao Tzu)

Daily exercise

Dr Michael Greger (author of How Not To Die) recommends 90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day.

The three doctors who wrote The Okinawa Program maintain that tai chi - with its ancient origins and incredible health benefits - is the ideal workout for modern people.

If this sounds like a lot of exercise, why not chop it up into smaller increments spaced throughout the day?

Do not follow

When you are in class and something is being explored, do not be passive. Think it through, understand it. Find the strengths and weaknesses; figure it out for yourself.

Following another is pointless; it will simply lead to ignorance and dependency, neither of which is desirable.

Moral

Within every lesson surrounding the tai chi practice there is a Taoist insight that pertains to how we interact with the world around us. The insight may concern physics, biology, philosophy or human relationship. There is never just a surface meaning.

A skilful student intuits what is really being taught.

Definition

The word 'lesson' has two common definitions:

1. A structured period of time where learning occurs

2. A moral or message

Class

Tai chi lessons should not be comparable to learning Spanish cookery at night school or line dancing. They should combine both meanings of the word 'lesson'.

Students should learn new physiological skills and also gain an increasing perception of the underlying significance involved. Learning movements is not enough; there must be a deeper level to the tuition.

One is taught in accordance to one’s fitness to learn.

(The Silent Flute)

Perspective

Balancing your tai chi with reading Tao helps your mind find harmony in life and you see things quite differently. Literal examples in class encourage you to see things differently.

How we were educated to regard reality is not the only option open to us.

Our classes challenge conventional wisdom and cultivate an inquiring mind that  seeks out alternatives. Problematic situations now seem innocuous, and life becomes easier as your barriers soften within.

Boredom

Form collecting is a modern habit which arises when a student is unwilling to commit the necessary practice to mastering a form. In short, the student gets bored.

It can take 10-20 years to get really good at one system of tai chi. How many modern people have that sort of patience?

Stronger

Everyone becomes stronger in our classes. We condition the body to endure more exercise and develop some serious stamina. Age is not a problem unless you have serious health concerns. Nobody is ever pushed; they proceed at their own pace.

Slowly, patiently, the body re-grow. We test this emerging strength to encourage further development and confidence in the training.

Drowsy

Many students feel drowsy at the end of a tai chi session and feel like going to sleep. Yet they also feel pleasantly alert, but without any anxiety. Their muscles are relaxed and their minds are calm.

Ultimately, you reach a point where this dreamy state of relaxation remains throughout the day.

Acquisitive

Beginners sometimes want to collect a whole series of forms. Why?

Form offers embryonic moves that teach the underlying principles, not set responses.

Form was designed to contain all the applications of the system without need of additional sequences/forms.

As a consequence, you only need to train one style of tai chi.