Buying a sword (3) - real sword

 As your strength increases and you become familiar with the form, explore a heavier weapon.
 If you can find an unsharpened blade, this is perhaps the wiser purchase initially.

 A genuine sword weighs between 1-2lbs; which is quite heavy when held in front of you.
 Compensating for the weight will require you to connect throughout your body.
 The blade makes it necessary to be both relaxed, alert and precise; you cannot afford to be cut.

 A good sword can cost quite a lot of money and needs to be handled skilfully and maintained carefully.
 The balance of a quality sword is entirely different from a  cheaper weapon.

Cure-all?

Tai chi chuan is not going to cure every ailment but it will make you feel good.
Increased mobility, flexibility, sensitivity and balance contribute to making a person feel energised and happy.
This form of exercise offers an improved standard of living for people throughout their lives.

However, there is a catch and it is a pretty big one.

Your overall quality of life, health and wellbeing will dramatically improve for as long as you do the training.
If you stop practicing the art, the benefits will fade.

Simon

Open-house

Sifu Waller had a kind of internal arts open-house in the late 80's/early 90's, with students from all kinds of martial arts calling at his house. He met them at work, in classes, in bookshops, at workshops. They came and they trained. Shaun Ullah converted his living room into a dojo of-sorts, complete with wallbag, heavy bag and weaponry. This was a time of great sharing and discovery, with Sifu Waller at the centre yet taking no credit.

 (Michael Dutton)

Feedback

"Sifu Waller's tai chi and bagua makes me think of this quote:

The equivalent process to seeking the "Holy Grail" in internal arts is the ability to move more slowly than your opponent and consistently win.

Slower speed that wins out requires three types of speed coming together simultaneously:

1. Timing.

2. The signals required to maintain some level of conscious power.

3. The ability to release the internal gears of your body, which, if they freeze up, can create a momentary mental gap that breaks the connection between you and your opponent.

This method is referred to in the tai chi classics in the form of a question:

"How is it possible that an old man can defeat a group of younger men?"

Obviously, elderly men, even the most talented, are not physically capable of moving at the speed of young men. Virtually, by definition, the elderly move with slowness, and yet those old men internal arts masters by slipping in between the gaps, are justifiably well-known for defeating younger and faster men.

(Bruce Frantzis)

No matter what I do, he defeats me. He moves slower than I do and yet I am incapacitated immediately."

(Tim)

A martial art should already be 'complete'

Unlike fighting, self defence requires the student to finish the opponent off decisively.
There can be no drawn-out combat.

The exponent must be capable of rapidly, spontaneously switching tactics and skills.
Trading blows is time-consuming.
It is necessary to adapt, change and improvise constantly.

Skill in all three areas of combat are necessary: chin na, jing and shuai jiao.
In self defence, the situation is unpredictable and there are no rules.
You must incapacitate the attacker immediately.

Precious

Your life constitutes a one-way journey from birth to death. The beauty of life lies in its fleeting nature.
In Japan, the cherry blossom symbolises the poignant realisation that we will bloom for only a short time.
Our mortality should not be ignored.

Rather than pine for more life, be inspired to use what you have, to live it well.
If you consider your life to be passing every day, do you really want to waste it watching television each night?
If you are idle and bored, 'killing time' - ask yourself why? Every moment takes you closer to the end.
Make those precious minutes count for something meaningful. When you die, will you have regrets?

Peter Southwood's tips #4 3 times

High repetition may be a favoured by many martial artists but it can lead to a serious lack of concentration.
The practice can become sloppy and careless.

When drilling any form, martial drill or set, the recommendation is to simply do it 3 times through.
Each time wants to be a little slower than the previous repetition, or a little faster, depending on what you are emphasising that day.

Gratification

If you are seeking gratification, you will naturally find what you desire, but do not let us call it truth.

(Krishnamurti)

Students

Everyone is different.
Everyone has their own agenda.
Some people are easy to work with, whilst others are not.

One student may try hard but continually fail.
Another might be totally lazy but have a knack for the art.
Occasionally, a student neglects their training and blames the instructor for their lack of progress.

An instructor must find a way to help everyone fulfil their potential.

Patient

Focus on a topic, learn it and then move onto the next one.
Be patient with yourself.

Perception

A complete martial art is not about fighting.
Therefore, the strategies and tactics are geared towards completion of the event.
Force is never blocked.
Struggling is circumvented.
If something does not work, it is immediately discarded.

An entirely different mentality is required.

