The health benefits of tai chi

Tai chi offers a balanced approach to the cultivation of health, vitality and wellbeing. 
There is no sweating, straining or panting for breath. There is gain without pain.
The benefits of tai chi are significant and long-lasting:

1. Stay calm
2. Develop your memory skills
3. Mindfulness
4. Boost energy
5. Increased brain activity
6. Cultivate an unusual form of strength
7. Improved joint function
8. Feel balanced
9. Increased stamina and endurance
10. Release deeply-held muscular tension
11. Meditation & awareness
12. Increased flexibility
13. Coordination
14. Better focus/concentration
15. Learn to relax naturally
16. Improved poise and posture

Long held to be an excellent anti-aging regime, tai chi may indeed be the perfect exercise (Harvard Medical School).

Tai Chi Master

Mastering tai chi requires the following:

• A lifelong commitment to the furtherance of the art
• Spontaneous demonstration of every and any aspect of the art
• The ability to train other people to become Tai Chi Instructors
• An embodiment of the principles outlined in the Tai Chi Classics
• Highly accurate rendition of every exercise/form/drill/application
• Extensive knowledge of every facet of every subject in the syllabus i.e. 'jing'
• An in-depth understanding of every facet of the exercise/form/drill/application
• How the exercise/form/drill/application links to other aspects of the curriculum
• The ability to dismantle and explain how and why the different components operate
• Grace, ease, subtlety, sensitivity, nimbleness, appropriateness, simplicity are all a given
• The willingness to train disciples to acquire every aspect of the teaching and perpetuate the art themselves
• Unselfconscious, skilled and utterly effective application of the art in combat employing chin na, jing and shuai jiao
• The ability to develop, improve and deliver a thorough, fully differentiated syllabus suitable for all ability levels and all ages
• The ability to dismantle and explain how and why every form posture operates and how it can be applied in at least 7 different ways
• Comprehensive theoretical knowledge and the ability to discuss and explain how taoism, martial theory and actual practice all tie together
• The ability to apply the tai chi principles (yielding, stickiness, peng, jing, composure, connection, 4 ounces etc) in every situation with absolute ease and certainty

Lineage disciple

Master Waller actively dissuades any student from seeking to become a lineage disciple.
The obligation is not for the half-hearted.

If the student is neglectful with their training and commitments, they will no longer be an indoor student.

Tai Chi Master

A Master should have 30-40 years martial arts experience and 30,000 hours of tai chi practice.
They are capable of teaching other Instructors.

It's awesome! It's an amazing feeling when you get a move just right and your opponent crumples or is sent crashing across the room even though it's taken very little effort to do it. However, it requires dedication, hard work and a lot of practice to make and maintain progress through the syllabus.

Master Waller is not only an exceptional martial artist, he's also a skilled and very patient teacher. His approach to teaching is structured and methodical but is also rational - founded on physics and biomechanics rather than mysticism and esoteric concepts of energy flow. His tai chi chuan works, he can explain why it works, he proves it works, and he can teach you to make it work too!
(Eddie)

An alternative

A lot of Western people start the day by smoking a cigarette, listening to the radio/watching TV, reading a newspaper and having a cup of coffee.
Yang style tai chi offers an alternative.
Instead of feeling groggy and tired in a morning, you feel invigorated, relaxed, alert, calm and clear-headed.
You start the day from a position of strength, rather than weakness.

Peter Southwood's tips #24 Hydrate

Aim to drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day.
Preferably mineral water or filtered water.

Ten years ago I gave up full time work to work part time. I felt the need for more time for myself and to improve my fitness and health. I was looking for a form of exercise which would fulfil these goals and thought tai chi would suit me. I looked for a tai chi class locally and tried a few but found they were not what I wanted. Basically the classes were too large and there seemed to be no development of skills or structure in the teaching, merely waving your arms about.

Nine years ago I found a class run by Master Waller. This changed my whole outlook. Students are in uniform and there are people actively teaching the syllabus and practicing. There is a very comprehensive program of study to work through.

