What is condition?

Consider this situation:

You decide that you are unfit and you commit to a 3 mile daily walk every morning.
On the first day when you complete the walk, you are out of breath and your limbs are shaky.
After two weeks you can finish the walk without losing your breath and you feel pleasantly energised.
Eventually the walk feels too easy and you look to try a more challenging route.

Your friend joins you on the walk because they too want to get in shape.
They finish the walk exhausted and marvel at your stamina.

What has changed?

The walk is just as hard. You need to use just as much energy to complete it.
Yet, your body has grown stronger.
More efficient.
You can undertake the hardship of the walk without undue difficulty.

This is what condition means.
Increasing your strength, stamina, endurance and fitness.
Compared to somebody who does not undertake daily training you will be far more capable of sustained exercise.

Slow form

The Long Yang form is often known as the 'slow form'. The slow, deliberate movements encourage concentration and allow the student time to become familiar with the coordination.

There should be no attempt made to speed up the sequence. Slower movement will also develop muscular strength and body control.

Every pattern of movement has its nature, meaning and purpose, and must be researched and studied before it can be really understood.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Some of you have talked about learning a short form of tai chi, which has certain transitional motifs eliminated. The reason for these repeating transitions is to help you flow within the form - to ride over it without thinking. When these repetitions are cut out, some of the major movements become awkward and jam together. The sequence loses some of its smoothness.

 (Chungliang Al Huang)

Taoist principle

The Chinese symbol called 'tai chi' or the 'supreme ultimate' contains yin and yang. Yin is black and yang is white. Tai chi combines yin and yang to produce a process of dynamic balancing.

The art of tai chi employs this Taoist principle at all times.

What is Taoism?

Taoism is not a religion in the formal sense. It is concerned with the observation of life, of nature and then the literal application of insights gleaned through seeing and contemplating what took place.

There are 3 main books to read:

1. The Way and Its Power

2. The Way of Chuang Tzu

3. The Book of Changes

It is well worth exploring a variety of interpretations and translations in order to discover which one makes the most sense to you.

 The way most people do tai chi, it's not a martial art. They could never use it the way they're doing it. Everything's in their hands, they just fill in the rest with fantasy talk.

(Paul Gale)

Non-violence

We aim to address self defence without resorting to undue violence. Violence against violence can lead to further escalation. We simply desire to evade conflict and escape unharmed.

There is no ego involved, no desire to win or claim a trophy. We learn how to incapacitate the attacker smoothly and easily. Then we walk away.

Internal conflict

The source of all conflict resides within. We experience reality within our minds. Our minds interpret what our senses encounter, and we filter that information relative to our conditioning. The difference between a peaceful person and an aggressive individual is perception. 

If we want to get along with other people we must address our own mind and  emotions. This is where the problem lies.

Compassion

Compassion is not about being soppy or becoming a monk. It is about caring. When you wake up and see that everyone else is pretty much the same as you, you stop being such a jerk. Instead of treading on people, you help them. Instead of causing conflict, you avoid it.

People who see themselves in others start treating strangers quite differently. We all want pretty much the same things: love, food, shelter, piece of mind, security, kindness, financial and emotional comfort. What is so special about you? Aren't you just the same as everyone else?
 

Bully

A selfish person is pushy. They like to get their own way. They are quite comfortable pushing others around. Do you like being pushed around? How does it make you feel?

Bullying other people is unpleasant. It is one of the less savoury aspects of human conduct. Are you a bully?

You

If we can accept that the world does not revolve around you personally, then that is a starting place. Other people have wants, needs and feelings too.

Many people walk this earth as if they personally owned it. Everyone else is a cast member in some monumental production staged for their benefit. Wake up.

It is not all about you. Do not implicate yourself in every situation. Sometimes things happen and you are an unexpected victim. This is not nice, but it was not about you personally. Do not make everything personal.

Pride

We must not only listen to what the other person is saying, we must also listen to how we respond to it. Our reactions are very important.

If a friend jokingly insults you, you may just laugh it off. But if a stranger does the same you may be offended. Why? Do you not value your friend's opinion over that of a stranger? Why should you care what a stranger thinks? What difference can it possibly make?

Our responses need to be considered. Pay particular attention to emotions. Anger, aggression and resentment are extremely destructive. People often react on impulse. Their response may be ill-conceived and careless. 

Don't take yourself quite so seriously.

Conditioning

Conditioning is about strengthening the body so that it can cope with the demands of rigorous exercise without the risk of injury. It is directly related to stamina and endurance.

Negative emotions

Negative emotions are biologically harmful and can make you ill.

When you become angry, your body is flooded with hormones and adrenaline; you enter a 'fight or flight' mode which is only intended for extreme situations in which your life is endangered.

'Fight or flight' puts your body under duress.

Tai chi encourages a person to change the way they think in order to reduce the likelihood of becoming angry.

Humility, modesty and a keen eye for small details in the natural environment are key attributes.

(Andrew Juniper)  

Coordination

Coordination is all about combining different body parts in action. A simple example is eye-hand coordination.

The motor abilities of a tai chi person are exceedingly refined; they possess the grace, coordination and poise of a dancer.

Flexibility

Flexibility, mobility and suppleness are important concerns when it comes to avoiding injury. We explore many different ways to increase our range of movement.

Agility

Agility is the ability to change your position efficiently and effectively. It requires the student to combine balance, speed, strength and coordination.

 Our next induction course is Monday 7th September.

New starters are welcome!