The student must think about the art as a martial art, not as a sport.
The aim is to evade and escape, not to win prizes or accolades.
The opponent may attack from an unexpected angle, they may be armed, they may not be alone and they will not stop when you have had enough.

Your repertoire must be varied and extensive. Your skills must be honed and comfortable.
Students must use their bodies intelligently and skilfully, employing optimal body mechanics to ensure the best 'effort to reward' ratio.

Form collecting

If all you learn is a lot of forms, you just become a good dancer.   

(James Wing Woo) 

Set realistic learning goals

Each grade involves only a limited number of topics, exercises and drills.
Aim to pass a couple of new items every time you grade.
Look to existing skills.
Correct any mistakes, remove gaps in your knowledge.

Meaningful form

The forms must be made alive and useful.

 (Yang Jwing-Ming)

Lazy

Most people do not like the idea of exercising every day. They feel cheated because the body deteriorates and ages naturally.

The leisurely-oriented attitudes of modern life is responsible for many of the problems we are now encountering.
We are rearing a world of spoiled, lazy children and child-like adults.
Easy is not necessarily better.

Obesity, depression and mental illness are on the rise globally, as people sit back in their chairs and do less each year.
In some cases - cleaning, laundry, ironing, washing dishes, gardening are all being done by other people.
Time is freed up, but to do what?

Resentment

Correction requires humility and the earnest recognition that you have much to learn.
It can be tempting to resent your instructor.
After all, they have the skills, they have the knowledge and they make it all look so easy.

But remember; those skills were earned by hard work, money, time and sacrifice.
Skill cannot be given. It must be taken.

Your instructor is giving you the benefit of their own experience.
They are offering numerous opportunities for learning.
Are you stealing their art?

Pushing

Impatient people push for results.
Yet, who are they really pushing, who is suffering the pressure of their impatience?
They are.

Pushing is a form of exertion.

Etiquette

Most schools have some sort of class etiquette. This may seem a bit stuffy or formal.
Yet, rules are necessary in a class.
It is easy to get carried away. It is easy to be injured or cause injury.

By remaining composed, loose and friendly - safety can be encouraged.
Play, rather than fight.
Aggression has no place in our school.

Your safety, their safety

The advantage of boundaries is that everyone benefits.
You are protected from harm.
Other people are protected from you harming them.

Without clearly defined boundaries, a martial arts class cannot operate safely.

Tai chi

Tai chi is about changing our internal environment so that life becomes a joy to live and not a burden to drag into old age and death. It is about helping your body to let go of the past and your mind to slow down and cease churning. Tai chi encourages your internal focus to shift toward cherishing and remembering all that is wonderful in your life. It predisposes you to look forward to ways to make life better, rather than remembering how unsatisfying it has been.

Most importantly, tai chi gives us the ability to realise a greater human potential in ourselves and to have genuine compassion for others. Tai chi, with its gentle strength, moves us closer to feeling more truly alive.

(Bruce Frantzis)

Sifu

The role of the instructor in a martial arts class is crucial.
In addition to teaching the class, they often write the syllabus, run the school and decide how to approach the art.
Their personality is imprinted on everything they do.

Unlike a school teacher - who implements someone else's curriculum and follows someone else's rules - a martial arts instructor is more like the captain of a ship.

Courtesy

Being courteous to other people ensures a more pleasant training environment.
People are less prone towards abusive behaviour, swearing or insults.

The slight formality of a martial arts class encourages good character.

You behave with dignity and show respect to people who are placing their trust in you.

Refresh

Chinese new year preparation is a time for buying new clothes and getting your h

Refresh

Chinese new year preparation is a time for buying new clothes and getting your appearance tidied up.

Qigong

Qigong is intended to condition your body, to develop stamina and endurance.
But be wary of trying too hard.

If you find that your body is aching considerably and you feel really tired, you are doing the exercise incorrectly.
Let-go of your tension and relax into the posture.
Imagine that your arms are on strings or resting on something.

Balance

When your partner loses his root his mind will be scattered and confused, and this will provide you with a good opportunity to attack.

 (Yang Jwing-Ming)

Tension

Beginners wear themselves out training qigong and partner work with too much tension.
Remember to use only the minimal amount of strength; use only what is necessary to hold your limb in place.
Anything more is wasted.

How does your partner/wife/husband address the instructor?

This is the protocol: non-class members/strangers should call my husband Mr Waller or Sifu Waller (unless they're personal friends).

