Knowledge | ||
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Knowledge
In order to perform tai chi skilfully, knowledge is required. The more
knowledge you can draw upon, the more informed your practice.
Context
If you read an article about tai chi but have no interest in tai chi - and
no foundation knowledge - then your ability to make sense of what you read
would be limited.
Most likely you'd quickly lose interest and you wouldn't remember much. In
order to make sense of what you read, you need context.
Mental framework
Imagine a bookshelf in your mind filled with books, folders, resources and
information about tai chi... The more densely filled your bookshelf is, the
more relevant and useful new information will seem.
You will be able to cross-reference, discern, add to existing knowledge and
challenge any preconceptions or misconceptions.
Ideally, your bookshelf wants to be filled with anything and everything that
might conceivably have a bearing on tai chi.
Katz: How do you know
all this stuff?
Bryson: Well, there's these things called books. They're like TV for
smart people.
(A Walk in the Woods)
What do you need to know?
Tai chi is a complex
art. To perform it well, there is a lot to you need to
know:
The teachings of Taoism
All 13 areas of study
An understanding of what constitutes medically-sound body use
The ability to functionally apply the art in a skilful 'tai chi' way
The tai chi principles
13 methods
Whole-body movement
Jing (whole-body power)
Internal/external
Qigong exercises
Chin na applications
Shuai jiao applications
Self defence applications
Partner work drills
An awareness of various types of tai chi, their similarities and differences
Structure
Stance
Natural power
Asian culture & history
Spiritual exploration (self-discovery)
How other martial arts approach combat
How other martial arts are taught
Fitness
Injury management/treatment
This is not an exhaustive list...
Look at the A-Z. There are many pages on this
website alone and it is far from comprehensive.
Gain knowledge
A student of tai chi needs to voraciously increase their knowledge. Read the
books from the reading list (repeatedly). Explore the web. Ask your teacher
questions.
The more you read, the more comprehensive your grasp of the art will be and
the more it will make sense to you.
Be discriminate
Not everything you discover will be useful. The internet is filled with
junk. A lot of people are simply promoting their own agenda; selling their
own services.
This is fine. Finding out about this serves as a lesson in its own right.
Learn from the bad as well as from the good.
Guidance
Your teacher can steer you away from wasting time watching YouTube clips and
reading potentially toxic websites. Trust their judgement.
They know what they are planning to teach you, how the pieces fit together
and what the final product will look like.
Lot's wife
Don't be afraid to ignore your teacher's advice and look anyway. You
won't turn into a pillar of salt, but you may come to appreciate their
advice.
There's a lot of junk to rummage through. Recognising that your teacher
knows what they're talking about should renew your respect for them.
Avoid complacency
One danger with acquiring knowledge is that it can lead you to believe that
you know far more than you actually do.
For example, when our students complete the beginner's syllabus it is
tempting to become complacent. But what does the individual really
understand? Not much.
They have only been exposed to no more than 1% of the overall tai chi
chuan curriculum.
Impatience
Impatience is another outcome of over-confidence. The student watches a
skilled performance and over-estimates their own capacities.
Seeking instant gratification, they become quickly frustrated and resentful.
Their lack of knowledge hinders their ability to understand what they are
witnessing.
Confusion
Attempting to make sense of information without sufficient knowledge will
only result in confusion and failure. Knowledge and experience are vital to
success. Understanding requires context.
Context is the outcome of wisdom and hindsight.
Combining
To understand how things operate, a student must combine different areas of
knowledge. There are many items on the list at the top of this page.
By combining different facets of knowledge, the student gains a far more
comprehensive picture of what is taking place.
Skill level
A beginner cannot conceivably understand advanced level material. How
come? Their frame of reference is that of a beginner.
In other words; they understand everything from the viewpoint/perspective of
a beginner. The factors they take into consideration reflect the values of a
beginner.
The only way to understand advanced material is to become advanced yourself
through the acquisition of applied knowledge.
Ignorance is fatal
The biggest impediment facing tai chi on a global scale is ignorance...
Modern people seem disinclined to dig deep. Tai chi is a fascinating art.
There is an enormous amount to learn from even one style.
Commit the time and the effort to the art and you will be rewarded with a
far richer training experience.
Knowledge is power
Consider this: if you have not studied martial strategy extensively, combat
skills, self defence and fighting applications... how can you use
tai chi
as a martial art?
There is no way you can use the art without the requisite knowledge.
Get strong
An earnest student has only one direction before them - upwards. They need
to climb and climb hard. Read, practice, study.
Visit other classes
It is easy to assume that your martial art is 'the best' and to dismiss all
other arts. This is also naive. Have you been to other classes? What are
they teaching? How are they teaching it?
How skilled are the students? Is their technical knowledge advanced or
simplistic? Go find out for yourself.
Read about other things
There are many terrific books that have nothing to do with tai chi but will
serve to enhance your understanding of what martial arts constitute, how the
human mind works, what motivates people and how to learn more skilfully.
Don't limit yourself to tai chi books. Read anything that grabs your
interest.
Take an interest
Instead of just doing what your teacher tells you to do in class, invest in
the art.
Take a much deeper interest in how the human body operates, Asian history,
culture, martial arts in general, biomechanics, fitness, strength, health,
nutrition, meditation...
The list is endless. Don't assume anything. Continually question what you
know and find out more.
Physical understanding
Beyond reading and study there needs to be an immense commitment to
productive, mindful daily practice. Tai chi is a physical art.
A well-cultivated mind is essential, but it must be complimented by an
equally adept body. Nothing beats informed practice; both solo and
partnered.
Memory
Gain useful information, possess functional skills. The greater the
storehouse of knowledge you can draw upon in your tai chi, the better your
training will be.
What your body
remembers is what is important for you at this particular stage of
development.
What your mind forgets, your body is telling you it couldn't use anyhow at
this time.
(Tsuchihashi)
Page created
8 April 1995
Last updated
30 November 2023
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