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.

Peter Southwood's tips #9 The essence

Focus on the essence of the movement, drill or exercise.
What is its intrinsic purpose?

Understand the nature of something will enable you to see why, how and what is being trained.

A lighter sword...

After a little searching Sifu found a Yang-style sabre for me that weighed less than 1lb.
It is not a real sword but is definitely better than a wushu sword.

For some of the movements I can use the second hand to supplement or to actually hold the handle.
This helps a lot.

Feedback

In just a few hours time reading on your website I feel I've gained more understanding than I have in 47 years of living. Words cannot express my gratitude.

 (Roger Hawkins)

Shortcuts?

It is counterproductive and dangerous to seek shortcuts. There are none to be found and the futile search for them will distract you and make it less likely that you will ever achieve a high level of expertise.
 
 (Zhang Yun)
 

5 styles

There are 5 recognised styles of tai chi chuan:

1. Yang
2. Chen
3. Sun
4. Wu
5. Hao

Steven

Jonothan

Love and hate

Students love you when they first get into the class and then they hate you when they realise it's actually pretty hard work.


The thrill of novelty becomes resentment and jealousy...

(Andrew Clarke)

External chin na?

We travelled down to train with a YMAA instructor who specialised in chin na. Sifu, Peter Southwood, Michael Dutton and myself travelled in Michael's car together. The instructor was called Nigel. Unbeknownst to us he was actually teaching external chin na. This though proved to be embarrassing. Nigel called for a volunteer and suggested that they be as awkward as they like. Peter indicated that Sifu should step forward. Well, Nigel just couldn't put anything on Sifu. He used an increasing amount of force and eventually lost his temper. Peter commented that Nigel was not using internal body mechanics, and wrote to Dr Yang about the workshop. It had been an expensive weekend and we had learned nothing new.

(Shaun Ullah)

Commitment

Trainee instructors with Sifu Waller are lineage students with considerable experience in tai chi.
They possess a thorough understanding of the art.

These are the most dedicated students in the school.

Commentaries on Living Volumes 2 & 3 by Krishnamurti

Jeanette

Adapt, change & improvise

Our school motto is simple: Adapt, change & improvise.

It captures the essence of (applied) tai chi and baguazhang, and encourages an open, flexible attitude to life.

Balance

Modern life can make you feel strung out and tired.

It is important to find ways to earth yourself. To be centred once again and complete.

Health

Tai chi is an ideal form of exercise for people of all ages. Emphasis is placed upon mobile joints, relaxed muscles and natural movement.

The training encourages a calm mind and composed emotions.

Teaching experience

Sifu Waller has considerable experience teaching tai chi chuan:

1. Bradford Yang Style Tai Chi Association (1995 - 1999)
2. Dynamic Balancing Boxing (1999 -2004)
3. Age Concern North Tyneside (2004 - 2008)
4. Age Concern Newcastle (2004 - present day)
5. Newcastle Tai Chi (2004 - present day)

Pine cone

Eternity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzAIz0VF5eE

Business address

Newcastle Tai Chi
St Andrew's Church
Station Road
Benton
NE12 8AW
0750 3604568
http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk
newcastletaichi@hotmail.com

The role of qigong in the internal martial arts

Taijiquan, baguazhang and xingyiquan use forms to practice combat movements, build strength and gain agility.
The forms are highly intricate, with many different levels of skill.

Yiquan (mind fist)/dachengquan (the great accomplishment) - an offshoot of xingyiquan - does not use forms.
Instead, it uses static standing qigong postures in lieu of form.

Xingyiquan uses form(s) for power development.Dachengquan uses standing qigong.
See the difference?
What should a tai chi school do?The answer is somewhat self evident, isn't it?
Taijiquan is not dachengquan.
It uses forms, not standing qigong postures.
Read The Tai Chi Classics... There is no mention of standing qigong but a whole lot of information about movement.

5 stages

There are 5 stages to learning any form:

(i) The pattern

The outline, the sequence of movements.
This stage of learning is often called 'the square form' because it is crude and largely inaccurate.
The form is practiced slowly.

Unfortunately, most tai chi people only learn the first stage, and remain a perpetual beginner.
Neglecting the remaining stages leaves the form meaningless and empty.


