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What are you paying for?
A tai chi student is paying for lessons in
tai chi.
They are paying to be taught material in a
methodical, proven, systematic way.
This is not a random,
haphazard process.
The student is paying for the instructor's expertise;
both in employing the art and in
teaching the art.
Interpretation
Usually, students do not fully listen to
the instructor...
Instead, they second-guess, interpret and
then do whatever it is that they think is best...
This is a poor course of action.
It is predicated on an assumption: that the student is
capable of determining the most effective way
to gain skill at tai chi.
When you come to the dojo, it is a
recognition the teacher there has something you want. He will give it to you
in his own way. You must accept that. If you do not, you are free to leave.
The dojo, however, is never run by consensus.
(Dave Lowry)
Filtering
The problem with interpretation is that students filter the teachings
relative to their own perceptions.
They sift through the information, choosing what
to listen to and what to discard.
This may happen consciously or unconsciously.
In lieu of...
It is quite common for a student to proudly announce to the instructor
that they have deviated from the syllabus:
I am working out at the gym
I am reading books other than those on the required reading list for my grade
I have been attempting to perform skills that are from a higher grade (e.g. 3 tier wallbag)
Instead of watching a class DVD I have been trawling through YouTube looking at what other people teach
I have been practicing exercises from this book I bought rather than the exercises you are teaching
I bought a tai chi DVD from another teacher and I'm making quite good progress with it
I spend so much time attending night school exercise classes that I have no time to practice your material
I do meditation with the Buddhists
I do qigong elsewhere
What possible response can the student expect from their
instructor?
The above statements reflect disrespect,
stupidity and the utmost
naivety.
Offensive
In Chinese culture, if a student is paying for
lessons with a given teacher, it is considered monumentally offensive
to learn material elsewhere when it is being offered by your teacher.
Western students often lack even the vaguest sense of
manners or etiquette, let alone
consider the fact that a tai chi syllabus is already fully comprehensive.
Randomly incorporating practices
from elsewhere will wreck the tai chi you are being taught.
Confused
If a student possessed the ability to interpret
the syllabus in a meaningful, productive manner,
they would be teaching a class not
attending one.
Their opinions,
notions, views and
misconceptions reflect a very
limited viewpoint.
Lacking the benefit of long experience and
hindsight, the student makes decisions from
a confused, muddled
standpoint.
Conclusions
Often a student jumps to conclusions.
This is particularly naive.
Tai chi is an art that involves continual on-going
change and development.
To stop at any given point and
decide that you 'understand'
is extremely foolish and always
incorrect.
Even an instructor is in flux.
Fundamentally, it is giving up yourself to follow others.
Most people mistakenly give up the near to seek the far.
It is said, "Missing it by a little will lead many miles astray."
(Wang Tsung-yueh)
Tai chi fighting method
The syllabus represents a 'method' for approaching
tai chi.
It is a step-by-step process for introducing,
practicing and refining
the material.
Students are taught the art relative to
comprehension and ability.
The Ancients
By following the method earnestly and
carefully, the student has the opportunity
to penetrate the mysteries of the art.
They are literally and
practically applying the teaching of the most
ancient Chinese sages.
Tai chi is a living tradition. Isn't this amazing?
Follow the method
A student cannot hope to attain real progress with tai chi if they
ignore or
interpret the teachings of their instructor.
They are quite literally incapable of
second-guessing with any degree of reliability. By what criteria can they possibly judge
value/meaning/relevance?
Being a good student
The answer to learning tai chi properly is to
simply do what you are
told to do; without deviation or alteration.
All of it.
Not just the parts that you think are appealing or
seem most important to you.
Upon reaching what is perceived
as an ideal goal, the artist discovers something entirely different. The
artist is suddenly confronted with the fact that what was thought of as
perfection of technique was merely the introduction to it.
An entirely new vista has opened. The artist must be prepared to turn his
gaze from the heights that have so recently been gained, and prepare for the
ascent of the peak suddenly found beyond them.
(Dave Lowry)
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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