Longevity is no proof of skill. Years wasted on lousy material will not produce taijiquan ability. Learning countless form sequences means nothing. It is a shallow habit employed by bored students.
Where is the depth?
Look to the practice. Can you employ the taijiquan classics, jing, neigong, chin na, softness, sung etc?
Friday
5 stages
The importance of the 5 stages cannot be
overstated.
Many tai chi people never get past stage 1 and therefore remain almost entirely external.
Each stage is necessary.
The different levels represent milestones on the journey from external to internal.
Cumulative skills build upon preceding material and understanding, taking the student from beginner to intermediate, to expert and finally; to an advanced level of skill.
Many tai chi people never get past stage 1 and therefore remain almost entirely external.
Each stage is necessary.
The different levels represent milestones on the journey from external to internal.
Cumulative skills build upon preceding material and understanding, taking the student from beginner to intermediate, to expert and finally; to an advanced level of skill.
Slow down
Tai chi chuan is an antidote to stressful living.
When you take things a little slower, you begin to notice the world.
When you take things a little slower, you begin to notice the world.
Thursday
10,000 hours
Being a tai chi teacher is more than just talent. You need to put in the work.
An instructor's experience should be measured in decades, not just years.
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 tai chi, dancing or playing the piano.
An instructor's experience should be measured in decades, not just years.
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 tai chi, dancing or playing the piano.
Wednesday
Darkness & shadows
A traditional Japanese tea house balanced darkness and light to produce an atmosphere of ease and calm.
Shadows and dimness serve to settle the mind.
In modern houses it is possible to modulate the amount of light allowed into a room.
Voiles and curtains can be adjusted to adjust the mood.
Bright lighting and flickering screens are not relaxing.
Avoid the hypnotic dance of light.
Embrace darkness and shadow.
Shadows and dimness serve to settle the mind.
In modern houses it is possible to modulate the amount of light allowed into a room.
Voiles and curtains can be adjusted to adjust the mood.
Bright lighting and flickering screens are not relaxing.
Avoid the hypnotic dance of light.
Embrace darkness and shadow.
Monday
Foundation
A
significant amount of time must be spent practicing the basics:
-
Moving qigong
-
Form
-
Reeling silk exercises
-
Partnered drills
A beginner who trains the
fundamentals every day and attends as many lessons as possible will make good
progress long-term.
Neglecting the basics means a weak foundation and the tai chi will most likely remain external, and incorrect.
Neglecting the basics means a weak foundation and the tai chi will most likely remain external, and incorrect.
Aptitude test
Grading is all about aptitude.
A new starter could not possibly offer an experienced student good partner practice.
The new starter's body use is too crude and clumsy and they lack the skills to take a fall or strike without injury.
Belts serve to differentiate the syllabus.
They allow students to progress in a clear, standardised, focussed manner.
At each stage, a specific degree of aptitude is required.
A student may well be keen, but without the competence this amounts to nothing.Grading involves a regular series of aptitude tests, and these serve to chart progress through the curriculum.
A new starter could not possibly offer an experienced student good partner practice.
The new starter's body use is too crude and clumsy and they lack the skills to take a fall or strike without injury.
Belts serve to differentiate the syllabus.
They allow students to progress in a clear, standardised, focussed manner.
At each stage, a specific degree of aptitude is required.
A student may well be keen, but without the competence this amounts to nothing.Grading involves a regular series of aptitude tests, and these serve to chart progress through the curriculum.
Sunday
Sifu Walker?
Sifu should have been called Walker not Waller. He typically walks between 3-10 miles every day. If he doesn't walk he goes all stir crazy.
Saturday
Rise early
Monks around the world get up in the early hours of the day and gain clarity from the stillness of the unawakened world.
We share this habit and have risen early for decades now.
Our preference is 4 AM but we typically rise at 5 because it offers a more practical bed time.
When you walk alongside a river or beneath trees at the start of the day, there is a magic in the air.
Such quiet.
Yes, there are birds and the occasional person or car, but the mood is one of tranquillity.
The streets are empty of commerce; the shops shuttered and closed.
There are no consumers, no hustle and bustle, no showmanship and competition.
It is like being backstage. Before the day begins.
We share this habit and have risen early for decades now.
Our preference is 4 AM but we typically rise at 5 because it offers a more practical bed time.
