I didn't attend the funeral,
but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.
(Mark Twain)
Stuffy?
There can be something rather stuffy about tai chi people gliding around a
hall in slow motion.
The slow motion
form is only one aspect
of the
curriculum yet it has become the most
easily recognised symbol of tai chi.
Beginners occasionally take
themselves and their tai
chi far too seriously. It is important to have fun.
We do not allow any posing or
showing off in our
school.
Violence is unnecessary
We believe that
self defence should be taught in an
environment of
fun and mutual respect.
People are more likely to be laughing than wincing in pain. They are too
busy enjoying the cleverness of taoism and
tai chi chuan.
Nobody is paying to get beaten up.
Barriers will fall
A beginner must set aside
conceit,
competition and
violence.
You focus upon
play.
You lighten-up. You realise that the class is a
fun place to be.
You cease to be
fearful and
uptight. You begin to
let-go and relax. You start to behave more like yourself.
This process of
letting-go usually takes people a few
weeks.
Stimulate your brain
You are required to explore, to think, to discover and to practice.
Our syllabus is complicated in content but simple at heart. You must engage
with it fully if you want to claim the art as your own.
We will give you that chance. But don't worry. There is no pressure.
Nobody is perfect
You cannot force progress in tai chi. To even try is self-defeating.
Remember what you can. Practice as little or as often as you want to. Decide
for yourself.
Let it unfold as it will.
Give up trying to master anything. Drop the images and fantasies you
harbour.
Perfection is a condition of untouched
naturalness.
It cannot be achieved through any form of trying or doing.
Let-go of your ambitions and relax.
Play & explore
Yes, people are roughed up a little. People are struck. People are taken to the
floor.
Martial arts cannot be practiced without physical contact taking place.
Yet, no one takes
offence. No one bullies. And no one is
embarrassed, hurt or made to feel useless.
The mood of the class is one of fun and exploration.
Instead of strutting around
pretending to be Bruce Lee, our students are like scientists; amazed by how
the art enables them to evade and counter with such seeming
ease.
The simplicity and the wider implications of the tai chi cause
wonder, not fear.
Page created 3 March 2002