3 levels | ||
Taijiquan syllabus | ||
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Teaching & learning
In order to learn taijiquan it is necessary to have a
syllabus in place.
This will enable the instructor to incrementally teach relevant knowledge,
understanding, skill, adherence to The Tai Chi Classics, martial principles, combat
skill and the tenets of Taoism in a consistent, comprehensive, fully
differentiated manner.
3 levels
Authentic taijiquan practice takes place at 1
of 3 levels:
Foundation skills
Taijiquan fighting method
A lifelong path
Most exponents are at
level 1. They are learning the multitude of exercises,
drills and principles that underpin the taijiquan training.
Teachers can only teach you
to the level that the strength of your basics will allow them to. They can't
do anything more, it's impossible.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Level 1 -
Foundation skills
What are foundation skills? In a
taijiquan class this means learning:
How to connect the limbs to the torso
How to yield
How to create space
How to be flexible
How to work without tensing-up
How to be composed
How to move your whole body
How to be loose and heavy
How to go with the flow
How to respond without thinking
These skills are accomplished by exploring qigong
exercises, Long Yang form (stage 1) (regular & mirrored), pushing hands,
stretching exercises, various partnered sensitivity exercises, taijiquan
principles
and contemplative Taoism, introductory weapons practice, martial concepts,
martial sets (pattern) and floor work (ground fighting).
What you start with...
Most new starters do not realise that their body and mind are not aligned
with their ambitions. People are often distracted, uncoordinated and lack any
real commitment to learning.
The main aim at this level of skill is to shed old habits and increase strength,
flexibility, relaxation, balance, stamina, coordination, concentration and
acquire alternative ways of using the body.
Taijiquan is not like the external martial arts. The skills cannot be employed
using tensed muscles, blocking, aggression or force.
Lay a strong foundation
Taijiquan is not like karate. You cannot use what you brought to class
with you. It is necessary to get rid of 'external' ways of the using the body
and develop new skills. This takes time, patience, practice.
Until you have learned the basic movements of taijiquan (form), physical
abilities and martial concepts, what do you expect to use in combat?
It is necessary to lay a strong foundation. To have skills you can use in
fighting. A way of seeing things. A certain attitude/perspective. Courage and
grit.
Basic martial arts skills
Level 1 assumes no prior martial arts knowledge or experience. It teaches
basic martial arts skills, with an emphasis upon taijiquan. Fitness,
coordination, flexibility and stamina are cultivated.
The training is fairly external; limited by the capabilities of the individual.
3 grades, 9 parts
Level 1 practice is one of those situations where it seems like there is
a lot of material when first approaching it. But in hindsight, not so much.
The level is broken down into 3 grades: beginner, intermediate and experienced.
Each of these levels has 3 parts.
In hindsight,
intermediate (part 1) was a hurdle of
my own making.
(Dr David Cousins)
Why do we need levels, grades and parts?
Martial arts typically follow a syllabus. In fact, most martial arts
have belts or sashes. This is no different to being in mainstream education.
You don't start off reading Shakespeare in Primary School.
The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain insurance policy advised instructors to
ensure that students are being shown things appropriate to ability. This
means that a syllabus is necessary.
There must be an order to the presentation of the material. Grades are
required.
Level 2 - Taijiquan fighting method
Taijiquan was designed to be a martial art. There's no two ways about
it. The art was not designed as a health exercise or for the cultivation of
qi.
Health, fitness and wellbeing are simply positive side-effects of a
well-designed fighting system that draws on thousands of years of ancient
knowledge and insight.
Taijiquan is a martial art
Taijiquan is essentially an 'advanced' fighting method. It is a
Chinese martial art and it does involve hard work, time and skill. For many
years it was used in combat by the Chinese military.
What differs from most martial arts styles is the Taoist component and the
somewhat complex 'internal' aspects of the art. As fighting styles go,
taijiquan is a very hard method to learn.
