Is the means different from the end?
Is not the end contained in the means?
The right means is action which is not the outcome of hate,
envy, authority, ambition, fear.
The end is not distant from the means.
The end is the means.
(Krishnamurti)
Health
Tai chi is widely considered to be good for your health.
In many respects 'health' is the best possible motive for doing tai chi.
If your health is poor, then self defence training is a waste of time. Your
priority should be qigong.
Of all the martial arts in the world tai chi is the only one that fully
recognises the importance of health and offers a
syllabus designed to foster good health.
Self defence
Although
self defence is taught in most martial arts
systems and schools, the methods employed may be quite harmful to the
body and impede health.
This is where tai chi differs from other
martial arts.
Although
tai chi teaches a variety of ways in
which to harm the opponent, the training methods themselves are very
healthy.
Our aim is to simultaneously exercise the body and practice self defence
responses.
This is accomplished through playful partner work.
Careful
Nobody earnestly wants to get
injured during martial arts
practice. What would be the point?
The whole purpose of self defence is to avoid harm.
We encourage exuberant
play.
Students enjoy the vigour of physical contact, evasion and multiple opponent
work with only a low risk of injury.
Composure is very important. Being calm. Detached. Friendly. Compassionate.
Body usage
We emphasise good
body usage at all times.
It is easy enough to maintain good posture during
form, but not so easy during
freeform partner work.
Partner work challenges you to increase your ongoing awareness and remain
body-centred at all times.
With rapidly changing circumstances, the demands upon your mind are quite
taxing.
This is why so many tai chi people are very confident doing form or pushing
hands put fall to pieces when faced with punches, kicks and grapples from
one or more opponents.
Inexperienced people resort to
muscular tension - the first recourse of a
beginner.
Keeping composure and kinaesthetic awareness under pressure is not so easy.
It is a skill in its own right.
'Form'
is useless if you lose the habits when challenged.
Partner work sharpens your tai chi.
Health & self defence
Ideally, you should learn health and
self defence
simultaneously.
In some cases, your health may prevent this from happening and your emphasis
should be qigong.
A good class will lay an extensive foundation of
skills. The training will
require patience.
Conditioning, sensitivity, stamina, awareness, understanding and strength will
all be studied at length.
You will be taught the
optimal way
in which to use the body.
As your abilities grow, you will be asked to extend your repertoire and cope
with increasingly difficult situations.
Your health and self defence skills should develop together.
The awareness and insight necessary for realistic self defence will inevitably
lead to better body use in your everyday life.
Page created 9 November 2004