(ii) Internal strength

Internal biomechanical concerns are incorporated.
The way in which the body is used is now the concern.
Every single movement is imbued with internal strength.

An understanding of The Way and Its Power, the tai chi classics and taoism is necessary.


(iii) Application

Traditionally, it is said that there are at least seven applications for every form posture.
There are three types of martial application within form: chin na, jing and shuai jiao.
Competence in all three areas of skill is required.
A student must be capable of skilfully applying the form in a thorough and convincing way against an earnest attacker.

Applications must adhere to the tai chi principles (4 ounces of pressure, softness, stickiness, yielding, peng etc).


(iv) Shen

Shen is a vitality that can be seen shining through a person; it enlivens the body and refreshes the mind.
The eyes look expressive and alert.

For 'shen' to manifest, a person must lose all self-consciousness.
There is no more self or other, just movement, just sensation/feeling.
Instead of feeling apart from what is happening, we feel the physics of the movement, the kinetic flow.


(v) Natural

Instead of glossy, flamboyant, outward show, the attention turns inward.
The tai chi is not ornate.
It is simple, direct, flowing and natural.
Within the slow spirals, curves and gentle steps can be found a grace that is difficult to articulate.

Cigarettes & alcohol

Addictive substances are used to prop people up.

A student called Steve once commented that after a few weeks of taijiquan he’d stopped drinking altogether. No effort was involved; he just didn’t feel like it anymore.

He remarked, “Happy people don’t drink.”

Feedback

I never get the chance to talk to you as we leave in a hurry after class but I would like to say in this email how much we admire and respect you, your clarity and common sense approach to many aspects of the martial arts cuts through so much crap taught by others; we are humbled and honoured for you allowing us to train with you, I do not think some of the other students understand the difference between other classes and yours, believe me we do; I guess because we involved with other stuff we can appreciate just how awesome the art is you teach.

I was talking to Jonothan going home tonight and we remarked on just how deep tai chi penetrates into every aspect of our lives, moving, thinking, interaction with others, it really pervades everything you do when you allow it to.

It must be frustrating to have all this cool stuff and not be able to get it across to the general public.

(Damian)

Heavier weapons

One day a week Sifu Waller's home training involves the use of oak weapons for the stick and staff forms and drills. 

Sabre form

The sabre form looks almost as long as side A of pao chui, but is actually a little bit shorter. There are a number of repeated postures too.

Peter Southwood's tips #8 Burn your bridges

Do not allow yourself excuses. Do not spare yourself. Do not lie to yourself. Do not let fear or laziness hold you back.
Take every step deliberately and knowingly.
Without compromise.

Sophie

Sifu's sword

 

 

Josh

Unlikely?

If you have studied another martial art, then it is probably quite difficult to appreciate how tai chi can be used effectively in combat.

Tai chi's slow-motion movements lead people to doubt the art.

Functionality

In order to become skilled with a weapons form, you must have some sense of how to use it.

Beginners always train with lightweight sword, and this is necessary. However it can give the wrong impression to the student.
A lightweight sword (strictly speaking) is not a weapon.
If you bashed a wushu sword or a cheap steel sword against a real jian, the blade would bend and be immediately useless.
Flashy twirls and flourishes, and over-extended arms are impossible when the sword has some weight.

Cane and staff forms do not need to be trained with an oak staff.
The rattan stick is the weapon. It is tough, flexible, durable and fast.
Oak is slow, heavy and unwieldy.

If you want to practice sword forms with some sense of realism and work through the 5 stages, then you need to use a heavy weapon at some point.

Christmas feedback

Greetings Sifu Waller: I like your Xmas views.

Margot & I decided no presents for each other this year.
Well that is not strictly correct. I give Margot $210, she gives me $210.
We then pool the $420 & send it to India where a Tibetan Buddhist Monk's father will have an operation and regain his sight.

I think I am starting to get that Christmas feeling again.
(Ron)

Professional

Seek expert guidance from a trained professional. 

Do not entrust your wellbeing to an amateur.

Rise & shine - tai chi-style...

Sifu wakes with the sun and the birds and has no real need of an alarm clock.

He wakes with dynamo-like energy and is already training before I can pry my eyes open and consider the possibility of getting out of bed...

