So, you have a strong punch,
but do you have it with uncontrolled anger, or do you have it with peace of
mind? Are you able to integrate to a point where fighting or combing your
hair or studying or typing at your computer all have the same smoothness, or
is it that each of these has this stressed-out, manic
spike to it?
(Bruce Frantzis)
Evidence
In martial arts practice nothing beats evidence.
Evidence requires
information, logic and proof.
Our school is a forum for
discovery - an opportunity to see tai chi in
action, not in theory.
Theoretical
Tai chi
is not really about theory. It is about physics.
Without the foundation understanding of
tao,
it is impossible to fully comprehend the nature of tai chi and what it is seeking to
accomplish.
It would be like watching a football match without any comprehension of 'competition'.
Taoism gives
context to the tai chi.
Every facet of the tai chi operates according to the principles garnered from
the observation of
reality.
There is far more to tai chi theory than taoism. You need to include
The
Art of War,
Book of Five Rings and the
tai chi classics.
This source material is the vital background material you need to read
repeatedly over a good many years.
In theory
What good is theory if it remains theoretical?
The art needs to live, to be expressed, to be used.
It needs the insights, words and observations to be applied in practical
reality.
It is not enough to think that you 'know'
the theory. Because
theory is not knowing.
Knowing comes from experience. To know, you must do. To do, you must apply.
Theory without proof can lead to serious misconceptions.
We adopt an
empirical approach to the art. Our
interest is the science, not the theory.
Games
It is not difficult to apply the
tai chi.
You must be prepared to experiment. You need to be patient. You need to be
thorough.
Our classes are broken up into different ability sets.
Each group works through a certain part of the
curriculum and learns the drills associated with that level of
understanding.
Learning does not involve memorising information and regurgitating it
later. Learning means participation.
Each ability group must spiral through a wide range of skills, gaining layer
upon layer of
insight.
As each new insight is added, the students are called upon to 'pressure-test'
their skills with one another.
These partner work 'games' offer a way of safely exploring the material in a
classroom environment.
Some of the games can be
vigorous but no one is injured.
If you are adept at the game, it will feel to be easy and comfortable.
If you are resisting the tai chi principles and attempting to use
force
and
aggression, the game will not work for you.
It is easy to spot students who are looking for a shortcut.
Scientific method
The danger with science is that the person who proposes an experiment
and presents their hypothesis does so with the express purpose of proving or
disproving their own theory.
Tai chi is not like this. There are no theories. You have no personal stake in
it.
Your aim must be to prove the viability of the art through the rigorous testing
of the system under a wide variety of conditions.
The success or failure of this endeavour will depend partly upon your
own individual ability level, your knowledge and also upon your capacity to put
the tai chi into practice.
Some beginners are tense and their
tai chi looks more like karate.
Others are too easily satisfied and the
tai chi will prove useless against a
real-life assailant.
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Page created 7 June 2007