We are not medical professionals

Qigong and tai chi teachers are not medical professionals.
Tai chi for health was not designed to be a treatment.
It was intended to improve overall health and wellbeing.

Many people have sought out our tuition in order to address specific medical concerns, but we cannot ethically claim expertise in medical matters.
Nor can we commit one-to-one time within a lesson for individual medical guidance.

 

I've been trying to get this point over for years. It's mainly prevalent in the qigong world. We're not doctors. If students train regularly then they may gain health benefits but we can't pretend we can cure them! So many times I've seen last-gap causes who are often very over-weight and have done no exercise who have been referred to by doctors. The reality is that we can offer assistance for those who are prepared to train but most doctors have little idea of what is actually happening in a tai chi class and, then again, there is such a variety of aspects taught in the many differing classes available.

(Ronnie Robinson)

Moving meditation?

Tai chi is often referred to as 'moving meditation'.
The calm movements relax the nervous system, quieten the mind and settle the emotions.
However, doing form does not necessarily mean that you are meditating.
It means that you are practicing a method designed to encourage meditation. 

Chinese New Year 2015

Sally & Sylvia

Andrew & Eddie

Sifu Waller, Sylvia, Sally & Brian

Karen & Sylvia

Sally & Brian

Andrew & Eddie

Marc & Martin

Martin & Rachel

Jenny, Alun & Ali

David, Ian, Martin, Paula

Marc, Paula & Andy

Andy, Ken, Jenny & Alun

Brian

Sally

Rachel

Karen & Sylvia

Ken & Jenny

Tai chi

The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan - The Literary Tradition by Lo et al
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi by Peter Wayne
The Tai Chi Book by Robert Chuckrow

Philosophical/spiritual

Back to Beginnings by Huanchu Daoren
Commentaries on Living Volumes 2 & 3 by Krishnamurti 
The Little Zen Companion by David Schiller
The New Lao Tzu by Ray Grigg
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Sword and Brush by Dave Lowry
Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers by Leonard Koren
The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel 
Zen O'clock by Scott Shaw

I’ve suspended my websites

I have wiped 2 of my websites from the web.

In the process of converting neijiaquan.co.uk into a book.
Easier said than done…

Personal development

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Road Less Travelled by M Scott Peck 
The Way to Love by Anthony De Mello
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Your Erroneous Zones: Escape negative thinking and take control of your life by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Crossed-legged?

Tai chi does not encourage students to practice sitting meditation.
The human body is mobile and dynamic, not static.

Sitting in a posture - without moving - for long periods of time is incongruent with tai chi.
It is bad for circulation and promotes physical tension in the body.

Balance

The life of a martial artist is simple:

1. You attend classes
2. You study
3. You practice

Somewhere along the line the training begins to affect your life.
You become calmer and more balanced.
You stop being so afraid.
You move systematically through the syllabus.
The student stops blaming other people for the problems in their life.
They take responsibility.
They mature.
They find balance.

Martial skill (kung fu)

The Art of War (Penguin Classics) by Sun Tzu (Minford version)
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
Effortless Combat Throws by Tim Cartmell
The Power of Internal Martial Arts by Bruce Frantzis
The Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung Fu by Adam Hsu
Tai Chi Theory & Martial Power by Yang Jwing-Ming
There Are No Secrets by Wolfe Lowenthal

IT WAS A beautiful evening. The sun was setting behind huge, black clouds, and against them stood a clump of tall, slender palms. The river had become golden, and the distant hills were aglow with the setting sun. There was thunder, but towards the mountains the sky was clear and blue. The cattle were coming back from pasture, and a little boy was driving them home. He couldn't have been more than ten or twelve, and though he had spent the whole day by himself, he was singing away and occasionally flicking the cattle that wandered off or were too slow. He smiled, and his dark face lit up. Stopping out of curiosity, and distantly eager, he began to ask questions. He was a village boy and would have no education; he would never be able to read and write, but he already knew what it was to be alone with himself. He did not know that he was alone; it probably never even occurred to him, nor was he depressed by it. He was just alone and contented. He was not contented with something, he was just contented. To be contented with something is to be discontented. To seek contentment through relationship is to be in fear. Contentment that depends on relationship is only gratification. Contentment is a state of non-dependency. Dependency always brings conflict and opposition. There must be freedom to be content. Freedom is and must always be at the beginning; it is not an end, a goal to be achieved. One can never be free in the future. Future freedom has no reality, it is only an idea. Reality is what is; and passive awareness of what is is contentment.

Is tai chi easy to learn?

(i) Unlearning

Learning involves shedding familiar, comfortable habits (unlearning) and acquiring new skills.
This is the essence of change.
People are innately slow to make changes to their lives.
It is easier not to.


(ii) Learning

Qigong is fairly easy to learn but not easy to practice in an advanced way.
Considerable stamina is required.

Tai chi for health can be as simplistic or as complex as the student desires.
A crude sense of tai chi may be gained quickly but the refined art is the product of far longer study.
Taijiquan (the martial art) is another matter altogether.
It is not easy to learn.
Compared to other martial arts, taijiquan is rather advanced.
The methodology, physical skills, sensitivity, awareness, biomechanical application and martial abilities are exceptionally in-depth.


