The concept of posture is fundamentally static and not very useful to anyone
interested in improving their coordination.
If you are
trying to hold 'the right position' you will stiffen and shorten.
(Michael
Gelb)
How
We can learn from
how we approach things.
Our reaction to stimuli can teach us a great deal about our character, our
self-image, our abilities.
Quite often we are surprised to find that we are not the person we thought we
were.
Herein lies the folly of maintaining an
image.
Memory, perspective, opinion and ideas are not reliable.
It is necessary to observe without judging, assessing or evaluating. Just watch.
See.
Do not choose or ignore. Just be.
Freeform self defence
Freeform self defence offers a scenario in which you are faced with unexpected attacks from one or
more people.
Are you composed? Do you feel hurried? Strung-out? Are you coping? Have you
lost your temper?
These are essential questions to be asking. They reflect the nature of your
attitude.
What you do is not as important as how you do it.
Unless you are calm and
composed, you will find it hard to
adapt,
change and improvise.
Syllabus
People approach the syllabus in different ways.
Many people are quite arrogant and make
assumptions based upon existing preconceptions and experience.
Others are more receptive and curious, happy to try out whatever comes along.
Certain students seek to
master every consideration immediately whilst
others are content to let things unfold.
Are you a follower? Do you consider things at length? Have you explored your
own reaction to the material?
Each person tends to have a slightly different attitude.
How you address the material is significant. It can determine how easily you
acquire information.
A
greedy, acquisitive person may be impatient and
aggressive whilst a 'plodder' might gain greater skill because they are not
hampered by ambition.
Our class requires the student to be contemplative and open.
The material is rich and has
depth. It takes time to work through. There are
occasionally sudden leaps of progress.
Every facet has nuances and subtler levels of understanding.
Skill
How we approach things tells us a lot about who we are.
Your attitude directly affects your skill. The two are not separate. They are
interrelated.
Tai chi and
taoism encourage a certain type of attitude in
people: yielding, warm, friendly, curious, contemplative, patient,
non-aggressive, non-competitive, modest, quiet...
Tai chi is not kickboxing. It is not a sport or a
competitive martial art.
The system has its roots in taoism and cannot be separated from the influence of
taoism.
People with a hard, fixed, resistant, confrontational attitude do not tend to
make good progress in tai chi.
At the heart of their training something important is missing.
Page created 1 April 2007