Paul Barry tribute

You will begin to feel that your taijiquan practice goes beyond simple form training, and you will be able to perceive things as energetic combinations, rather than as static physical objects. Your training partners will appear to your senses as dynamic patterns of energy, rather than as clumsy physical bodies. When this happens, you can skilfully switch strategy and tactics in any situation.
 
 (Yang Jwing-Ming)

Tai chi and chi kung

People believe that the 'chi' in tai chi is the same chi as chi kung (qigong).
This is incorrect.
Tai chi refers to the yin/yang principle whereas the chi (qi) in chi kung is about qi energy.

The quest for answers

The 'external' personality seeks answers outside of themselves. 
They go to exotic lengths in search of their idea of truth; visiting remote monasteries, undergoing retreats or travelling to far away lands. 

Yet, the Tao Te Ching says that you can find the truth without even leaving your room. 
This is 'internal'. 
Find the answers within. 
Perhaps you may even discover that their are no answers.
Questions are projections of the self and seeing the truth requires the individual to be rid of self.

Chinese New Year meal 2016

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).

10 questions to ask a tai chi teacher

Try asking these 10 questions:
1. Which treatise(s) would you consider to be The Tai Chi Classics? Which author is most accessible to you? And which parts do you struggle to put into your practice?
2. What role does 'shen' play in tai chi?
3. Explain the significance of 'folding'.
4. The name of the art refers to the 'yin/yang' diagram... So, how does tai chi use yin/yang?
5. Illustrate the difference between 'jing' and 'li'. What bearing does this have on 'peng'?
6. What does the expression 'invest in loss' refer to?
7. Explain the difference between the first 4 powers and the second 4 powers.
8. Which of the taoist classics do you find most relevant/pertinent to tai chi? And why?
9. What is 'mutual arising'?
10. How does '4 ounces of pressure' operate in practice? What are the active/passive manifestations? And how do they differ?
If a tai chi instructor cannot answer every question comprehensively - verbally & physically - they are not skilled enough to be an instructor. 
Look for somebody who can provide good answers.

How to gauge your tai chi teacher...

Quite a lot of people claim to 'know' tai chi. 
Typically they mean 'tai chi for health'... 
Yet, if you ask them a few simple questions, they almost always flounder. 

When faced with a potential charlatan, most people ask all the wrong questions: teacher, style etc. 
Who cares? This is not the root of tai chi. 
Focus on the essentials.

Happy New Year from the Wallers

Classes resume 4th January