Monday
Sunday
Skill
How long does it take to learn to play the guitar? How many lessons are needed to speak Japanese? Obviously it depends upon your purpose.
Do you want to be the next Segovia or Clapton, or just to play a few simple tunes? Do you intend to translate haiku, or are you simply preparing for a two-week vacation?
Although the skill of your teacher and your talent level will certainly influence your progress, the duration and intensity of your study will be determined ultimately by the level of expertise that you seek.
(Michael Gelb)
Do you want to be the next Segovia or Clapton, or just to play a few simple tunes? Do you intend to translate haiku, or are you simply preparing for a two-week vacation?
Although the skill of your teacher and your talent level will certainly influence your progress, the duration and intensity of your study will be determined ultimately by the level of expertise that you seek.
(Michael Gelb)
Feedback
I am writing to say how inspiring I find your website and blog. Calm and inspiring.
I only found it last week but I hope to be a regular visitor from now on.
(Maria)
I only found it last week but I hope to be a regular visitor from now on.
(Maria)
Wednesday
Body trauma
Our reaction to disturbing events throws our bodies into chronic imbalance. We tend to hold the 'memory' of a traumatic experience in a particular part of the body. This muscular memory in time becomes part of the total pattern and is incorporated into an individual's use of himself.
(Michael Gelb)
(Michael Gelb)
Tuesday
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
• 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
Monday
Getting it right?
Students occasionally ask: "When will I get it right?" or "Is this right?" after only a few short months of training.
This may seem like a reasonable question.
Unfortunately, the student is yet to realise that they are missing about 99% of the syllabus.
Given that there is still so much to learn, how can even the most simple exercise be correct?
Everything must be refined.
Again and again and again and again.
This process of correction and refinement may seem tedious to a new starter but it actually becomes enjoyable as you progress.
Students want to be corrected.
They want to improve their training.
This may seem like a reasonable question.
Unfortunately, the student is yet to realise that they are missing about 99% of the syllabus.
Given that there is still so much to learn, how can even the most simple exercise be correct?
Everything must be refined.
Again and again and again and again.
This process of correction and refinement may seem tedious to a new starter but it actually becomes enjoyable as you progress.
Students want to be corrected.
They want to improve their training.
Saturday
Workshops & private lessons
Workshops are an excellent way to receive corrections. Smaller groups mean more time spent with the teacher.
Private lessons entail extensive tuition and thorough ongoing assessment.
It is very difficult to hide faults in your practice when training directly with the instructor.
Private lessons entail extensive tuition and thorough ongoing assessment.
It is very difficult to hide faults in your practice when training directly with the instructor.
Sunday
Self-correction
At some stage a diligent student may become capable of self-correction.
This is a major step forward in terms of progress.
It does not mean that correction is unnecessary.
Rather, it indicates that the student has begun to take responsibility for the quality of their own practice.
They are now capable of determining to some extent what is correct.
Awareness, self-evaluation and the ability to see other possibilities is essential.
The ability to self-correct will speed-up the learning process.
This is a major step forward in terms of progress.
It does not mean that correction is unnecessary.
Rather, it indicates that the student has begun to take responsibility for the quality of their own practice.
They are now capable of determining to some extent what is correct.
Awareness, self-evaluation and the ability to see other possibilities is essential.
The ability to self-correct will speed-up the learning process.
Saturday
Attention
Attention is very different from what is usually called concentration.
Concentration is usually associated with a state of over-tension manifested by a furrowed brow and interference with breathing, almost as though one were trying to hold everything in place so as to be able to focus totally on a certain aspect of one's surroundings.
(Michael Gelb)
Concentration is usually associated with a state of over-tension manifested by a furrowed brow and interference with breathing, almost as though one were trying to hold everything in place so as to be able to focus totally on a certain aspect of one's surroundings.
(Michael Gelb)
Friday
Jian
The straight sword (jian/tai
chi sword) is the main weapon for the expert to learn.
The form is lengthy, detailed and demanding.
Once learned, it must also be mirrored.
Students begin with a wooden sword, then work onto a lightweight steel blade, and finish with a real sword (unsharpened).
The expert also learns how to apply fundamental drills against a knife.
The form is lengthy, detailed and demanding.
Once learned, it must also be mirrored.
Students begin with a wooden sword, then work onto a lightweight steel blade, and finish with a real sword (unsharpened).
The expert also learns how to apply fundamental drills against a knife.
Broadsword
Students practice broadsword drills and the sabre form.
This heavy weapon offers a notable workout.
This heavy weapon offers a notable workout.
It develops upper body strength, whole body movement and wrist flexibility. Students learn how to extend their energy through the blade.
Wednesday
No corrections
Students who fail to receive corrections throughout the syllabus inevitably go astray.
This cannot be avoided.
Emphasising the wrong material, misunderstanding the significance of certain principles... inaccuracies... slowly it all crumbles to dust.
A slight error grows over time and leads to a monstrous deterioration.
Only the instructor can see the entirety of the curriculum, and see how it all fits together and operates.
This cannot be avoided.
Emphasising the wrong material, misunderstanding the significance of certain principles... inaccuracies... slowly it all crumbles to dust.
A slight error grows over time and leads to a monstrous deterioration.
Only the instructor can see the entirety of the curriculum, and see how it all fits together and operates.
A small error in principle at the beginning of training will have greater consequences as time goes on.
(Yang Jwing-Ming)
Monday
Bad posture
Many runners run with extremely bad posture.
Their elbows are stiff and locked (often raised)... shoulders are lifted... the body is stooped... and weight is bearing heavily down into the knees.
This would be bad posture for any form of exercise.
It causes serious fatigue and adverse wear and tear on the body.
Their elbows are stiff and locked (often raised)... shoulders are lifted... the body is stooped... and weight is bearing heavily down into the knees.
This would be bad posture for any form of exercise.
It causes serious fatigue and adverse wear and tear on the body.
Sunday
Posture
Although most people seem to believe that they understand what proper posture is, they generally apologise for not having it themselves.
(Michael Gelb)
(Michael Gelb)
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