The height of cultivation runs to simplicity.
Half-way cultivation runs to ornamentation.
(Bruce Lee)
Partner work safety
Please take your jewellery off.
If you are wearing a pendant, watch or bracelet, you could very easily
break your finger or somebody else's.
Observe the
code of conduct at all times or you will be
asked to leave the class.
Please avoid the
throat. Hold the shoulders or the jaw instead. Beginners lack the
sensitivity to work with the throat.
Clumsiness indicates a lack of control.
Show
respect and skill by being considerate.
Purpose
Every drill in part 1 is teaching a particular isolated skill, or group of
skills.
Make sure that you are training those skills.
For example:
yielding exercises
teach line of force, following, sensitivity,
composure,
eyes-closed
awareness, listening, understanding,
stickiness,
touch,
4 ounces of
pressure and
wu wei.
Do not
waste your time thinking about martial applications or trying to
apply techniques.
Observe the purpose of the drill.
You will not leave part 1 until you have learned what the drill is teaching you.
The drills are built in stages.
Master one skill and we will teach you another.
Eventually you will understand the
essence of the drill and can perform the
necessary ability with ease.
Proof
If you want proof
that the system is effective, ask.
You can see how a skilled exponent copes with punches, kicks and grapples.
See how they
respond.
This will give you an indication of what the class is teaching.
Skill
Smoothness is the key to our system. Liquid, fluid, calm. Surrender to
the principles:
Remember to be as soft and yielding as
possible. Try to avoid blocking or banging your partners arms and legs.
Feel
Please keep your work
slow and sensitive. Feel for possibilities.
Do not use ‘techniques’
– they are too easy to counter and usually involve tensing your hands and arms – which
is not tai chi.
Our school offers possibilities, not techniques.
You must explore your ability to escape and strike - ultimately extending the
scope of your counter.
Be as natural as possible.
If you struggle, you are going against the grain.
Force
Be patient with yourself and take
time to allow rather than force.
Of all the potential mistakes in tai chi, the unnecessary use of muscular
tension is the biggest.
If you are using
strength or being inconsiderate of your practice partner, you will be reminded
to yield.
Force reflects your fear and your
ego.
You have nothing to fear in our classes.
Your worst enemy is the use of muscular tension. Only by losing this bad
habit can you ever graduate the beginners syllabus.
'Doing' causes muscular tension and is
consequently counter-intuitive. Yielding is the way.
Students are encouraged to remain soft and loose. Rely upon connection and
gravity rather than strength. If any part of your body is tense, this is
incorrect.
Part 1 workshops
We offer irregular part 1
workshops.
These address constructive rest, psoas work, escaping from the floor, wallbag,
floor-to-ceiling ball and heavy bag.
The ability to get off the floor successfully is crucial for realistic self
defence.
If you are interested in attending, please send an
e-mail. We need 7 people to show interest
before scheduling the session.
Page created 5 April 1998