Yoga & tai chi

People sometimes muddle-up tai chi and yoga.
It is common to see yoga postures labelled "tai chi" on Pinterest, Facebook etc.
Such confusion is only possible when a person has studied neither yoga nor tai chi chuan, for the arts are very different indeed.

Yoga is about stretching, balancing and physical unity. Tai chi chuan is a style of kung fu; a martial art.
The differences significantly outweigh any superficial similarities.

Is tai chi easy?

If tai chi feels to be easy, then you have not been training the authentic art.
No form of exercise is easy.
If it isn't a challenge, then it isn't exercise. And it sure isn't tai chi.
Tai chi works your body at a greater intensity than your usual level of daily activity.You become fitter and stronger.
As you adapt to meet the demands of the training, the tai chi becomes more difficult; encouraging constant growth and development.  



Is tai chi chuan easy?

Tai chi chuan is a martial art, and martial arts are particularly demanding; requiring the student to significantly increase their strength, agility, endurance and speed.
The challenges are both physical and mental.

Tai chi for free...

A lot of people in the UK expect to learn tai chi for free. In fact, there are a number of teachers who offer free tuition.
It may be worth looking closely at what is on offer:
Are they offering tai chi chuan (martial art), tai chi for health, tai chi-style exercise or qigong?
Is it tai chi for the over 50's?
When did the teacher start practicing tai chi?
How long has the teacher been offering lessons?
Who did they learn the art from?
Is the school teaching a recognised style of tai chi?
Do they offer the 8 areas of study?
Are you discovering the essence of the art?
Free does not necessarily mean authentic.
When something has value, people seldom want to give it away for free.

The perfect exercise

In modern life, time is in short supply and a person wants to get the best possible benefits from any new endeavour they undertake.
Harvard Medical School suggests that taijiquan may indeed be the perfect exercise.
It combines 8 crucial ingredients:

1. Awareness (including mindfulness & focussed attention)
2. Intention
3. Structural integration
4. Active relaxation
5. Strengthening & flexibility
6. Natural, freer breathing
7. Social support
8. Embodied spirituality (including philosophy)

These 8 taijiquan components offer a multi-layered approach to the cultivation of health, vitality and wellbeing.
The depth of study available within a bona fide system of taijiquan is incredible; a student can quite literally explore the art for their entire lifetime and still discover new mysteries, secrets and skills.

As a martial art, taijiquan is unparalleled in its sophisticated biomechanics, diversity of combat skills and variety of application.

Sport

Sport can be significantly more expensive than martial arts training. And sometimes cheaper too.

How much does the clothing cost?
How much are running/training shoes?
Gym membership?
Pilates lessons?
Personal trainer?
A season ticket?

As with all things, the cost of something is relative to what you think is appropriate and what you are prepared/willing to pay...

Expenses

Martial arts lessons typically involve a range of expenses. Some are obvious, some are not.
Usually you should expect to pay for some (or all) of these items:

1. Monthly tuition fees
2. Annual membership
3. Quarterly grading
4. Affiliation with a third party organisation/federation
5. Insurance
6. Licence
7. Competitions
8. Uniform
9. Patches/badges
10. Equipment/weaponry
11. Instructional DVDs
12. Books/training manuals

Many classes expect new students to buy a uniform within a month of starting a class. The new starter is often asked to pay annual membership, insurance and commit to a monthly standing order.



Fa jing

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/may7/med-taichi-050708.html

14 times his body weight. Really think about that...
Let's assume he weighs at least 10 stones.

10 stones x 14 = 140 stones.

Lineage disciple

It is very common for tai chi students to imagine that private lessons and long-term practice with an instructor guarantees receipt of the inner teachings. This is naive.
Traditionally, the secret workings of an art were passed on to family members first. After family members, lineage disciples were the next consideration.
Everyone else was taught relative to their degree of commitment, and this seldom entailed the secret material.

A disciple of tai chi chuan is not an ordinary student. By definition, a 'disciple' follows and disseminates a teaching. In this case; tai chi chuan.
The keenest students will be asked if they are willing to make the commitment to learn everything the master has to offer. A lineage disciple is responsible for keeping the art alive.