I did a 'self defence intro' recently and really enjoyed the training. We were not taught to believe that we were now competent at self defence. That would be an unreasonable expectation. However, we were taught some simple strategies to use should we ever find ourselves in a vulnerable position, and they would work, as we proved on each other! So, not only useful, but good fun also.
(Sylvia)

Modern life

Modern life is filled with distractions that distort your perception of reality and make you feel strung out and tired.
 
Television, computers, junk food, noisy neighbours, work, videogames, mobile phones, driving and family problems can all make you feel unhappy and agitated.

In my life free time is in short supply; I want a class where I get value for money and concentrated pure teaching.
Newcastle Tai Chi meets both these objectives.
(Damian)

You

Studying tai chi is all about looking after your own interests.
Instead of worrying about other people, why not take the time to work on yourself?

By slowing down you begin to notice patterns of tension within the body, stiff shoulders, aching joints, an inflexible spine.
Impatience, irritability and the tendency to rush become apparent.

Address these concerns in a supportive learning environment.
Pretty soon you will start to feel a lot more relaxed and happy; your energy levels will increase and vitality will follow.

Moderation

A common theme in tai chi training is 'moderation'.
Be cautious of extremes.
Pushing your body can lead to injury, strain and physical tension.

In tai chi, the training is gentle and does not tax the body.
We remain calm, focussed and patient.

Making the best use of your time

Tai chi can potentially fulfil a number of requirements simultaneously:

1. Stress-relief
2. Relaxation
3. Meditation
4. Health
5. Fitness
6. Wellbeing
7. Self defence training
8. Friendly social activity

A good tai chi class will address your health, strengthen your body, optimise movement and improve balance.
People who have an interest in Asian art, culture, literature and philosophy are encouraged to explore these subjects.
If you want to learn a complete range of martial arts skills, you can do this too.

Application

A good instructor should be capable of demonstrating tai chi self defence without hurting you.
They can demonstrate striking power on a focus mitt.

Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Gauge the effectiveness of what they show you:

1. Did it work?
2. Did they compromise themselves? Were they over-committing?
3. Was there any adverse feedback?
4. Did they allow for multiple attackers?
5. What did it do to the opponent?
6. Were they forcing an outcome? Or did it flow?
7. Was it easy to perform?
8. Smooth or jarring?
9. Was it hurried and quick? Were they calm and composed?
10. Can they evade an armed opponent?

Life-changing

Learning tai chi can be a life-changing experience.
But it is not something that forces change.

You can continue to live your life as you see fit.
Any subtle changes to your quality of life will occur because they feel natural and appropriate.

Take it easy

Tai chi differs from most forms of exercise because it doesn't expect too much from you.
The aim is to relax and only do what is comfortable.

There is no pressure or competition involved, no need to perform or be the best.

What's in it for me?

Modern life is busy.
People have diverse interests, complex social lives and demanding work commitments.
Investing time in a new endeavour is a risk.
It is important to start out by weighing the pros and cons; so that you can determine what you are getting for your money and effort.

The school has a friendly approach to the art and let’s people take things as slow or as fast as they would like. Whether that is for health reasons or to learn tai chi chuan. Master Waller’s skills are immense and it is a privilege to be taught at such a high level.

It has certainly affected my way of life physically and psychologically. I had suffered from a hip problem for years and it hasn’t bothered me for ages now. I believe this is because I have trained my posture correctly through the exercises taught by Master Waller. Also I see the world differently now, a lot calmer and relaxed...
The tai chi chuan training is intense and not for everybody but if you put the time in you will quickly become skilled in an art that is an extremely effective self defence mechanism.
(Brian)

Clarity

Clarity arises when we become capable of appreciating simplicity.
When we notice small things. The details.
 
Instead of pursuing greater and wider experiences, we begin to notice what is right in front of us.

Character development

Kung fu training offers many tests of character: behavioural, psychological and emotional.
The master is very keen to see how the student responds.

The key concerns are: tempering the ego, gaining composure, learning patience, valuing peace and having a tranquil mind.