A lifetime of early mornings and nearly 40 years of martial arts training has programmed Sifu to rise and shine no matter the occasion. Sifu is so seldom ill that for him not to wake with zeal is a bad, bad sign indeed.

3 years to grasp the 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)

Not so Christian Christmas

If Christmas is intended to celebrate the birth of Christ, how come its a commercial holiday?

Jesus said, "Take everything you have and give it to the poor."

The modern Christmas is not very Christian.

Slow & boring?

http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk/slow_boring.htm

Caution

Finding a tai chi class may sound like a simple enough proposition, but there are many considerations to take into account.

Many classes purport to be teaching tai chi, but are really offering tai chi-style exercise.
Often the instructor only knows a few warm-up exercises and a short sequence of movements.
They move their arms around and the class copies.

Synchronised arm waving is not tai chi. No matter how pretty it looks. Or how nice it feels. Or how popular the class is.


Choose your class carefully:

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.

Time served?

Some martial arts award belts for 'time served'.
This is preposterous.
A beginner is a beginner no matter how many years they attend class.
Awarding a certificate of attendance is meaningless. It is not worth the paper it is written on.

If you want to move past the beginners grade then there is only one answer: pass belts and move on.

Bad tai chi

Not all tai chi will help your body.
Some classes are very badly taught and will actively damage your body.
Be careful when choosing a tai chi class; there are many well-meaning amateurs teaching these days.

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)

Biofeedback

Partner work is an excellent way to develop the awareness required to feel and understand tai chi.
Exercises such as pushing hands can be practiced very softly so that the subtlest pressure and tension can be felt immediately.

There is no competition involved; no rivalry or aggression.
Students are primarily concerned with cultivating internal skill and maintaining appropriate body use.

Christmas approaches

The Western world goes mad with greed every Christmas. Why? What is the point?
If you must buy, why not buy from charities?

http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com

Flowing chin na

Once the principles are familiar, students will learn how to flow from one chin na to another.

The ability to flow from one chin na to another has distinct advantages:

1. It enables you to persist with your intention of inflicting injury
2. You remain sticky
3. You maintain in control
4. You demonstrate your skill
5. You can inflict a wider variety of damage without risk of an effective counter

Catch-22

A new starter must learn how to relax their muscles and utilise skeletal alignment to their advantage.
Habitual muscular tension actively prevents optimal alignment.
Tense muscles lock the joints and impede natural, healthy skeletal use.

Letting-go of tension and trusting the skeleton requires a leap of faith, and here is where the difficulty lies.
The student must stop doing what is comfortable and familiar, and try something entirely new.

Hence the catch-22:
- in order to use the skeleton properly a person needs to relax and allow the joints to open and the spine to settle
- relaxation requires confidence and confidence assumes security
- the unfamiliar promotes insecurity/fear and fear keeps the body tense

Christmas

What will you be doing on December 25^th?
Will you be opening presents you don’t need, eating too much food and going through the motions for another year?
How about the people who cannot afford Christmas?

Very few people actually appreciate how wealthy they are and how much we take that wealth for granted.

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.

What if you're small?

I'm small in stature and don't weigh a lot. This makes heavy weapons practice a problem.
 
The oak staff strains my shoulders, and the real jian and sabre used by Sifu Waller (at over 2lbs in weight) are unworkably heavy.

So, what do I do?

Eddie

The opportunity

Sifu Waller offers every martial student the opportunity to become a lineage student.
The student must meet certain criteria:

1. 3rd dan black belt
2. A good level of skill
3. A pattern of ongoing progress
4. A nice relationship with both the instructor and other students
5. No attitude problems/ego/arrogance

Suitable candidates will be told what lineage training entails.

Peter Southwood's tips #7 Intense sessions

If you have a week off, train in the afternoon and evening as well.
The benefits of a really hard training session will echo throughout your art.
A hard week of intensive training affects what you do thereafter.

'External' shuai jiao

Not all shuai jiao practiced in the world is internal.
It is often taught as an external martial art in its own right, akin to judo.
Force, tension and aggression are used. There are even fighting competitions.

This is not what we teach.

Why bother with heavier weapons?

