You cannot practice tai chi with the
rational mind.
The most difficult thing for beginning students is that they try to make the
movements with their minds and they cannot.
The movements are too complicated.
The flowing of the hands, the correct timing, the bending of the knees,
the breathing, the balance;
all this cannot be controlled by the mind.
The pianist cannot think of each note as she plays it, it must simply be
there.
Just leave the body alone.
When we do not interfere with it, the body moves with the tao spontaneously.
(John Lash)
Beginners syllabus
We have broken the beginners syllabus into 2 parts.
The material provides a grounding in how we
practice Dynamic Balancing Tai Chi.
Moving the body in the
tai chi way will be the main focus of the
beginners syllabus.
Exciting material
There are over 30
beginners topics to explore, including:
4 ounces
Alignment
Balance
Chin na escapes
Floorwork
Monkey paws
Pushing hands
Pushing legs
Qigong
Silk arms
Stepping
Yang Cheng Fu form (section 1)
Yielding
Beginners are simply being introduced to the material. Expert practice is not required at this level.
Foundation
A beginner is
taught in accordance with their ability to learn.
Patience must be emphasised.
The subtle nature of
tai chi only becomes more
apparent
with experience.
Rather than
learn the entire Yang Cheng Fu style form, beginners only learn the first section.
This gives plenty of time to learn the movements well and then focus on the
rudimentary
neigong.
Self defence
The
pragmatism and
awareness necessary for
self defence is
playfully explored.
Students learn how to yield and how to deliver with the whole-body.
Neigong must be fully incorporated into self defence.
Many of the exercises are intended to remove the habit of using strength
against strength.
Partner and group training are explored.