Chris
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Tai chi chuan syllabus (13 areas of study)

Chris has passed these belts:

1. White 1

2. White 2

3. Yellow 1

4. Yellow 2

5. Orange

6. Green

7. Blue

8. Purple

9. Brown 1

He is working through the brown belt 2 syllabus.


Syllabus change

In 2023, the syllabus was changed in order to ease learning.
This meant that Chris still needs to pass brown 1 material before seeking to pass brown 2. Chris can work on brown 2 material but completing brown 1 is his priority.


2024 workshop attendance (20 minimum)

Chris has not yet committed to the minimum number of workshops. In order to qualify for tai chi chuan study (and to grade), Chris must attend at least 6 more workshops.


Tea Club

Chris is a member of the Tea Club.
 

Students of the Tao must appreciate one thing:
Every day, mindful practice.
When the mind is disciplined
then the Way can work for us.
Otherwise, all we do is talk of Tao;
everything is just words;
and the world will know us as its
one great fool.

(Loy Ching Yuen)
 

Tai chi chuan syllabus

White 1

Qigong exercises
- standing qigong/3 circle qigong
- full circle qigong
- form posture qigong
- ba duan jin (8 exercises)
- moving qigong (8 exercises)

Reeling silk exercises
- plate exercise
- 4 directions - forwards & backwards
- 4 directions - to the side
- Opening & closing - to the side
- Cloud hands

Pushing peng (intro)
Standing post

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

White 2

Partner work
- 4 directions with a partner
- central equilibrium – maintain the centre
- eyes-closed walking
- palm at 3 distances
- peripheral vision - mugger scenario
- posture testing
- yielding exercise
- 90°
- diamond stepping
- leading & following (eyes-closed)
- relative distance (tig)
- avoiding line of force (solo & melee)
- riding the attack
The ball game
Monkey paws
Pushing legs
Single pushing hands

Challenge – full circle qigong (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – standing qigong (4 postures) (20 minutes x 4 weeks)

Yellow 1

Long Yang form (section 1) (regular)
Ba duan jin #2 - alternate version
Constructive rest
Horse stance
How to escape from a hold
Moving qigong (complete set)
Partner work mistakes

Challenge - form challenge (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - yielding exercise challenge (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

Recommended reading - The Sword Polisher's Record

Yellow 2

Bracing
Fear of falling
Floor work
- basics
- back-to-back
Hitting a focus mitt
Horse stance qigong
How to punch
Playing the attacker
- commitment
- range & reach
Psoas exercises
Punching rehab

Challenge - horse stance qigong (5 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - qigong and reeling silk in 30 mins (30 mins x 4 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

Recommended reading - There Are No Secrets

Orange

Long Yang form (section 2) (regular)
High circle qigong
How to slip a hold
Knife drills
Loose striking
Yang style bow stance (intro)
Yielding basic skills

Challenge - form challenge (section 2) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - knife drilling (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - yielding basic skills challenge (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - A & E

Recommended reading - The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan - The Literary Tradition

Green

4 directions with a partner (no contact)
70/30 stance
Cat-stepping
Countering
- 3 B's: blocking, blending & balance
- 4 stages
- fence
- X-shape
Leg stretches (2 sets)
Monkey paws (5 hands)
Qigong development

Challenge - qigong development (40 mins x 4 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Cat stepping

Recommended reading - Peak

Blue

Long Yang form (section 3) (regular)
Floor work
- kicks
- tackling
Stretches & joint work
Yielding exercise
- take to the ground

Challenge - 3 sets of qigong in 30 mins (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - form challenge (section 3) (60 mins x 4 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Martial concepts theory

Recommended reading - Chinese Boxing   

Purple

Long Yang form (mirrored)
Chair game
Martial concepts & qigong
Square on the inside, round on the outside
Stick drills (3 sets)
Taoist yoga (3 sets)

Challenge - form challenge (mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - stick drills (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Recommended reading - The Art of War

Brown 1

Long Yang form (lines of force version)
3-D
Central equilibrium
- fixed feet
Crescent moon
Da lu
Kicking game
- evasive body focus
- sustained & varied kicking
Massage
Sword drills

Challenge - da lu (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - lines of force form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - sword drills (30 mins x 4 weeks)

Recommended reading - The Book of Five Rings 

Brown 2

Long Yang form (fingers as fists)
Being hit
Breath meditation
Combat stance
Core strength exercises (3 sets)
Double pushing hands
Monkey paws (stepping)
Qigong on one leg
San sau
Slam ball challenge
Striking pads
- focus mitt, squashy pad, round pad

Challenge - double pushing hands (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - fingers as fists form (regular & mirrored) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – san sau (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Recommended reading - The Way of Chuang Tzu 

Greyed out items meet the required standard of skill.

school database

Page created 18 April 1995
Last updated 16 April 2024

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