Not many students will get to be a lineage disciple. It is not a matter of playing favourites. It is a question of priorities and commitment. Ultimately, the choice lies with the student.
Anyone can become a lineage disciple. We do not discriminate.
Our evaluation is based on ability, attendance, attitude, progress and a willingness to pass on the teaching to others.

Instructor

At some stage, the serious student begins a lengthy teacher training program.It begins with helping out with the class: preparing the hall, registering new students, leading the qigong group, assisting junior students.
Next, they become involved with promoting the school and social networking.

If the student shows aptitude and a genuine interest in other people, they begin to learn how to break the syllabus down into digestible pieces.
The process of passing-on knowledge requires the student to re-think their own tai chi and examine how to explain things in a manner that makes sense to somebody else.
This takes time and necessitates the watchful guidance of a skilled master.
Eventually, syllabus design, lesson planning, class management and the dynamics of running a small business are considered.
In order to teach any subject, an instructor needs to fulfil certain requirements:

1. Subject knowledge- the information the instructor plans to impart
    
2. Experience
   - a good instructor should have at least 10,000 hours of practice behind them- at least 100 private lessons with the master
   - the instructor should be practicing (by themselves) more than 2 hours a day
    
3. Teaching skills
   - the ability to explain things logically and thoroughly
   - reasoning
   - articulate
   - engaging
   - awareness
   - compassion
   - humour
   - patience
   - differentiation
   - time management
    
4. A goal
   - aim, objective
   - purpose of the lesson
    
5. A syllabus
   - defining the components that will enable a student to achieve the objective
   - a path leading to the knowledge
   - a scheme of work
   - how the student will proceed
    
6. Topics
   - breakdown of the syllabus into modules of information
   - logical building blocks
   - small steps along the path
   - teach according to the students ability to learn
    
7. Discrete lessons
   - a lesson is an opportunity to explore a given skill
   - examples must be provided
   - thought-provoking
   - stimulating
   - encourage enthusiasm and participation
   - engage the student
   - allow for different ability levels
    
8. Proof
   - examinations, tests, grading
   - pressure-testing
   - an increasing scale of hardship

Misconception

A common misconception is that any martial art offers the opportunity to reach an 'internal' level of practice i.e. a karate man can become internal.
This is not true.

Internal forms are quite different to external ones.
They were designed to be a vehicle for the practice of a very unique way of moving and using the body.
Movement is initiated by the centre (not by the hips) and entails moving every part of the body as one fluid unit. The joints do very little work.

The combat skills and sensibilities of the internal martial arts require a perceptual shift: blending, yielding, listening, stickiness. 
There is no blocking, struggling or forcing involved.

The centre

Neigong movement is initiated by the centre (not by the hips) and entails moving every part of the body as one fluid unit.
This may sound straightforward but involves years of re-training the muscles.

Ultimately, the joints will do far less work - reducing wear & tear - and the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia) do more.
The muscles remain relaxed (not tensed) at all times.

Interlocking & interconnected

Master Waller has designed the syllabus so that everything is interlocking and interconnected.
The syllabus is like an enormous jigsaw.

The 8 areas of study are taught incrementally.
A student gradually learns how to use their body in a more disciplined, sensitive, efficient manner.

Tai Chi Classics

There are certain things that every tai chi student should know.
This knowledge and ability will enable the student to follow the teachings outlined in the Tai Chi Classics.

Strict adhesion to the classics assures correct practice of tai chi, regardless of what style you practice.

Further reading?

• The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan - The Literary Tradition by Lo et al
• Tai Chi Secrets of the Ancient Masters by Yang Jwing-Ming
• Tai Chi Chuan: The Internal Tradition by Ron Sieh
• The Tai Chi Journey by John Lash
• The Tai Chi Book by Robert Chuckrow
• Neijiaquan: The Inner School

The real deal

A tai chi chuan syllabus must teach these items in a logical, systematic, incremental manner.

Each item warrants considerable study.
Incorporating the skills into your practice is no small endeavour and will require a lot of hard work.

Once your master has confirmed that you can do everything on the list, you will be following the Tai Chi Classics.
Your tai chi chuan will be the real thing.

Can you do it?

Many tai chi students have heard of the items included on this list. They may know what each item refers to. They may be able to talk about them in detail.
But can they actually manifest the skills?This is what matters.

In taoism and zen, talk is cheap. Doing is what matters.