The best results are
achieved by using the right amount of effort in the right place at the right
time.
And this right amount is usually less than we think we need.
In other words, the less unnecessary effort you put into learning, the more
successful you'll be... the key to faster learning is to use appropriate effort.
Greater effort can exacerbate faulty patterns of action.
Doing the wrong thing with more intensity rarely improves the situation.
Learning something new often requires us to unlearn something old.
(Tony Buzan)
Find out for yourself
Self-discovery lies at the heart of our syllabus. Don't take anyone
else's word for it.
Find out for yourself.
The only pre-requisite is honesty.
Don't lie. Don't make excuses. Don't pretend.
Be utterly, ruthlessly honest with
yourself.
Try everything: large stances, small stances, low, high, narrow, wide, straight
leg, bent leg, relaxed, tense, stylised, pragmatic...
Realise the truth for yourself.
If you have an inquiring, investigative mind, you will come to understand
how the human body works.
In life and in self defence, your aim must be health and wellbeing.
Once you have a good sense of your body, you can use it in a comfortable,
natural, safe, optimal manner at all times, whether brushing your teeth or
evading a knife attack.
We teach our students to focus upon the optimal employment of their body as an
ongoing process.
They learn to see the simplicity of shape and form, the rhythm of movement, the
dynamics of change.
Form application or self defence?
Pushing hands, form applications and other familiar tai chi practices
are not to be confused with self defence.
Tai chi sensitivity exercises train your body to feel, to connect, to move
without tension.
Form applications teach you to dismantle the form sequence and examine what the
different movements might represent.
This is a far cry from self defence training.
Standards
What is so hard about applying tai chi? The only thing that gets in
the way is
ego and poor imagination.
The tai chi must follow the tai chi classics:
The treatise offer a clear guideline for the correct application of tai chi
and indicate the absolute necessity of
yielding and
softness.
If you want your tai chi to be good and you want it to work, look to the
classics.
Let them set the standard and see how well you measure up.
Your tai chi should be hardy enough to cope with any situation:
Punches, kicks and grapples
Multiple opponents
Defence against a knife
Floorwork
The tai chi is only as good as you make
it. You must be willing to experiment. To explore. To be creative.
Treat the art like an old pair of hiking boots. Batter it around, push it, test
it and wear it in. Make it your own.
If you have high standards, then it will be a living, working art that will
do you proud.
Page created 7 June 2007