(iii) Syllabus

A good tai chi class will have a tried and tested syllabus in place.
By systematically learning one skill at a time, the student gradually accrues information, gains physical awareness and increases the range and scope of their understanding.
But this does not happen overnight.
There is a considerable amount of information to learn. It must be revised, refined, honed and practiced thoroughly.


(iv) The teacher

A good teacher offers the student an opportunity to work through the defined curriculum at their own pace.
They provide assistance (and occasionally obstacles) in order to foster growth and continual development.


(v) The student

The real deciding factor when it comes to learning is the individual student.
Their attitudes, their willingness to commit to practice and study.
How receptive they are.

Knowledge, skill, understanding and experience are the products of time, practice and perseverance.

The essence of the art

Every tai chi student in the world should be working towards acquiring these abilities and knowledge:

1. 4 ounces of pressure
2. 5 centres
3. 6 balanced pairs
4. 13 postures
5. Accord
6. Blending
7. Central equilibrium
8. Chin na (seizing): misplacing the bones, dividing the muscles, sealing the breath & cavity press
9. Close-range combat
10. Composure
11. Connection
12. Conservation of energy
13. Double weightedness (avoidance of)
14. Fa jing
15. Filing
16. Folding
17. Freeform triangle
18. Groundpath
19. How to apply every form posture martially
    - at least 7 different ways
    - in a thorough & convincing manner
    - using shuai jiao, chin na & jing
    - in keeping with the Tai Chi Classics
20. Invest in loss
21. Jing
22. Lead into emptiness
23. Listening
24. The meaning and application of the Tai Chi Classics
25. The meaning and application of the martial classics 
    - The Art of War
    - The Book of Five Rings
    - 36 Strategies
26. The meaning and application of the taoist classics
    - The Way and Its Power
    - The Way of Chuang Tzu
    - The Book of Changes
27. Mindfulness
28. Moving from the centre
29. Mutual arising
30. Opening & closing
31. Optimal use of alignment and structure
32. Peng
33. Practical applications of yielding
34. Reeling silk
35. Reverse breathing
36. Shen
37. Sinking & rooting
38. Small circle movement
39. Spontaneity
40. Stickiness
41. Strategy & tactics
42. Substantial & insubstantial
43. Sung
44. Tzu-jan (of itself so)
45. Uniting upper & lower
46. Weaponry
47. Whole-body movement
48. Wu nien (not preparing)
49. Wu wei (not forcing)
50. Yin/yang

Please see Neijiaquan: The Inner School website for an explanation of much of this material.

This list is not comprehensive or exhaustive; it merely serves as an illustration. Many more skills might have been included.
Other tai chi schools might consider additional skills to be equally important.

Can I study baguazhang?

Baguazhang is physically and mentally challenging, with a complex form, unique training methods and counter-intuitive tactics.
A high degree of balance and coordination is necessary.

There is no beginners or intermediate level in baguazhang.
A student gains the foundation skills through the study of taijiquan: sensitivity, footwork, timing, biomechanical awareness, whole-body movement, jing, root...
Baguazhang employs a considerable amount of shuai jiao and chin na applications, so a thorough grounding in these skills is a must.
A potential baguazhang student must show considerable aptitude with taijiquan if they want to study a second art.

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

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.

Can you recommend a class in my town/area?

We cannot offer any recommendations. 

Every tai chi class has its own agenda. Each school has its own values, concerns and interests.

Our advice is to explore what is available in your area.
Try out some classes.
You may find something you like. Something that appeals to your values, concerns and interests.

What kind of qigong is being taught?

Qigong is a very diverse area of study and approaches can vary wildly.

(i) Strength building

Good classes seldom speak about qi.
Instead, the emphasis is upon good body mechanics, balance, breathing, lengthening the muscles and relaxation.
If all of these factors are taught well, the body will become notably stronger.
Expect a gently challenging workout.

(ii) Hippy classes

A 'feel good' qigong class may have all manner of qi-enhancing... but are these bona fide practices or bogus?
Does the student feel stronger?
Is their body stronger, more balanced, their emotions settled and the mind calm?
Would your time be better spent walking the dog around the park?

(iii) Spend your time wisely
Qigong should ideally be infused with neigong (whole-body strength), and this will prepare the student for martial training and physical activities in every day life.
There is no need to talk about qi.
A clear, tangible, scientific attitude is much wiser.

Focus on how you use the body. 
Gain strength, ease of movement and mental clarity. Get the postural muscles to do most of the work rather than your localised limbs.
Let your qi take care of itself...

How long does it take to pick up?

There is no conclusion to tai chi study; no end certificate or finishing point.

Taijiquan was designed to be part of your life; something that you do regularly. Your body must last you a lifetime and tai chi will help to accomplish this.

How quickly you progress is down to you personally. Everyone is different. There are so many variables.
Consider:

1. Do your ambitions match your degree of commitment and ability?
2. How often do you attend lessons?
3. Do you practice at home?
4. How good is your memory?
5. Are your coordinated?
6. What are your expectations?
7. Did you think it would be easy?
8. Are you open and receptive?
9. Have you any existing health problems that might impede training?
10. Are you patient?

Do we enter competitions?

By removing competitive attitudes from our classes, students enjoy a friendly training environment.

There is no rivalry.
Many people find this to be a refreshing change when seeking to find harmony in their everyday life.