A partner/spouse/family member of a student should call our instructor "Sifu" - just as a student would - because of the partner/spouse/family member being a class member.

In Chinese culture this is considered friendly because it acknowledges their indirect association with the school.

How would you introduce your instructor to a friend?

You would refer to your instructor as Sifu Waller or Mr Waller.

Disciplinary measures

It is rare for a martial arts school to impose disciplinary measures.
But they do need to exist in the event of misconduct.

If a student becomes unruly and refuses to follow instructions, everyone is put at risk.

Timeless

It is important to remember that a martial arts class is not modern in nature.
When you enter the training hall, you must leave modern culture at the door.
You are partaking in a tradition that has continued for centuries.

Office life

Office life is fraught will a variety of health problems that stem from air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, flickering computer monitors, lack of fresh air and apathy.

Sitting at a desk all day is not good for your body and working at a computer is worse; especially a laptop.

You & the computer

The computer serves you, not the other way around.
Sit so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you.

Make sure that the monitor is not too close.
You should not have to stretch to use the keyboard or twist your torso to any degree.

When you feel bored, tired, restless, stiff or have sore eyes - get up and take a break.
If your employer will not allow you to get up, find out your rights.
The more tired you get, the more you neglect your body and poor posture will only tire you further.

Do not ignore your body; you need it beyond the office.

Zen in the Art of Archery

Martial tai chi

Karate or taijiquan?

Karate is an effective, dangerous martial art. But it is very different to taijiquan.
When you train taijiquan as if it were karate, you are no longer training taijiquan, you are training karate.

If you want to be good at taijiquan, you must train taijiquan.
You must utterly adhere to the taijiquan principles and every text/treatise/book inspired by taoism.

Whole-body movement

Your entire body - from the feet, legs and waist to the fingers - must work like a unit, and move as if threaded together, like a soft whip.

 (Yang Jwing-Ming)

Fasting

Fasting is a traditional method of eliminating toxins and gaining spiritual clarity.
 But it must be approached with caution.

 How you begin a fast, how you break a fast and what you do during (or don't do) during a fast are all considerations.
 Fasting affects your body in quite significant ways.
 If you are interested in fasting, then do some research beforehand; find out if it is the right approach for you.

 During your fast, drink filtered water, avoid driving and try to rest.

Training for the first time

The main consideration is this: go slow and easy.
Do not push anything.
Do not force anything.

Allow things to happen nice and slowly.
Developing coordination, balance, martial insights and sensitivity will take time.

Administration

Rachel handles the registration of students in class and undertakes a limited degree of tuition.

She makes many suggestions pertaining to the organisation, procedures and practices in class.
Rachel is responsible for locating venues, filming, answering e-mails, running the Newcastle Tai Chi blog and YouTube pages.

Her creative input has resulted in many positive changes for the school.

How to become a lineage student:

1. 3rd dan black belt
2. At least 6 years of unbroken training with a given instructor
   - this should include both public & private classes
3. Bai shi ceremony
   - the student makes a pledge in which they commit to preserving the art, training hard and learning all aspects of the curriculum
   - other conditions will also be met (relative to instructor/school)
   - the instructor embraces the student as part of their own family
4. Study & practice
   - the real work now begins, with the lineage student training very hard to learn the remaining syllabus material
   - this period of study and tuition usually continues for the remainder of the instructor's lifetime

Business

Martial arts have always been taught for money.
The instructor needs a certain income to sustain the school, pay hall rental and their own fees.
Some people teach part-time whilst others teach professionally.

Typically an instructor founds a school or is appointed by a governing body or a chief instructor.
The instructor has a lot of responsibilities.

It is important to respect that the instructor is running a small business.

Feints

When fighting an opponent who feints, stay calm, don't respond.
If your opponent is in range it doesn't matter whether the attack is a feint or not,
just step in and attack.

 

(Lau Kim Hong)

Chris

Responsibility

Being sifu is all about responsibility.
The role of instructor demands a very serious dedication to the art and an ongoing commitment to the students.

A martial arts class needs to have clear boundaries and a code of conduct.
Sifu is the person who ensures that these are adhered to.

They are also responsible for delivering the syllabus.
In some cases, sifu may have written much of the syllabus themselves.

Depth

Many excessively bounce around learning the next 'new' form or movement set without ever extracting the real internal value from any of them.

 (Bruce Frantzis) 

Snooze

Application

A sifu must be capable of doing/applying all aspects of the art taught in the classes.
Their skills must transcend those of every student in the school.

