To gain the full health benefits of tai chi, you must make it part of your daily life.
It was designed to be a tonic, not a solution/cure.
Weekly class practice is fine, but daily tai chi offers a degree of suppleness, strength, mental clarity and flexibility you are currently unfamiliar with.
Martial artists are another matter entirely.
Muscle memory and reflex must be cultivated and trained continually so that the body simply responds habitually.
This requires heavy repetition, practice, homework.
Sound familiar?
Wednesday
Saturday
Cultivate the habit of daily home practice
The main challenge people face when learning tai chi is their unwillingness to practice at home between lessons.
Look at some of the key features of school learning once again: heavy repetition, practice, homework.
Even 10 minutes a day of tai chi or qigong will aid you in learning.
Most people spend longer than that texting, surfing the web, watching TV, gossiping, drinking coffee or styling their hair.
Look at some of the key features of school learning once again: heavy repetition, practice, homework.
Even 10 minutes a day of tai chi or qigong will aid you in learning.
Most people spend longer than that texting, surfing the web, watching TV, gossiping, drinking coffee or styling their hair.
Monday
Regularly read some of the suggested books (for pleasure)
This is less challenging than it sounds.
Most people who order an accessible book such as Wolfe Lowenthal's There Are No Secrets find themselves pleasantly surprised and enthusiastic when reading the book.
It is a good starting point.
And if that book was good fun, why not try reading the rest?
Most people who order an accessible book such as Wolfe Lowenthal's There Are No Secrets find themselves pleasantly surprised and enthusiastic when reading the book.
It is a good starting point.
And if that book was good fun, why not try reading the rest?
Friday
Tips for adults
Most adults are unwilling or unable to address learning in a similar manner to school, college or university.
So what can they do to expedite learning?
So what can they do to expedite learning?
- Attend classes every week
- Regularly read some of the suggested books (for pleasure)
- Cultivate the habit of daily home practice
Wednesday
Adult education
Adult education is a little different to being at school, college or university but there are certain unavoidable similarities.
e.g. Can you reasonably expect to be good at painting if you do not paint?
Will your French Cuisine improve if you do not cook at home?
Do you expect to speak fluent Spanish when you do not practice daily?
Adults have far less time to commit to education.
There are many intruding responsibilities and concerns; work, family, health etc.
However, learning is learning; you get out of it only what you put into it.
There is no miracle method/secret formula unique to adults; if anything you may need to try a little harder than you did as a child.
e.g. Can you reasonably expect to be good at painting if you do not paint?
Will your French Cuisine improve if you do not cook at home?
Do you expect to speak fluent Spanish when you do not practice daily?
Adults have far less time to commit to education.
There are many intruding responsibilities and concerns; work, family, health etc.
However, learning is learning; you get out of it only what you put into it.
There is no miracle method/secret formula unique to adults; if anything you may need to try a little harder than you did as a child.
Saturday
Unrealistic expectations
Consider this scenario: a university student fails to attend the required/necessary number of lessons, does not study, complete assignments or pass exams...
They cannot reasonably hope to be given a degree.
Yet, how many adults expect results without doing the required work?
They cannot reasonably hope to be given a degree.
Yet, how many adults expect results without doing the required work?
Friday
Will tai chi help me to lose weight?
Weight loss usually involves balancing out food intake and activity.
Undertaking a daily qigong and tai chi regime will most certainly help your body exercise.
This must be paired with a diet that best suits the individual.
Undertaking a daily qigong and tai chi regime will most certainly help your body exercise.
This must be paired with a diet that best suits the individual.
Thursday
Taking responsibility
School children are required to study 5 days a week in school and then go home and do the homework.
Their performance, progress and competence is directly contingent upon these factors.
At college a student is more self-sufficient.
There is less classroom time and more self-directed study.
At university the student must attend the required number of lectures and then flesh out the study all by themselves.
As with school, there will be assignments and examinations to confirm comprehension and understanding.
Their performance, progress and competence is directly contingent upon these factors.
At college a student is more self-sufficient.
There is less classroom time and more self-directed study.
At university the student must attend the required number of lectures and then flesh out the study all by themselves.
As with school, there will be assignments and examinations to confirm comprehension and understanding.
Monday
Writing a book on tai chi
Converting my largest website into a book proved to be quite problematic.
The principal issue is the fact that a website has no start, middle or ending.
All pages exist with equal significance, with the possible exception of the home page.
The principal issue is the fact that a website has no start, middle or ending.
All pages exist with equal significance, with the possible exception of the home page.
I spent a few months on The Hidden Strength of Tai Chi and a separate title called Rest.
The former stalled because the information is hard to convey in a linear fashion, and the latter was a no-starter because it seemed to be stating the obvious.
The former stalled because the information is hard to convey in a linear fashion, and the latter was a no-starter because it seemed to be stating the obvious.
Tuesday
Monday
Single palm change
I was talking with a lady about baguazhang.
I asked her if she knew the purpose of the single palm change.
There are of course several possible answers which are appropriate and correct.
She couldn't think of anything to say.
I asked her if she knew the purpose of the single palm change.
There are of course several possible answers which are appropriate and correct.
She couldn't think of anything to say.
It makes you wonder what exactly people are being taught.
The answer to the question is fundamental to a student's entire comprehension of the baguazhang palm changes, since the subsequent palm changes are employing the very principles discovered and understood from the initial palm change.
The answer to the question is fundamental to a student's entire comprehension of the baguazhang palm changes, since the subsequent palm changes are employing the very principles discovered and understood from the initial palm change.
Understanding
Tai chi is not supposed to be a spa treatment or a chill out session.
It requires the individual to mentally engage with the material - to deepen their knowledge and skill - to understand.
This makes the training far more stimulating and encourages long term interest in the art.
