If I saw everyone go out on
the deck and do it in unison,
I wouldn’t say “Bravo!” I would say “How sad.”
So many people go through the motions mechanically
and that’s the end of true creativity.
(Chungliang Al Huang)
Folk art
Tai chi has been cobbled together across the centuries by a variety of
teachers.
This informal
taoist
attitude has created a wide latitude for individual interpretation and
expression; which can be good or bad relative to the
teacher.
Popular
The diversity within tai chi can be refreshing but also frustrating.
It can feel like a fragmented, confused system - messy and undisciplined -
which makes choosing a class hard work.
Popular classes are not necessarily good ones; quality and popularity can be
mutually exclusive.
Fast food is popular.
Is it good for you?
Coherence
If you are wanting to learn tai chi chuan correctly, look to the
underlying
principles.
These are not school or style specific.
As a beginner they may not make sense, but this is where you must start.
The foundation of tai chi is
taoism.
Study the
tai chi classics,
Lao Tzu,
Chuang Tzu,
Sun Tzu and
Miyamoto Musashi.
If the books seem obscure, develop your
comprehension.
Learn about
13 postures,
jing, 4 ounces of
pressure, softness and
yielding.
Know the tai chi principles.
Pragmatic
If you want to learn tai chi, be pragmatic and have high expectations.
And
patience.
Your teacher should have a well-defined
syllabus and clear teaching method.
Students must be progressively developing the skills of tai chi.
The skills must reflect the tai chi principles and be effective in
application.
Material should be introduced, revised and expanded upon constantly.
Tai chi may well be a folk art but it has clear
principles and
substance.
Without the substance, you are wasting hours on fruitless practice.
Page created 3 September 2003