Theoretic knowledge is not acceptable.

Heavy weapons

The sabre and straight sword are actually quite heavy to wield.
Students are recommended to start with a lighter weapon.
This may entail buying a fairly cheap sword to start with; perhaps even a wushu weapon.

Once experienced, you may want to buy a better sword.

One way of developing strength is to practice the staff form and stick drills with an oak stick.
This must be approached carefully to avoid the risk of strain or injury.
Rest tired muscles and avoid speed.
Slow, controlled movements are best for strength-building.

Chu King Hung

Softness

The philosophy of using soft against the hard was originated from Lao Tzu. It is from this concept that tai chi chuan was created.

 (Yang Jwing-Ming)

Baguazhang is hard work

Students new to bagua may find it to be surprisingly hard work.

This is to be expected.
Tai chi is also similarly difficult, but with tai chi it is possible to introduce the art much more progressively, allowing time to grasp the basics and move on.

With bagua, there are no basics as such. Bagua has no beginners level.

Mother palms, direction changes and palm changes are the basics.
Everything else is the hard stuff

Never fight

It is a common mistake for new students to regard tai chi chuan as 'fighting'. This is a misconception that reflects a conflict-based, competitive mentality. Our training is designed to cure people of their aggression.

In self defence, we have no desire whatsoever to fight. Fighting is when you stand in front of someone and trade blows with them. It is a struggle. Struggling occurs when you try to impose your will and encounter resistance.

In tai chi chuan, we wish to evade and depart - not struggle.

A tai chi chuan student merges with the incoming attack and does not fight the assailant. Our skill lies with allowing the assailant to move as he pleases, without blocking the line of force. We redirect that force, and borrow its power for our counter.

There is no fight. A fighter tires himself by contesting the incoming force. This is not the way.

Blind

Some schools of tai chi chuan regard the discipline as mere choreography. Students are taught a pattern and then another pattern. They skitter across the surface of tai chi chuan without ever looking beneath the ice.

What they would see might just shatter their ignorance. The immense complexity of the art is astounding. There are not enough years in a lifetime to truly understand all aspects of the system.

Emotions

If we recognised that animals have emotions, we might not treat them the way we do.

 (Paul Ekman)

It's all made up

Zen koan are very good fun. They wake you up.

Read a few koan (or Krishnamurti) and you begin to realise that almost everything is made up.

Conventions, ideas, beliefs and traditions encase our lives. When you see how much is made up, you find an enormous reservoir of humour within. So much that we worry about isn't actually real. It was all made up. It is only real if you believe it to be.

Consider: engagement, marriage, fidelity, infidelity, trust, faith, authority, hierarchy, money, mortgages, loans, commitment, debt, insurance, fashion, prestige, status and meaning.

The list is relentless, feel free to add your own topics.

None of it is really real. If you grew up in the jungle, raised by chimps, would you care about your car? Why do you care, now? Because somebody conditioned you to be bothered.

Welcome to the real world, Neo.

Internal/external

In his book There Are No Secrets, Wolfe Lowenthal spoke of students who employ a curious mixture of muscular strength and yielding in order to defeat other beginners during partner work.

Lacking the skills of softness, yielding and connection, they cannot manipulate gravity skilfully and employ a kind of cheat. Lowenthal explained that these internal/external tactics are typically used by people who want to bully others and will only work against other beginners.

Re-inventing the wheel?

Bruce Lee saw this division of grappling or striking/kicking as being an imbalance he wanted to correct.
However, traditional martial arts were already complete.
They did not need anything adding to them.

Tai chi chuan and baguazhang teach 3 martial expressions:

1. Chin na
2. Jing
3. Shuai jiao

Chin na involves cavity press, dividing the muscle, misplacing the bones and sealing the breath.
Jing teaches sensitivity, awareness, manipulation and all forms of striking without tension.
Shuai jiao is about putting the opponent on the floor.

Confusion

People who quit the class have not stolen their teacher's art.
They quit because their training is poor and their attitude wrong.
The knowledge and skills the student possesses are not representative of what was taught.

It is no use quitting when experiencing weakness and failure in class, for no growth can emerge from confusion.
Only a properly trained student, with full knowledge of their teacher's art (endorsed by the teacher) can claim to accomplished true skill.

Small san sau

Small san sau is taught in two ways initially:

1. Sequence
2. Combat concerns

The 'sequence' is just the pattern of movements: the framework.
It must be performed quite well.
Small san sau is introduced in green belt and students complete the basic sequence during the blue belt syllabus.

