It is necessary to
be responsible for our own evolution,
to not give our power of choice and free inquiry over to dogmas, teachers, or
gurus.
It is important to have teachers, but it is important to move beyond what we
have been taught.
This unwillingness to explore and discover means the death of not only Yang tai
chi chuan but any art that is held to a narrow interpretation by its artists.
Typically tai chi is not a growing, vital art but a study of shapes and the
memorization of a philosophy.
(Ron Sieh)
Starting incorrectly
Tai chi form cannot be taught correctly to a beginner.
It is taught in accordance with the students ability to learn.
A beginner is physically incapable of the sophistication required to
practice the form correctly, so a cruder version of the sequence is taught
at first.
Once the exaggerated sequence has been learned, it can be
made smaller and subtler.
Most movements will be altered as the student progresses
and their body becomes more receptive.
Form is not fixed
The fluidity of form comes from the incorporation of
neigong within the form sequence.
Each new neigong adds greater subtlety to the movements.
Neigong is the unseen detail that transforms your
movements from the inside out.
As the form becomes more substantial, it will change.
The so-called postures will remain in essence but
the entire pattern will begin to flow.
Rather than seeming square and fixed, the form becomes
round and mobile.
Potential applications
A growing awareness of the
self defence potential is important when
learning
form.
The possibilities inherent within each movement make the
form feel more adaptive, tangible and flowing.
Understanding how a posture can be used enhances the students understanding
of tai chi.
Each
posture is really a movement which has a starting and stopping point.
Knowing what a particular movement can do imbues the form with substance and
pragmatism.
An entire area of study is dedicated to considering the
energy expressed by each movement and how it pertains to self
defence.
The movements of the form sequence are defined by the relationship you have with
an opponent.
If you are unable to use the form, then your understanding will remain partial.
The choreography alone will only offer a fraction of the potential health
benefits; to make it a part of your life you need to go further and learn how
the form is applied.
Yang
Cheng Fu
style form
The
Yang Cheng Fu style form is divided into 3 sections and can take between 15-30
minutes to perform.
Beginners learn section 1 and practice the same movements for a year or more before
learning section 2.
These movements are corrected and developed in each class until a certain
standard has been reached.
This period of focussed practice ensures that the basic tai chi
dynamics are understood and incorporated
from the onset.
There is no point learning all 3 sections badly.
It is better to learn the first section thoroughly, then proceed from a
strong foundation.
Internal skill is what matters most of all in our school.
Core practice
Everything revolves around the one form.
Qigong, neigong, drills and partner work are all intended to enhance your
understanding of the Yang Cheng Fu form.
A beginner will only learn a 2 minute segment of form and this should
ideally be
practiced daily for a 15 minute period.
Each repetition will have a different neigong as its focus.
With daily practice, the form will improve and you can begin to appreciate
tai chi.
Other forms
We offer a 2 person form designed to develop
reflex.
Strictly speaking, it is a two-person martial
drill rather than a form.
It is derived from the Yang Cheng Fu form and
uses many of the same postures.
There is also a 2 person stick form, which (again) is more like a drill.
Mirror the form
Experienced students must mirror the entire Yang Cheng Fu form.
Doing this will ensure that your body receives a balanced workout.
It is also a good perceptual challenge.
Page created 2 May 1998