When your teacher demonstrates something for you, you are obligated to
practice it,
or else you may invoke the following consequences of your own free will:
1. Your teacher may not correct you because your actions have shown that
you did not really want to learn the skill.
2. You will not achieve the skill.
3. If you learn the next stage of the skill, it will be weak because it has
no foundation.
4. Your skill will not rise to a high level until your attitude changes.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Tai chi chuan (kung fu)
Tai chi chuan has all the health benefits of tai chi.
It also includes the martial component, enabling you to employ the system in
self defence.
Summary
These are the main topics offered in our kung fu syllabus:
There are also many sub-drills and exercises which serve as background/preparatory material.
Knack
Self defence is all about natural responses, comfortable, easy movements and
knack.
It is not about remembering
techniques.
Over the weeks, months and years your body develops an
instinctive sense of what to do.
This knack is essential. Most of
our
material was designed to cultivate the knack of
tai chi.
Revision and refinement
At the end of each grade the student is required to revise everything
they have studied so far.
This is an important task.
Faults, misconceptions and inaccuracies can be addressed.
New insights and considerations can be introduced.
The advanced syllabus offers the most formidable challenge in terms of revision
and refinement.
It is one thing to possess a basic understanding.
Mastery is another thing entirely.
The gap between a basic grasp and expert
skill is very wide indeed.
Much of the advanced syllabus is spent studying existing material.
70%
Beginners, intermediate and experienced grades learn the foundation/basic
training underpinning the advanced practice.
70% of the curriculum takes place at the advanced-level.
Students are encouraged to work hard at the basic material.
More...
Page created 25 January 1999