They make you use your body a lot more.
You must compensate for the weight of the weapon - without tensing up - and still move in a lithe, nimble, strong manner.

Unless you work with a heavy sword, you are essentially 'playing'.
A lightweight wushu sword doesn't tax you much.
You can perform any manner of fancy moves that would be downright impossible and non-viable with a heavy weapon.

In a very real sense, a genuine sword grounds you: in terms of connection and in terms of its functionality.

Running

Running does not necessarily in and of itself improve posture that is already poor and constricted. It often exaggerates problems due to the substitution of inappropriate muscles. The repetitive inappropriate development of the musculature (as in body building or weight lifting) often leads to diminished sensitivity. Stress occurs in the knees and lower back, encouraging injury.

 (Liz Koch)
 

Preparation

There is a story about a king who wanted an artist to paint a bird.
The king asked the artist how long it would take him to produce the painting. The artist said "One year."
A year passed and the king called upon the artist.
The artist promptly proceeded to paint the bird whilst the king watched.

The king asked, "Why did you tell me that it would take you a year?"
The artist took him into a room. The room was littered with practice paintings, sketches of birds and research material.
The year of preparation enabled the artist to paint the bird spontaneously.

Qigong

In addition to recovery from injury and illness, regular practice of qigong  promotes a feeling of dynamo-like energy, lessens the need for sleep, reduces the tendency to become sick, and makes the whole body physically resilient and strong.

 (Robert Chuckrow)

Locks and holds

Many martial arts employ locks and holds successfully.
They are an effective way of restraining an opponent and/or damaging the body.

Unfortunately, locks and holds require commitment.If you hold somebody, you are committed to maintaining the hold using sustained strength.
At some point you must let go and your opponent is free.

We do not use locks and holds.

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.

Keen to learn broadsword

I'm dead keen to learn broadsword but Sifu wants me to complete the Yang Cheng Fu form first.

Maureen

Age Concern class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANJYuvFx_uY

Bear

Sifu is very playful, friendly and enthusiastic - but unfortunately like a bear cub or some other animal, he's prone to inadvertent roughness. 

Rachel

Doreen

Liz

What is self defence?

Self defence is the ability to protect yourself from harm: physically, mentally and emotionally.
It is not about fighting.

Life presents us with many situations that can be unpleasant:

1. Assault
2. Verbal abuse
3. Problems at work
4. Personal relationships
5. Hostile/dangerous motorists

You may feel helpless, afraid, angry and frustrated.
Discover how to keep a cool head, avoid conflict and cope with hostility.

Beginners class

We offer beginners classes that anyone may attend.
New starters and students with different levels of commitment are all welcome.

Whilst there are grades and belts, the onus is very much upon individual progress and achievement.
You can train as hard or as casually as you like.

Kara-chi?

Quite a few karate and wing chun students say that their teacher does a bit of taijiquan as part of the syllabus...

An alexander technique teacher in Bradford once admitted that she taught taijiquan as a cool-down despite having no knowledge of taijiquan whatsoever. Shame on you, Heather.

There is more to taijiquan than moving slowly.

Fundamental principles: whole-body movement, reeling silk, never tensing your muscles, circularity, not pushing, not striking-through, softness, yielding and looseness.

Do any of these factors apply to karate?

Ray

Perspective

A student needs a sense of perspective.
It is good to recognise the purpose of the beginners belts and to commit time to really understand and appreciate the lessons they teach.

Ambition is fine, providing you compliment it with hard work rather than just talk.

Not every person wants to tear through the belts and gain power.
Some students are content to plod slowly along, quite happy in their study.
There is nothing wrong with taking your time.

Clair

Helen

Anne

Nature

Peter Southwood's tips #6 Weekend sessions

Take advantage of the weekend morning to get a good 3 hour session of practice completed early in the day.
Train everything that you neglected during the week.

Charlie

Choice

Not many students will get to be lineage students.
It is not a matter of playing favourites. It is a question of priorities and commitment.
Ultimately, the choice lies with the student.

The keenest students will be asked if they are willing to make the commitment to learn everything the instructor has to offer.
Are they prepared to work harder than any other student?
Are they willing to be pushed harder than any other student?

Question to Sifu Waller re syllabus

Question: Why do most tai chi schools not have a syllabus as such?