The taijiquan training itself isn't gruelling or punishing. But it does
require persistence, tenacity, commitment and conviction.
What
is studied at level 2?
The training includes:
•
2-person cane drill (regular & mirrored)
•
3-tier wallbag
• 13 postures
• Balance, rhythm, timing
• Chin na applications
• Cold jing
• Countering a knife
• Countering punches, kicks & grapples
• Da lu
• Dividing the muscle
• Double pushing hands
• Dying ground
• Fa jing
• Freeform grappling
• Freeform triangle
• Hidden power (an jing)
• Holding down the pillow
• Improvised weaponry/knife
• Jian form (regular & mirrored)
• Jing
• Long Yang form (stages 1-7)
• Long Yang form applications (7 per movement)
• Melee
• Neigong
• Obvious power (ming jing)
• Projections
• Reeling silk
• Sabre form (regular & mirrored)
• San da stage 1: freeform application
• San da stage 2: freeform combat
• Shih (martial advantage)
• Shuai jiao applications
• Striking and being hit
• Walking stick form (regular & mirrored)
Are you a martial artist?
Many people who commence taijiquan practice are essentially 'daydreamers';
they have fanciful notions of becoming a martial artist but entirely lack
the grit and determination required to accomplish the task.
Instead of committing to a challenging regime of on-going comprehensive,
rigorous training, the student is contented with the dream.
If you can't do it, you don't know it.
(Mike Sigman)
The essence
of the art
There are certain things that every taijiquan student should know. This
knowledge and ability will enable the student to follow the teachings
outlined in The Tai Chi Classics.
Strict adhesion to the Classics assures correct practice of tai chi,
regardless of what style you practice. Every tai chi student in the world
should be working towards acquiring these abilities and knowledge.
It does not matter how many forms, drills or applications you know. Or who
your teacher is. Your skill in taijiquan comes down to the essence of the
art and how well you can express it.
3 grades, 9 parts
Level 2 is broken down into 3 grades: competent, skilled and advanced. Each
of these levels has 3 parts.
Level 3 - A lifelong path
Realistically it will take the diligent student decades to become an expert.
This gives a sense of perspective. Stop thinking so small and short-term.
Taoists aimed for extreme long life and great fitness. Why not do the same?
The very challenge itself might be what keeps you alive...
2 grades, 2 parts
Level 3 is broken down into 2 grades: expert and master.
The road less travelled
The world of taijiquan (the martial art) is largely inaccessible to
outsiders.
It may be easy enough to attend a few classes, but the real skills and
practices are reserved for those few who are willing to endure a long, hard
journey.
Not many people ever become skilled and hardly anyone is an expert or a
master. Great sacrifice is necessary.
Expertise
There is more to expertise than hours spent training. It is also about
quality. This is why the syllabus has a limited number of forms, drills and
exercises to learn.
Not only do you have to learn the patterns and the applications, you must
also dismantle everything and gain a deeper understanding.
Adding neigong to every factor of your practice will keep even the most
serious practitioner occupied for the rest of their life.
Mastery
Maestros and so-called geniuses are people who have given themselves over to
their art. They have set aside their arrogance and their ego.
By embracing the teachings of their art, they have transcended mediocrity
and truly gained skill. Instead of forcing a result, or willing a
conclusion, the person has sublimated their sense of 'self'.
The individual has become one with the art. You cannot gain real skill by
trying to control the art. You must surrender to it. You must let go.
In a very real sense, you do not master the art. It masters you.
Extraordinary life
An advanced martial artist gains uncanny skills on the difficult path they
have chosen. Their resolve will be tested again and again. There will many
setbacks, pitfalls and doubts.
But the rare seeker who embraces the art whole-heartedly will live quite an
extraordinary life.
The seeker wants another
level of mind
and strives for it without distraction
like a grandmother shopping at market.
(Loy Ching-Yuen)
Page created
2 October 1996
Last updated
26 January 2020
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