Can you walk on water?
You have done no better than a straw.
Can you fly in the air?
You have done no better than a bluebottle.
Conquer your heart;
then you may become somebody.
(Ansari of Herat)
Tai chi & men
Tai chi is ideal for men because it
addresses both health and
self defence.
The soft and gentle nature of tai chi enables any man to learn a
martial art without having to suffer harsh
training.
If your interest is purely
health, you can look forward to a steady improvement without
undue effort.
A daily commitment is all that is required.
Alternative health
Going to the gym, running and swimming is not for everyone - tai chi offers an alternative.
The training is not especially demanding at first but
gradually grows in difficulty as you progress.
All you need is motivation.
You should ache a little when you train but the exercises will not cause
discomfort or pain.
If you proceed through the self defence
syllabus, the
system will become a serious workout in terms of health yet remain
relatively easy to perform.
Stress relief
It is important to
let go of
stress, to
relax and
slow
down.
The pressures of everyday life can easily make you feel tense and depressed.
Tai chi is an opportunity to take a break from how you normally operate.
Although the training is
restful, it also invigorates you - leaving you
feeling calm yet alert.
Coping with
confrontation
Another form of stress occurs through conflict.
Taoism adopts a non-confrontational approach to situations and
encourages you to address matters in a harmonious way.
Tai chi teaches you how to
respond
creatively to adversity and hostile
encounters.
You will not be taught how to
fight.
Fighting involves trading blows, whereas self defence is only concerned with
your safe exit from
violence.
You will learn new ways to avoid conflict
and what to do if you are forced to act in your own defence.
Page created 20 February 2001