When you walk alongside a river or beneath trees at the start of the day, there is a magic in the air.
Such quiet.
Yes, there are birds and the occasional person or car, but the mood is one of tranquillity.
The streets are empty of commerce; the shops shuttered and closed.
There are no consumers, no hustle and bustle, no showmanship and competition.
It is like being backstage. Before the day begins.
Friday
Meditation
Many people talk about meditation or claim to do meditation. Yet, meditation is not an activity.
It is presence.
It is presence.
Thursday
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being present, being here and now.
This may sound quite simple, but most people are distracted by their thoughts.
They are not present at all.
The value of being present cannot be over-stated.
Your body resides in the immediate. Your existence takes place in the immediate.
Although your thoughts may wander near and far, you are here.
This may sound quite simple, but most people are distracted by their thoughts.
They are not present at all.
The value of being present cannot be over-stated.
Your body resides in the immediate. Your existence takes place in the immediate.
Although your thoughts may wander near and far, you are here.
Wednesday
Presence
There is nothing mystical about 'presence'.
It is simply a condition of awareness whereby you are rooted in the immediate moment rather than absorbed in thought or memory.
In order to do anything wholeheartedly you need to be present, not daydreaming or 'spacing out'.
It is simply a condition of awareness whereby you are rooted in the immediate moment rather than absorbed in thought or memory.
In order to do anything wholeheartedly you need to be present, not daydreaming or 'spacing out'.
Tuesday
Peter Southwood's tips #3 Daily training
Daily:
- Standing qigong
- Moving qigong
- Neigong concerns
- Form(s)
- Main drills
- Reading
- Rest
Stagger the remaining material across the week.
Being mindful
Mindful conduct involves acting appropriately, in accord with what is happening.
This requires a certain degree of flexibility, adaptation, openness and awareness.
This requires a certain degree of flexibility, adaptation, openness and awareness.
Being willing to change in relation to outside stimuli rests at the heart of mindfulness.
Neigong
The 16 treasures are all neigong; habitual skills that transcend consciousness.
But they are very particular skills.
But they are very particular skills.
Monday
Meditation
The whole point of meditation is not to follow the path laid down by thought to what it considers to be truth, enlightenment or reality. There is no path to truth.
The following of any path leads to what thought has already formulated and, however pleasant or satisfying, it is not truth.
It is a fallacy to think that a system in daily life for a few given moments, or the repetition of it during the day, will bring about clarity or understanding.
(Krishnamurti)
The following of any path leads to what thought has already formulated and, however pleasant or satisfying, it is not truth.
It is a fallacy to think that a system in daily life for a few given moments, or the repetition of it during the day, will bring about clarity or understanding.
(Krishnamurti)
Feedback
I have just returned from hospital and whilst there the physio asked about my tai chi lessons with Sifu Waller, how often I did it etc. He told me there was nothing further he could show me that would be better than the exercises I showed him from class and doesn't want to see me again for two months. He said it was ideal, slow yet dynamic and was happy for me to use it as my only ongoing therapy to finish my recovery. I have asked if he would mention Sifu Waller's class to some of his patients and he has agreed to do so. My point is, how can you possibly put a price on that? You can't. £6.00 per week for improved health, wellbeing and a stronger body. It wouldn't even buy a tub of "magic cure-all" we so often see in Health Food Shops these days.
(Margaret)
(Margaret)
Sunday
Workshop/drop-in/taster sessions
Companies sometimes like to offer a drop-in session
or workshop where people can have a short taste of tai chi.
It may be just a 10 minute workshop or an hour session.
We offer a stimulating range of activities:
It may be just a 10 minute workshop or an hour session.
We offer a stimulating range of activities:
-
Qigong
-
Balance
-
Connection
-
How to relax
-
Biomechanics
-
Mind/body unity
-
Optimal body use
-
Tai chi form practice
-
Playful partnered games
-
Neigong feats of strength
Saturday
Regular feedback
Students are evaluated every 12 weeks. Sifu offers advice, corrections, tips and
pointers.
If you understand the fundamentals of your grade well enough, you can move up to the next belt.
Your grade represents where you are in the syllabus,
If you understand the fundamentals of your grade well enough, you can move up to the next belt.
Your grade represents where you are in the syllabus,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)