Answer: Usually a martial arts school has a clearly defined scheme of work, grades, levels, assessment etc. However, most tai chi classes are not martial classes. The teachers would not know how to systematically teach the combat skills.

Tea ceremony

Taking private lessons and/or training with a instructor for many years does not make you a lineage student.
An indoor student is allowed inside the private centre of the instructor's art.
A formal, public pledge is required, along with a gift symbolising your commitment to look after your instructor's wellbeing.

Traditionally, a tea ceremony takes place in which the lineage candidate(s) makes a public declaration of their intent.
The instructor accepts the student(s).
Photographs may or may not be taken, and the student may be given a lineage chart showing how the art has been passed on.

The Inner Warrior

Damian

Steve

Tai chi chuan exponents

You may encounter many different people in a tai chi school.
The martial path has 6 tiers:

1. Student
2. Lineage disciple
3. Instructor
4. Expert
5. Master
6. Grandmaster

Every practitioner begins at the first level.
Levels 2-6 require a much deeper degree of commitment and practice, and will not suit most people's lifestyle.
It may be useful to determine what level an instructor has reached.

Expert

Being a taijiquan expert is more than just talent. You need to put in the work.

A good instructor should have at least 10,000 hours of practice behind them.
Dr. K. Anders Ericsson found that this was true of any art; whether taijiquan, dancing or playing the piano.

Personal trainer?

Your teacher is not a personal trainer. They are not in 'the service industry'.
They are not obligated to please you or give you what you ask for.

Tai chi cannot be taught piecemeal.
You cannot pick and choose how and what to study.

If a martial arts teacher had to choose between bowing to the demands of the consumer marketplace or closing their school to the public, many would close their school.
Teaching hand-picked students is better than diluting the art.

Passing your green belt...

The green belt is the first grade in the intermediate syllabus.
It is an easy grade to pass.

Washed away

Footprints in the sand provide the illusion of permanence. Yet the tide always washes them away - as though they never existed at all.

Gravestones mark the burial ground of those who were. And in the centuries to come, what will they mean? Who will remember or mourn the passing of so many?

We are like impressions in the sand, and no matter what our contribution, the world will forget us once we are washed away.

Qigong & form

Qigong and form in particular need to be accurate in order for you to complete the beginners syllabus.

Alignment and structure are key features of tai chi.

Alcohol

Many alcoholic drinks are not suitable for vegetarians.
Check the label.

Feedback

Your web site...

 Beautiful and truth seeking, a joy to read. Thank you.

 (Sue and David)

Brian

Business address

Newcastle Tai Chi
St Andrew's Church
Station Road
Benton
NE12 8AW
0750 3604568
http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk
newcastletaichi@hotmail.com

Common misconceptions

Beginners seldom express wardoff internally.

Most students manifest the physical shape of wardoff without the internal energetic quality that makes it a jing.

Common misconceptions:

1. stiff block
   - fundamental error in perception
   
2. immovable
   - yielding is paramount. Without it, there is no taijiquan
   - strength vs strength is not taijiquan
   
3. tension used rather than connection/groundpath
   - beginners-level error
   
4. rigid legs, only turning hips
   - external attitude
   - stance too low
   
5. not using bow stance
   - posture lacks 5 bows
   
6. use of arms and shoulders
   - unite upper & lower timing sequence lacking
   - wardoff is not being produced by spiralling & rippling
   - power must rise up from the ground

You hide your skills well...

Your taijiquan skills cannot be hidden from others, for they should be part of your everyday movement, your everyday being.

We walk, and our religion is shown (even to the dullest and most insensitive person) in how we walk. Or to put it more accurately, living in this world means choosing, choosing to walk, and the way we choose to walk is infallibly and perfectly expressed in the walk itself. Nothing can disguise it. The walk of an ordinary man and of an enlightened man are as different as that of a snake and a giraffe.

(R H Blyth)

If your internal skills are not evident when you work with other people, you should question whether they exist at all. The absolute necessity of partner work is irrefutable. Partner work separates those who practice taijiquan from those who do not.

The necessary balance

A taijiquan student needs to concentrate in some respects, and be unselfconscious in other regards.

Both facets of this requirement are addressed through the act of playfulness.