If you slouch and the instructor told you not to slouch, most likely you would over-compensate.
This now creates a new problem; equally as bad as slouching.
Habits are deeply ingrained.
When wrong feels right, your own nervous system will provide unreliable information.
You gauge how your body feels in terms of what is familiar, rather than what is correct.
Wednesday
Friday
Learning
To learn, a person must let go of what they already know and be prepared to embrace the unknown.
Everything that you know is in the past. The unknown cannot be known.
Learning must begin by letting go.
There is nothing to be afraid of; it is natural to be uncertain, to have doubt, to be ignorant.
Everything that you know is in the past. The unknown cannot be known.
Learning must begin by letting go.
There is nothing to be afraid of; it is natural to be uncertain, to have doubt, to be ignorant.
Thursday
Criticism?
Corrections are not criticism.
An instructor corrects the student because they care about the student's progress.
Suggestions, possibilities and alternatives all serve to broaden your horizons and open the mind to new possibilities.
A reminder encourages the student to remember the basics, to focus upon the underlying principles.
The student should be grateful when corrected, because the correction offers an opportunity for change, for improvement.
An instructor corrects the student because they care about the student's progress.
Suggestions, possibilities and alternatives all serve to broaden your horizons and open the mind to new possibilities.
A reminder encourages the student to remember the basics, to focus upon the underlying principles.
The student should be grateful when corrected, because the correction offers an opportunity for change, for improvement.
Wednesday
Training
The training methods taught in class were designed to gently encourage you to use your mind and body in a different way.
Your existing habits will actually impede you.
Instead of performing an exercise comfortably, you will find the drill awkward... until you relax and do something unfamiliar.
Slowly, you learn to recognise the benefit of moving in the internal way.
Obviously, this process takes time.
It also requires the student to engage physically and mentally with the art.
Your existing habits will actually impede you.
Instead of performing an exercise comfortably, you will find the drill awkward... until you relax and do something unfamiliar.
Slowly, you learn to recognise the benefit of moving in the internal way.
Obviously, this process takes time.
It also requires the student to engage physically and mentally with the art.
Tuesday
Strain
Strain slowly leads to damage over time.
Prolonged imbalance can result in injury as the small strains gradually wear away at the body.
Like cracks, they cause very subtle damage.
Most people impose very slight strain on their bodies all day long.
Hunching over a computer.
Sitting badly.
Reaching to do something rather than stepping closer.
Prolonged imbalance can result in injury as the small strains gradually wear away at the body.
Like cracks, they cause very subtle damage.
Most people impose very slight strain on their bodies all day long.
Hunching over a computer.
Sitting badly.
Reaching to do something rather than stepping closer.
Monday
Education
This 'disconnected' approach is also evident in our educational system which still over-emphasises examination results at the expense of real learning. Our children are fed vast quantities of discrete and often unrelated information which they must parrot back on demand. They are drilled and judged on their performance in a series of disconnected topics.
(Michael Gelb)
Sunday
Being corrected
One of the obstacles facing a student is the experience of being corrected.
A good instructor can easily illustrate how one methods works and how another method does not.
It is their duty to help you to recognise the difference.
A good instructor can easily illustrate how one methods works and how another method does not.
It is their duty to help you to recognise the difference.
Relax
How can you do right when everything you do and feel is wrong?
This is a good question.
The trick is to relax; physically, psychologically and emotionally.
Relaxation will not remove your bad habits, but it will help your mind and body become more receptive to change.
This is a good question.
The trick is to relax; physically, psychologically and emotionally.
Relaxation will not remove your bad habits, but it will help your mind and body become more receptive to change.
Saturday
Niwa (pure place)
The training hall is a place where you can relax, have fun and learn.
It is not a place of violence and machismo.
The challenge of learning tai chi chuan removes conflict, macho urges and aggression.
A student learns how to move in a graceful, balanced, harmonious way whilst maintaining composure at all times.
It is not a place of violence and machismo.
The challenge of learning tai chi chuan removes conflict, macho urges and aggression.
A student learns how to move in a graceful, balanced, harmonious way whilst maintaining composure at all times.
Friday
Spiritual component
Tai chi chuan practice does possess a spiritual component.
This may be experienced through studying taoism and zen, along with meditating, and practicing qigong, the form and application.
An earnest student of tai chi chuan becomes calmer, more harmonious.
They have a sense of deep connection with all things.
This may be experienced through studying taoism and zen, along with meditating, and practicing qigong, the form and application.
An earnest student of tai chi chuan becomes calmer, more harmonious.
They have a sense of deep connection with all things.
Individual priorities
Not everyone wants to commit themselves to weekly lessons and daily practice. Nobody says that you should.
It is important to do what feels right for you.
Similarly, you must not resent the progress of others in the class who are dedicated and skilled.
Each student is free to proceed at a pace of their own choosing.
If you want to attend once or twice a month, that is fine providing you accept that you will need plenty of revision and your progress will be slow.
It is important to do what feels right for you.
Similarly, you must not resent the progress of others in the class who are dedicated and skilled.
Each student is free to proceed at a pace of their own choosing.
If you want to attend once or twice a month, that is fine providing you accept that you will need plenty of revision and your progress will be slow.
Thursday
Form application: one posture
We look at one posture of the form at a time, with attention upon the ‘power’ component. How the body movement reveals martial possibilities.
Visualise attacks, and potential counters. Pay attention to timing, distance and positioning.
Do not change the posture to suit an application.
Do not be hampered by thinking that the final position is the posture.
Do not distort your new awareness by exaggerating the posture during form practice.
Remember that form application is not about self defence.
Visualise attacks, and potential counters. Pay attention to timing, distance and positioning.
Do not change the posture to suit an application.
Do not be hampered by thinking that the final position is the posture.
Do not distort your new awareness by exaggerating the posture during form practice.
Remember that form application is not about self defence.
Wednesday
Train as often as you can manage
Concentrated practice in the early stages of an endeavour dramatically improves the value of future practice.
(Michael Gelb)
(Michael Gelb)
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