A higher gear

When used correctly, cycle gears enable the cyclist to move faster and cover more terrain without actually pedalling any harder. This is in fact the purpose of the gears. Grades are the same. A student will find each new grade just challenging enough but not overwhelming.

Grades

Most tai chi classes do not have grades or belts or even a syllabus. How come? Who knows? Even modern China has implemented some sort of grading/belt structure inspired by the Japanese model.

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.

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.

Advanced

The advanced level is for people who have committed a significant chunk of their lives to the study of the art.
Teacher, scholar, innovator.

To reach this stage, all aspects of the syllabus must be comprehensively understood.
Every lesson should involve countless connections and associations from throughout the curriculum.
The exponent should be capable of spontaneously teaching any level of the syllabus without preparation or preamble.

The art should be at their fingertips: both theoretically and demonstrably.

A person training at this level must pass on what they have learned.
They should also add to the wealth of knowledge with their own insights, discoveries and contribution.

Expert

This higher dan grade is for instructors.

To become an expert, a student must show skill across a wide range of topics and an ease of application.
The baguazhang palm changes are now applied extensively, chin na is explored thoroughly and jing is finally given precision and power.

The large san sau 2-person set and 'pao chui' form offer a significant learning curve; with tai chi chuan versus tai chi chuan.
A high degree of sensitivity and agility is required.

The straight sword is examined in detail.

All aspects of the training are infused with neigong; bringing qigong to conclusion.
The student demonstrates significantly greater skill with form and self defence application.
Many drills are dismantled and re-examined, and the entire syllabus must be revised and reconsidered.

Reading and study is now much more in-depth.

Student belts

White

Partner work
Qigong
Challenge – full circle qigong (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignment #2 – Attitude & etiquette

Yellow

Martial concepts (intro)
Slow form (section 1)
Stick drills (intro)
Challenge – form challenge (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignment #2 – Attitude & etiquette
Assignment #3 – Book

Orange

Chin na applications (intro)
Monkey paws (intro)
Pushing legs (intro)
Single pushing hands (intro)
Challenge – chin na applications (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – standing qigong (4 postures) (20 minutes x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignment #2 – Attitude & etiquette
Assignment #3 – Book

Green

Cat-stepping
Form applications (intro)
Knife drills (intro)
Shuai jiao applications (intro)
Challenge – form applications (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – knife drilling (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – shuai jiao applications (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignment #2 – Attitude & etiquette
Assignment #3 – Book

Blue

Chin na applications
Form applications
High circle qigong
Horse stance
Leg stretches (set 1)
Leg stretches (set 2)
Psoas exercises
Qigong development
Slow form (section 2)
Slow form (section 3)
Challenge – chin na applications (60 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – form applications (60 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – form challenge (section 2) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – form challenge (section 3) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – horse stance qigong (5 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – qigong development (40 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 & #3 – Books

Purple

3-D
4 directions with a partner (no contact)
70/30 stance
Broadsword drills
Countering/pushing peng
Double pushing hands
Form posture qigong (70/30)
Penetrating defences
Pushing peng exercise
Pushing peng (partnered)
Pushing peng (striking)
Qigong on one leg
Silk arms
Small san sau
Standing post with arms
Stick drills
Slow form (mirrored)
Stretches & joint work
Tao yin/Taoist Yoga
Challenge – broadsword drills (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – mirrored form (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – penetrating defences (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – silk arms (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – small san sau (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – stick drills (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 & #3 – Books

Brown

Countering punches, kicks & grapples
Dying ground
Everybody falls
Floor work
Massage
Melee
Qigong revision
Shuai jiao applications – subject to fitness
Yielding/chin na
Yielding/countering
Yielding/shuai jiao – subject to fitness
Challenge – floor work endurance (10 mins)
Challenge – shuai jiao applications (60 mins x 12 weeks) – subject to fitness
Challenge – yielding/chin na endurance (10 mins)
Challenge – yielding/countering endurance (10 mins)
Challenge – yielding/shuai jiao endurance (10 mins) – subject to fitness
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 & #3 – Books

1st dan

2 person cane form/drill (regular & mirrored)
3-tier wallbag
4 ounces exercise
5 animals
5 bows
5 centres
5 elements stepping
8 powers striking
13 movements
60/40 stance
Balance, rhythm, timing
Being hit
Breath meditation
Cold jing
Da lu
Entry methods
Finishing-off
Floor work (control)
Form applications (section 1)
Form applications (section 2)
Form applications (section 3)
Gravity striking
Holding down the pillow
Loose striking
Meditation on body sensations
Meditation on emotions
Melee:
– yielding/shuai jiao
– yielding/chin na
– yielding/countering
Neigong (1-10)
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Obvious power (ming jing)
Pushing hands development
Reflex drills
Sabre form (regular & mirrored)
Silk arms (jing)
Silk arms (peng)
Small san sau (jing)
Small san sau (peng)
Speed striking
Wu nien
Yin
Challenge – 2 person cane form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – 13 movements (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – double pushing hands (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – reflex drills (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – sabre form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – section 1 form applications (120 mins x 24 weeks)
Challenge – section 2 form applications (120 mins x 24 weeks)
Challenge – silk arms (jing) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – silk arms (peng) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – small san sau (jing) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – small san sau (peng) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 – #10 – Books

2nd dan

5 challenges
5 elements striking (part 1)
5 elements striking (part 2)
Countering a knife
Crude fa jing
Elbow
Escapes/knife
Fa jing
Folding
Freeform triangle
Groundpath
Improvised weaponry/knife
Jing
Kicking
Moving with kwa
Neigong (11-20)
Neigong (extras)
Reverse breathing
San da stage 1: freeform application
Silk arms (combat)
Small san sau (combat)
Small san sau against a knife
Spiral body
Staff form (regular & mirrored)
Throws
The way of the bear
The way of the bird
The way of the monkey
The way of the snake
The way of the tiger
Yielding/knife
Challenge – 5 challenges
Challenge – 10 minute freeform application endurance challenge
Challenge – improvised weaponry (5 minutes)
Challenge – knife attackers (5 minutes)
Challenge – sections 1, 2 & 3 form applications (120 mins x 48 weeks)
Challenge – silk arms (combat) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – small san sau (combat) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – staff form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 – #10 – Books

3rd dan

5 pre-emptive methods
6 balanced pairs
Becoming the centre
Being in the back
Dividing the muscle
First hand/second hand
Flowing chin na applications (misplacing the bones)
Flowing shuai jiao
Freeform grappling
Heavy bag
Hidden power (an jing)
Large rhythm, small rhythm
Latent movements
Neigong (21-30)
Penetrating defences against a knife
Projections (set 1)
Projections (set 2)
Projections (set 3)
Rolling
San da stage 2: freeform combat
Shen
Shih (martial advantage)
Shuai jiao
Silk arms against a knife
Small stick drills
Small stick flexibility drills
Sparing yourself
Straight sword form (regular & mirrored)
Tools
Travelling
Walking stick form (regular & mirrored)
Yielding/chin na against a knife
Challenge – projections (set 1) (30 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – projections (set 2) (30 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – projections (set 3) (30 mins x 12 weeks)
Challenge – shuai jiao relay (5 minutes)
Challenge – small stick drills (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – straight sword form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – walking stick form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 – Q & A
Assignments #2 – #10 – Books