It requires the individual to mentally engage with the material - to deepen their knowledge and skill - to understand.
This makes the training far more stimulating and encourages long term interest in the art.
Sunday
Writing a book
After deleting the Neijiaquan & Newcastle Martial Arts websites, I realised that the difficulties I experienced writing a book could be circumvented if I stuck to the A-Z format used on the websites.
Instead of seeking linearity I present a book based on A-Z.
Instead of seeking linearity I present a book based on A-Z.
Friday
Familiarity
If you want to become skilled with tai chi you need to practice frequently.
The more often you perform the movements, the easier they are to remember.
Repetition forms habits.
Little and often is best for concentration.
The more often you perform the movements, the easier they are to remember.
Repetition forms habits.
Little and often is best for concentration.
Isn't tai chi slow and boring?
(i) Pace
Many of the beginners exercises are performed slowly in order to relax the muscles, calm the mind and encourage awareness.
Only one of the tai chi forms is slow. The rest are more vigorous.
Taijiquan (the martial art) training starts slowly and then speeds up as the student becomes more skilled.
(ii) Boredom
A good class will always have a comprehensive syllabus in place; ensuring on-going development and access to new material.
The training challenges your mind with unexpected insights, skills and possibilities.
No two lessons are the same.
(iii) Stimulation
Modern culture encourages people to seek out stimulation and entertainment.
This can lead to impatience and a diminished capacity for attention.
To make progress in tai chi, the student must engage with the training and work hard.
A quiet resolve and a commitment to practice will lead to strong progress and the opportunity to learn increasingly fascinating, sophisticated skills.
Many of the beginners exercises are performed slowly in order to relax the muscles, calm the mind and encourage awareness.
Only one of the tai chi forms is slow. The rest are more vigorous.
Taijiquan (the martial art) training starts slowly and then speeds up as the student becomes more skilled.
(ii) Boredom
A good class will always have a comprehensive syllabus in place; ensuring on-going development and access to new material.
The training challenges your mind with unexpected insights, skills and possibilities.
No two lessons are the same.
(iii) Stimulation
Modern culture encourages people to seek out stimulation and entertainment.
This can lead to impatience and a diminished capacity for attention.
To make progress in tai chi, the student must engage with the training and work hard.
A quiet resolve and a commitment to practice will lead to strong progress and the opportunity to learn increasingly fascinating, sophisticated skills.
Wednesday
The purpose of a tai chi class
If you attend a night school class to learn Spanish, French Cuisine or how to paint, the lesson is simply teaching you the required skills.
The next step is to go home, speak Spanish, cook or paint.
Tai chi is just the same.
We are teaching you how to do tai chi. Now, go home and practice the art for yourself.
The next step is to go home, speak Spanish, cook or paint.
Tai chi is just the same.
We are teaching you how to do tai chi. Now, go home and practice the art for yourself.
Saturday
Your contribution
Are you an expert in taoism, zen, the Tai Chi Classics, tai chi principles, human biomechanics, ergonomics, internal martial arts concerns, combat, how to teach taijiquan...?Probably not.
In all fairness, there is little a new student can contribute to the class in the form of knowledge, experience, insight and skill.
However, you can be friendly.
And you can also aim to practice what you have been taught.
This is your contribution to the class.
In all fairness, there is little a new student can contribute to the class in the form of knowledge, experience, insight and skill.
However, you can be friendly.
And you can also aim to practice what you have been taught.
This is your contribution to the class.
Friday
Is tai chi compatible with the gym?
Gym work typically shortens muscles and promotes patterns of tension and fixity in the body.
Tai chi does the opposite: it allows muscles to lengthen, releases tensions and encourages good skeletal use.
The muscle work that takes place in tai chi is principally geared towards whole-body movement and training the body to rely more upon postural muscles.
Tai chi does the opposite: it allows muscles to lengthen, releases tensions and encourages good skeletal use.
The muscle work that takes place in tai chi is principally geared towards whole-body movement and training the body to rely more upon postural muscles.
Body building and weight lifting are fashionable activities today. The emphasis is upon developing external muscles which creates an armouring effect that can eventually distort the bony structure. It is the over developed musculature that actually torque's the bones and discourages them from bearing additional weight. The body attempts to compensate and problems arise.
Running does not necessarily in and of itself improve posture that is already poor and constricted. It often exaggerates problems due to the substitution of inappropriate muscles. The repetitive inappropriate development of the musculature (as in body building or weight lifting) often leads to diminished sensitivity. Stress occurs in the knees and lower back, encouraging injury.
Various sport activities emphasize strength, endurance and speed. Development of muscle control rather than skeletal balance takes precedence. Gaining speed at the expense of mounting tension, is too often the goal.
(Liz Koch)
Running does not necessarily in and of itself improve posture that is already poor and constricted. It often exaggerates problems due to the substitution of inappropriate muscles. The repetitive inappropriate development of the musculature (as in body building or weight lifting) often leads to diminished sensitivity. Stress occurs in the knees and lower back, encouraging injury.
Various sport activities emphasize strength, endurance and speed. Development of muscle control rather than skeletal balance takes precedence. Gaining speed at the expense of mounting tension, is too often the goal.
(Liz Koch)
The health benefits of tai chi are quickly undermined by weight lifting, exertion and forcing.
Wednesday
School was long ago
What exactly did learning at school involve?
- Lessons in class/explanations
- Reading text books
- Practice in class
- Heavy repetition of basic elements e.g. times tables, alphabet, spelling tests
- Peer competition
- Homework
- Exams
- Levels of proficiency
- Regular feedback
Somehow as adults we expect to pick things up easily and skilfully without undertaking the process of learning necessary as a child.
Why is this?
Why is this?
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