Taijiquan training

Taijiquan training typically involves:

• form
• weaponry
• stretching
• self defence
• partner work
• seizing (chin na)
• philosophy
• internal power (jing)
• energy work (qigong)
• strength-building exercises
• whole-body strength (neigong)
• grappling (shuai jiao & pushing hands)

Taijiquan disciple

A disciple of taijiquan is not an ordinary student.
By definition, a 'disciple' follows and disseminates a teaching. In this case; taijiquan.

The keenest students will be asked if they are willing to make the commitment to learn everything the instructor has to offer.
Are they prepared to work harder than any other student?
Are they willing to be pushed harder than any other student?
This what it means to be a disciple.

How do you become a lineage disciple?

Master Waller offers every martial student the opportunity to become a lineage disciple.
The student must meet certain criteria:

1. Unbroken training
2. A good level of skill
3. Attend all school social events
4. A strong pattern of ongoing progress
5. No attitude problems/ego/arrogance
6. A commitment to daily home practice
7. Attend all classes, workshops and training opportunities
8. A nice relationship with both the instructor and other students

Suitable candidates will be told what lineage training entails.

5 tiers

The martial path has 5 tiers:

1. Student
2. Lineage disciple
3. Instructor
4. Expert
5. Master

Difficulty?

Most beginners experience difficulty with the internal use of strength.
They resist, look for shortcuts or simply continue to use brute force.
The answer lies with the mind.

You will be hampered by force as long as you perceive it to be of value to you.
Changing this belief will involve changing your mind.

Applying mind

In order to use mind rather than force, you need to stop using tension.
Having studied taoism, physics and human biomechanics at length, it is pretty obvious why brute force is not recommended.
If you have neglected your study, then your mind and body will be slow to change...

Training countless sensitivity drills in class will encourage you to stop relying on tension, but progress will be slow if your mind remains entrenched in old habits of body use.
Engaging your mind from the onset of training will speed things up considerably.
Read the classics, contemplate their teachings and then apply them in class.

Wit

Self defence requires you to be cunning.

Being brave is great but brave can also mean stupid and running headlong into danger is not smart at all.
Far better to keep a cool head and respond according to the requirements of the situation.
A cunning person is cautious and wary.
They do not make rash decisions or take unnecessary risks.

Being smart will keep you out of danger in the first place.

Appropriateness

Appropriateness is about the when and the how.
Applying all your strength against a stable, rooted, prepared opponent is not smart.
Force against force is not taijiquan.

You must learn to be subtle. To be sensitive. To listen. To feel. To yield. To trick your opponent's nervous system.

The application of 13 postures depends upon your ability to apply your strength at the right moment.
If you get it right, 4 ounces of pressure will be all you require.

2 concerns

With Master Waller we have two concerns regarding strength:

1. the cultivation of internal power
2. the appropriate use of strength

Both of these concerns are equally important.
If you do not have strength, there is nothing to use. If you do not use it skilfully, your strength is worthless.

Skilfulness entails appropriateness and appropriateness stems from the ability accurately evaluate the situation.

Marc

Marc is studying taijiquan.

1. When did you start Newcastle Tai Chi?

 I started in 2009.


2. How old are you (approx)?

I'm about 30 years old.


3. Why Newcastle Tai Chi?

A friend introduced me to the class.


4. What is good about the school?

One of the good thing about the school is the atmosphere of respect and camaraderie. It is good to feel safe when practicing a martial art.


5. Has it affected your day-to-day life?

It has affected my day to day life in the fact that I'm more aware of how I use and misuse my body on a daily basis which is particularly relevant to me because I have a physical job. It has also helped me to remain calmer in certain stressful situations.


6. Do you study taijiquan with the school? (if yes, what do you think of it?)

I study taijiquan with the school and never cease to be amazed at the simplicity and efficiency of the material. The syllabus is extremely vast and challenging, and it is made accessible according to your level of skills which allows you to make steady progress.

Mind, body, spirit

Are you familiar with the term: "mind, body, spirit?"

Both mind and spirit require the individual to meditate, contemplate, study and understand.
Only afterwards can you apply...
You need mental clarity and emotional awareness.

You will not get this by simply doing the form.

New starters @ £7.50

We offer two beginners classes in Newcastle:

1. Monday 7:00 - 8:30 PM
   - Community Hall, St Andrew's Church, Station Road, Benton, NE12 8AW
   
2. Tuesday 7:00 - 8:30 PM
   - St Teresa's Church Hall, Heaton Road, Newcastle, NE6 5HN

Doors open at 6:45 PM

If you want to try the class, there is no need to e-mail in advance.
Just come along.

We welcome adults of all ages.
Prior experience is not expected. New starters are treated as beginners.

Flow

Everything you do comes from the mind; observation, awareness, choices, decision, intention, movement, action.
Taoism trains the individual to find harmony by attuning to the events in which they are participating.
Instead of forcing and struggling, you blend and flow.

The ability to adapt, change and improvise is crucial.

Conventional fitness

The ability to lift heavy weights, run, swim or workout in the gym may well improve your overall fitness level.
But this kind of fitness is not what we want in tai chi training.

A student must learn how to use their body in a very different way. The body needs to become agile, flexible, adaptive, sensitive and strong.

Conventional training will not necessarily improve your tai chi.
Many exercises actually create muscle tension, and tension impedes the natural movement of the muscle itself.

Sustained attention

Our culture has saturated consciousness with redundant information.
People are in an almost permanent state of distraction.
Concentration is limited.

The mind is trained to become weak, limited and easily led (misled?).
Instead of possessing strong mental health, people are merely facile consumers; addicted to trivia, gossip, meaningless second-hand opinions and shopping.

Tai chi and baguazhang forms require the individual to stay focussed and present for a lengthy period of time.
The form is re-training your mind.
It would be true to say that every exercise, form and drill in the syllabus also requires sustained attention.