Eligibility - tai chi chuan | ||
Written by Rachel | ||
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Ability level
These are 3 different ability levels within Newcastle Tai Chi:
Tai chi chuan, chin na & shuai jiao
Every starts out studying qigong & tai chi. There are no exceptions.
Martial arts interest?
If you have an interest in learning tai chi, you need to work through
the 3 levels. Nobody is permitted to jump straight to number 3.
Kid in a
candy store
The danger of having an extensive martial syllabus is that some students
behave like a kid in a candy store.
I want that. I want that...
Frequently they lack the skills required for the level of training their
ambition desires.
Eligibility is essential.
Paying fees and attending lessons does not equal competence.
Some
people in this culture believe that the “consumer” is entitled to good
service and if they feel wronged are entitled to take their custom
elsewhere. This may or may not be a useful strategy with plumbers,
electricians etc but foolish in the extreme in relation to tai chi.
(Peter Hobson)
Incremental
All learning is incremental.
You acquire one skill and then move onto the next.
Step-by-step.
Shortcuts do not exist in tai chi.
The student who seeks to jump from tai chi for health
level to tai chi is likely to get hurt.
Show interest
How keen are you to do tai chi?
Are you watching school DVDs?
Have you read The Sword Polisher's Record? Are you
practicing at home (between classes)?
Appropriateness
To train tai chi chuan (dynamic balancing boxing),
weapons training, self defence,
chin na or shuai jiao
you must fulfil the health and safety criteria presented by our insurance
company.
It states that all students must be taught relative to
ability/competence/health.
Factors
In order to commence
tai chi chuan study
we need to take a few factors into consideration:
No medical/health problems *
Age (over 18) **
Good attitude & humour
Weekly attendance
Prepared to practice at home between classes
Not studying another martial art
All decisions are made with the
wellbeing of students in mind.
* this includes being notably
overweight
** please note that we are not insured to teach over 60's or
children. We do not hold an instructor certification in martial arts for
tutoring new martial students aged over 60
These 6 items are not negotiable.
Health problems
Students are often somewhat naive when it comes to what
'health problems' means and whether or not it will affect martial arts
training. The insurance company isn't confused at all.
If we tell them that a prospective martial student has arthritis,
a replacement hip or knee joint, a history of heart attacks,
stroke, mental health issues etc, they will say NO to martial
and strongly encourage the individual to commit to qigong & tai chi
practice.
In some cases, Newcastle Tai Chi won't be the best
class for that unique medical condition, as there are specialised
classes who structure their training around addressing the needs of the
condition.
This is why there are schools offering tai chi for mental health or tai chi
for arthritis. This is their focus. It is not ours.
Fitness & attitude
We reserve the right to decline
martial tuition:
• if we feel that a student is
physically unable to study
tai chi safely
• if an individual demonstrates the
wrong attitude for
tai chi study
Rachel will always act with the
wellbeing of the student in
mind.
Insurance regulations prohibit a student from
training material that is unsuitable for their fitness/ability level.
The training environment
Martial arts training is entirely different to qigong & tai chi.
You will be roughed-up in the course of training. There is no way to avoid
this.
People who are new to martial arts expect their teacher to
pander to their ego, to listen
to their opinions, views,
thoughts and feelings.
They want a person trainer, a coach, a mentor or a guru...
This is not how ANY martial art class works! Usually, the senior student
browbeats new starters until they shut up and just get on with the training,
or quit.
Our school is a little milder - there won't be any
shouting - but Sifu Waller is still pretty stern
and won't tolerate any chitchat.
Martial artist?
If you have done a
martial art before and demonstrate the necessary
attitude and
conduct expected of a martial arts
student, then you will probably qualify for tai chi chuan
sooner.
We will evaluate your attitude and performance e.g. How long did you take
to pass the qigong ticksheet? Do you attend most lessons? Do you buy class DVDs?
Do you come to class early?
Providing you show adequate commitment and
complete the qualifying criteria, you can start
tai chi chuan.
New to martial arts?
You need to spend some time
in qigong & tai chi. Why? The experience will improve your
fitness,
coordination, flexibility and stamina. It will also offer an opportunity
to learn how to behave in a tai chi class.
Allowing yourself 'time' is an important tai chi
lesson.
The advantage of focusing on fitness material
is that most of the tai chi chuan exercises are taught in the qigong & tai
chi syllabus any way. So you're not really missing out.
More...
Page
created 2 March 1996
Last updated
19 September 2004