Eligibility (2)
Written by Rachel
     

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Prepare yourself

Tai chi chuan candidates are strongly encouraged to read The Sword Polisher's Record book. There is an assignment to try (if you are keen enough).



Another good book is Martial Arts for Beginners by Ron Sieh. It is out of print, but you still but second hand copies online.


Hair and nails

If your hair is long, you will need to tie it back (using a soft tie. No clips or pins). Nails need to be short in order to avoid injury to others or being injured yourself.
These are healthy & safety concerns in every martial arts class.


Sifu

If you expect to train with Sifu Waller, we encourage candidates to make themselves known to the kung fu instructor and seek to make a good impression.
This can be achieved through:

  1. Weekly Monday night attendance

  2. Watching/learning from school DVDs

  3. Good etiquette

  4. Appropriateness (towards Sifu Waller)

  5. Paying fees on time (and without argument/negotiation)

  6. Attending qigong & tai chi workshops (if offered)

  7. Good conduct when visiting the instructor's home

  8. Talk with tai chi students during break times

  9. Attend school social events

Often candidates are not very respectful of the instructor and then expect him to tutor them. Given that qigong & tai chi study is the default in our school, Sifu Waller is under no obligation to accept martial students and will not hesitate to say NO if a candidate demonstrates a poor attitude.


Qualifying for tai chi chuan

If you want to learn tai chi, the first step is to leave the qigong & tai chi group. This is facilitated by learning all of the introductory qigong exercises.
Providing that you have no notable health problems, the process is straightforward.


Your first challenge

Most people fail to get through their qigong ticksheet. How come? They don't practice at home, which means that the exercises are not familiar and therefore they cannot remember the exercises...




Don't be late

If you want help passing the qigong ticksheet, buy and study the Qigong DVD and make sure you're at the hall by 7:00 PM seeking to have some exercises assessed.


12 week challenge
A great way to take yourself out of your comfort zone is to set yourself a "12 week challenge". Aim to pass all of the qigong exercises on the ticksheet within 12 weeks.
This is quite a reasonable target if you think about it. A whole month to learn the reeling silk exercises, another month for ba duan jin and a third month for moving qigong.
Tempted?


Slow to pass your qigong ticksheet? Missing lessons?

You need to spend some time in qigong & tai chi. Martial arts study requires commitment and resolve. Seek to cultivate these qualities.
 

It is absurd to think you are going to get anywhere by giving only an hour a week to your practice or that you can regularly skip classes. Martial arts is not like a bridge club, where you drop in when you have nothing better to do. Martial arts will always make greater demands on your time than would most hobbies or avocations.

(Dave Lowry) 

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Page created 2 March 1996
 Last updated 29 December 2021