Open your hips, gently
stretching your hip outwards away from the centre line.
This will allow the waist to loosen.
A tensed waist will make your movements stiff and impede the flow of qi.
(Dr Paul Lam)
Form
Form
is the sequence of movements that people associate with the words 'tai chi'.
Traditionally, it took 6 years to learn the form pattern correctly.
In the 20th century, tai chi form was simplified and shortened.
Short forms are now very popular.
Our school does not teach short forms.
An earnest student will spend their entire life exploring the form,
increasing their skill, knowledge and insight through daily practice.
Patience
When a new starter is given a form
movement to practice, they sometimes grow impatient and seek the next move.
Although they cannot perform the first move correctly, they want more.
It is necessary to spend quite a lot of time with each movement - a handful
of repetitions is not enough.
Seeing
Initially, a new starter will only get a vague sense of a
posture. That is enough to begin with.
However, to make progress you need to see the detail.
You must understand the underlying body
mechanics of each posture.
When you can see how any one posture really works, you realise that you have
a lot to practice.
Substance
When you begin to see the detail contained in one form, you can see why a
beginner spends a while on the tai chi basics.
A beginner only learns section 1 of the form.
Section 1 is the first 2 minutes of the 15 minute form.
Page created 8 November 2002