When you give to charity, strive to give to those who cannot repay.
(Huanchu Daoren)
Access for all?
The aim with differentiation is for all students to access
the
curriculum relative to each individuals ability.
This means that those who struggle are assisted, those who do fine are
developed and those who do good are challenged further.
For this to be possible, you must have fewer numbers.
A large class of
30-40 people offers no scope for differentiation. 25 is the maximum number
we permit per class.
Parity
Flattering the skilled and patronising the awkward is not the way.
Each student must be treated with
respect and courtesy.
Everyone comes from a different mental and physical background, and brings
with them a unique set of quirks and habits.
Shedding these takes time.
Someone may struggle to begin with and then blossom later.
Others may always struggle. This is simply the way things are.
We treat all students equally.
Your part
Tai chi is easy in principle, yet difficult in execution.
The problem lies with your own body and mind. After all, it is you
that make the tai chi exist.
Without your body, the system cannot become manifest - the tai chi can only
be as good as you personally make it.
Do not look outside yourself for
answers.
The solution lies in this very
moment, in the very process of doing.
Your tai chi will improve relative to your ability to produce it.
Syllabus
Our syllabus was developed as the result of our own tai
chi practice and teaching experience.
The teaching skills/qualification have proven
invaluable in creating a syllabus.
Every exercise has been
systematically broken-down, explained and re-built.
This is a very thorough process.
All aspects of the syllabus interlock.
The material is self-reinforcing and challenges each student to understand
tai chi for themselves.
This is not the norm in tai chi; most schools do not have a formal syllabus.
At best
they have qigongs, forms and drills - and these are taught in a
habitual manner.
A curriculum needs to be very carefully thought through in order to build
layer upon layer of understanding,
body growth and internal development.
Patience
How well you do is entirely down to you.
Your capacity to coordinate the body, memorise, observe, comprehend and
adapt will all be put to the test.
Yet, this is no
competition.
You do what you can, as you can.
The class is for
you.
We are here to assist
you.
The process of learning takes as long as it needs to.
Page created 23 March 2000