Eligibility - tai chi chuan
Written by Rachel
     

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Ability level

These are 3 different ability levels within Newcastle Tai Chi:

  1. Qigong & tai chi

  2. Tai chi chuan

  3. 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:

  1. No medical/health problems *

  2. Age (over 18) **

  3. Good attitude & humour

  4. Weekly attendance

  5. Prepared to practice at home between classes

  6. 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.


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Page created 2 March 1996
Last updated 19 September 2004