The second learning stage takes place at purple belt.
Students learn how to use the set in actual combat.
Subtle changes and corrections enhance the set, making it much more versatile and functional in combat.

Vibrant

The training gives you a serious buzz.

Once you commit to weekly lessons and start practicing at home, you really notice a difference.
Instead of feeling lethargic and bored, you feel energised and vibrant.

Your mind is quite calm and your emotions composed, but you feel alive.

Do I need prior experience?

Prior experience is neither expected nor required.

 All new starters are treated the same, irrespective of experience.
 If you have skill with jing, peng, sung, softness and sensitivity; please demonstrate your ability to us.

Making time

If you want to do something, you make time for it.
People have a tendency to cram too many activities into too little time or leave things until the last minute.

Pace yourself. Putting things off only creates a future impediment...
Why not do it now and then forget about it?
If you don't have time to do something now, prioritise.
Do what you can immediately and do the rest later, or don't.

If you make relaxation one of your priorities, you will treat it seriously.
When relaxation becomes important enough to you, you'll make time for it.

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-grows.
We test this emerging strength to encourage further development and confidence in the training.

Why rush?

People spend their whole life just rushing. They hurry from place to place, their lives filled with inane activities.
The necessity of ceaseless activity suggests a deep psychological disturbance in the consciousness of humanity.
Can people just sit down and relax? Can they unwind?

If your life takes you minute-by-minute closer to death, why hurry?

Tai chi is good for your health

Tai chi is characterised by a gentle internal coiling and twisting of the body.
The soft, relaxed movements help to reduce bodily tension, whilst the martial art focus gives purpose and intent to the practice.

This is an ideal form of exercise for people who suffer from illness or simply want to improve their health.
Stronger muscles and bones, combined with greater flexibility of the joints, will improve body usage beyond the class.

Relaxation

Relaxation is a condition of ease that arises from feeling comfortable.

You may do many things in order to relax:

1. Sit
2. Walk
3. Read a book
4. Talk with friends
5. Spend time with your family
6. Gardening
7. Cooking
8. Eat a nice meal
9. Watch TV
10. Socialise

What is relaxing for one person may not be relaxing for another.
It is important to discover ways in which to relax.

You may even choose to do absolutely nothing...

Panda

The immediate now

Your assessment is about what you can do now.
It is not about how well you have revised or prepared.
If you do not know something, fine. This is the truth/reality of the situation.

Who are we looking for?

Friendly, receptive, intelligent people seeking something that will challenge them long-term.
Curious individuals.
People who are willing to acquire new insights, adapt and change.

Playful, relaxed, sociable people who are aiming to make tai chi a part of their lives.

Standard practice

Training martial arts is a potentially dangerous business.
People can be injured if rules are not adhered to.
This is why we have a code of conduct in place.

If you attend a variety of martial arts classes or research 'code of conduct' on the internet, you will find that it is standard practice for a school to have boundaries.

No rest

Watching television, drinking and sleeping-in on a weekend do not count as rest.
Sports and other activities may seem restful but they are often just as competitive as work.

Ceaseless activity is not rest.

Large circles

The large frame employed by the beginner is quite ungainly but serves as a foundation for progress.

In order to use the tai chi in partner work, the movements must be quite large and flowing.
These sweeping movements encourage the student to follow the line-of-force instead of blocking it.

The larger movements help the student to utilise peng and sustain groundpath.

Mind & body

Relaxing both mind and body will improve your health and make you feel better.
Your quality of life will change.
It can be hard for busy people to relax, so you must be patient.

The commitment you make towards being relaxed will prove itself worthwhile when you start to feel fresh and energised.
Tai chi aims to make you feel rested, relaxed and energised.

Martial tai chi

The problem with combat taijiquan schools is that they are often replacing weak tai chi for health & fitness with something worse: karate-style taijiquan.
It is difficult to see the sense of this. In attempting to solve one problem, they are merely creating another.

Taijiquan is not karate and should not be trained like a hard-style martial art.
The Tao Te Ching quote at the top of the page perfectly captures the importance of passivity, of softness, of yielding.
These are not hard-style attitudes. They are fundamental taijiquan approaches.

Instructor

Being sifu is about helping students to access the art.
It is not an ego-trip. It is not always fun.
But it is something worth doing.

When a student 'gets it' and their face lights up with wonder, the effort is rewarded.