|
|
||
| Darker belts | ||
| Tai chi chuan syllabus | ||
classes qigong tai chi kung fu about us reviews a-z
.JPG)
Darker
belts
The The blue, purple,
brown belts are more martial than the pale belts.
Applications, martial sets and
weapons work predominate.
A comprehensive sense of theory is important.
20 workshops a year
In order to gain the necessary level of practice and exposure to relevant
material, a student training towards the darker belts must commit to 20
workshops/boot camp/private lessons each calendar year.
Fight
The darker belts in any martial are viewed as being a stage where the student
begins to acquire some credible fighting skills. It is a time for growing
confidence and assertion.
Instead of settling into complacency, the student is compelled to drive
themselves forward towards black belt.
The instructor is looking carefully at the attitude of the exponent; gauging
whether or not they are showing the degree of commitment and enthusiasm
associated with a darker belt.
The beginning is darkness within darkness. Find
things and thoughts in light; find the beginning of things and thoughts in
darkness. All knowing begins in the mystery in darkness.
(Lao Tzu)
Detail
The internal arts seek to employ the tai chi without tensing-up, without
using force and without aggression. This is a tall order. Consequently, the
training is more detailed, methodical and thorough.
Every belt challenges the student to become increasingly sensitive, relaxed
and adaptive.
Habit
The truth about tai chi training is that you need to do the same thing
over and over again if you want it to become familiar. There is no way
around this.
If you are enthusiastic and enjoy the training, then it will not be boring
at all. You will feel great and habit patterns will be established.
Ambition
You cannot reasonably expect to through the blue,
purple & brown belts
(and beyond) without making a tremendous effort. This is simply
unrealistic.
In any endeavour, you must be willing to sacrifice time, money and work hard
to make progress. Tai chi is no different. No matter what you think.
Looking for an answer
Passing blue requires practice. There are no
shortcuts and no secrets that will aid your tai chi. You simply need to do
the work.
A student finds that a little home practice will enable them to learn the
skills required to pass blue quite easily.
Clumsy
It is common for a blue belt student to become
quite clumsy and forceful. Problems encountered:
· Fighting back
· Too slow
· Fear of falling
· Use of tension
· Lack of composure
· Confusing jing and li
· Poor understanding of peng
· Seeking to control rather than allow
· Failure to employ 4 ounces of pressure
The student must be gently encouraged to let-go, relax and go with the flow.
Form
A student finishes learning the outline of the Long Yang form during the
blue belt syllabus. It is prudent to start
mirroring the form as soon as possible, in preparation for
brown belt.
Martial set
The first is san sau; a short 2-person combat set.
San sau serves as a stumbling block, catching the less committed student
unawares.
Without regular, established home practice, it is very hard to learn the set
and remember it well enough to pass the belt.
No expert
A brown belt student is certainly no expert,
but they are no beginner either. At this level of practice, the student must
start to show some sense of the art they are practicing.
There should be:
· No forcing
· No dithering
· No heavy footwork
· No ineffectual applications
· No more clumsy use of tension
Wearing a brown belt indicates a sharp increase
in skill and the first inkling of martial competence.
Peng
Reliance upon any kind of tension to mimic peng must cease by
brown belt. The brown
belt student should be capable of manifesting peng to some extent.
Supplementing this improved peng skill, 3-D and the complete use of the
70/30 stance will extend your range and amplify power.
Combat
By the end of brown belt,
Sifu Waller is looking for a marked change in your combat skills.
You should know how to make space, evade the incoming force, and neutralise
effectively by the time you complete brown
belt.
The legs and arms should work in conjunction, and there must be an increased
use of the body to generate power. To pass the belt, the student must show a
significant improvement in martial skill.
Disheartened?
Why is brown belt so hard to pass? To
test your mettle. Are you the sort of person who quits at the first
obstacle, or do you train harder and work around the problem?
Weapons drills
The purple belt student learns stick drills (3
sets). These will help to improve strength, coordination and dexterity.
Practicing these drills will increase your ability to use both arms
skilfully and deliver jing.
Shido-geiko
A brown belt student is expected to arrive at
class early and help Sifu Waller and Rachel prepare the room for the lesson.
They should also remain behind afterwards and offer to clear things away.
Martial concepts applied
Brown belt precedes black, so the
expectations increase also... The student must address more earnest
unrehearsed, spontaneous combat. Martial concepts applied is a tough wake up
call.
Slow down
One big focus of tai chi is slow motion movement. Now that you are making
progress it is necessary to address the pace of your exercises.
Qigong, form and solo drilling should be performed at a notably slower pace
in order to attain full strength.
Practice
Ideally, the darker belt student will be training daily at home, along with
weekly class practice, all workshops and boot camp.
We will not let anyone study at a black belt
level unless they show the necessary degree of aptitude.
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
05 December 2023
▲