A balanced class

We aim to offer students a balanced class:

1. 6:30 PM (approx) - informal help
2. 7:00 PM - warm-up (qigong & leg stretches)
3. 7:30 PM - form
4. 8:00 PM - partner work
5. 8:30 PM - cool-down

The purpose of this format is to give your mind and body a healthy workout.

Strong mind

Why did they make forms long in the old days, like the tai chi forms?

 Because the longer you can keep your intent awake and mind-body unified and focus on your movements, the stronger your mind is, the better chance you have of winning a fight.

 (Tim Cartmell)

Goran Powell

http://www.goranpowell.com/waking-dragons.html

In your hands

 A student determines their own rate of progress.
 We give everyone the same opportunity for advancement and do not play favourites.
 If you train, practice and work hard you will move smoothly through the belts.

 No one else can determine how quickly you pass belts. The responsibility rests with the student.

Special?

Pride and conceit stem from the mistaken belief that you are somebody worthy of acknowledgement.
But from whom and for what?

Life may seem perverse: we are all individual in our own way, yet, humanity is vast in numbers.
Therefore, if we are all unique and special, then in fact no one is unique and special.
We cannot all be special.
Our uniqueness is a fact.
But everyone else's uniqueness is also a fact.

In our quest for significance we must face the fact that nobody is significant.
Even the so-called greatest of humans in recorded history are nothing and nobody in the history of the universe.
We are dust motes. We are wonderful, special, irrelevant and ephemeral.

Requests

New starters quite often say things to Sifu that sound quite reasonable at the time, but in hindsight are really not so smart.
Like the man who wanted to skip 17 grades and start learning the advanced syllabus on his first lesson.
Such a request can only reflect naivety, ignorance and arrogance.
 
It is better to begin with humility.
And to be careful what you say. 
Sifu has an astounding memory and will remember everything verbatim.

Fantasy life

Sometimes, the individual actually believes their own image. This can be dangerous and leads to significant delusion:
 

Those who lack wisdom are convinced that they are truly awake;
they think they understand what is happening;
they think that the king is really the king,
and the servants are really servants.

(Chuang Tzu)

If enough people embrace a delusion, it can become the prevalent way of thinking in society.
How many delusions are commonplace in our culture?
Consider various facets of 'culture' and ask yourself - how real are they?
What is a convention and what is real?

Over-compensate

Insecurities, doubts and feelings of inadequacy lead people to over-compensate.
They project a larger and more dramatic image in the hope of concealing inner fears.

A negative self-image results in an overblown public image.

Pandora's Box

Years ago, I made the mistake of asking Sifu to show me a 'projection' and found myself pitched across the room.
The application wasn't painful at all.
In truth, I never even felt it.
I landed in a heap on the floor before I knew what was happening.
Everything went "Crunch!"

The truth is that I wasn't ready for it. My body wasn't ready for it. My nervous system wasn't ready either.
I lay on the floor and wondered if I was ok.

Sifu will sometimes indulge a student's curiosity, but this is not always a good thing for the student.

Not a beginner

Some new people just don't like the idea of being a beginner.
This is unfortunate.

The solution is simple: pass some belts.
If you are truly experienced, expert or advanced in skill, then passing a few beginners belts should be effortless...

The logic is inescapable.
There are 3 beginners belts in our syllabus.
Pass all 3 belts and your first intermediate belt and you will no longer be a beginner.
You will be 'intermediate'.
Problem solved.

Self defence (playful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm_5Rb8-59E

Insecurities

Our insecurities betray us.
We ignore them, cover them up and seek to compensate for them... but they show through the cracks.
Few people are fooled.
The biggest fool is ourselves.

Baguazhang

Baguazhang is famous for its unusual footwork and is the ideal choice against multiple opponents.
When faced with potential attacks from all directions, a student must demonstrate 360º awareness and the ability to move spontaneously.

There is no time to think about when and how to step.
You must just step freely, effectively and instinctually.

Something you want

When you come to the dojo, it is a recognition the teacher there has something you want. He will give it to you in his own way. You must accept that. If you do not, you are free to leave. The dojo, however, is never run by consensus. 

(Dave Lowry)

Rooster

Consider: a man feels vulnerable and aware that there are countless dangers and threats in this world.
Intimidated, he pumps his muscles, covers his body with tattoos, speaks coarsely, scowls, adopts 'manly' pursuits and struts in a macho manner.
His manner is overly-aggressive.
Instead of dealing with life's problems - if and when they arise - he actively seeks conflict in order to prove that he is not afraid.

This man has carefully cultivated a persona and public image that stems ultimately from his own fear.
Yes, he looks tough.
Yes, he looks capable.
But is he?
If the man was quietly calm and confident in his own strength and ability to cope; he would not need to prove (to himself or anybody else) that he was capable.

Pao chui and large san sau

The challenging pao chui form is practiced solo and also partnered as the large san sau.
The student has to make continual adjustments against an opponent who possesses equivalent tai chi chuan skill.
 
It is not possible to practice pao chui unless the student has very sensitive, nimble feet.

Self

People operate without allowing for their own bias, memories, interpretation, prejudices, expectations and opinions.
These powerful influences distort our view of reality.

All too often, the self intrudes and the outcome is not the action that was intended. 

Weapons forms

Black belt students learn a variety of weapons forms that teach agile footwork:

· Sabre form
· 2 person cane form/drill
· Staff form
· Walking stick form
· Straight sword form

These forms utilise the postures from the Yang Cheng Fu form, but the footwork is quite different.
Why is it different?

The reach of a weapon is greater and you need to avoid being hit.
In order to utilise the weapon fully, a student needs to move freely and comfortably.
Lumbering footwork is not adequate.
Weapons forms teach fast, responsive footwork and rapid direction changes.