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| Know the basics | ||
| Tai chi basics | ||
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Level of difficulty
The initial training contains no martial material whatsoever. The
practice is health oriented. This is why the students wear a
white T-shirt.
It introduces basic topics:
Ba duan jin (8 exercises)
Form posture qigong
Full circle qigong
Moving qigong (8 exercises)
Reeling silk exercises (5 exercises)
Standing post
Standing qigong/3 circle qigong
Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette
Although nothing is unduly complex, there is
plenty to learn.
Unfortunately, there is no secret formula. You just need to
practice every day.
Qigong
Qigong is the key to getting the hang of
things.
The more time you spend practicing the
exercises, the easier it will be to learn
anything and everything in the syllabus.
Standing qigong will build strength,
teach alignment and develop
structure.
Moving qigong teach stance (foot position),
coordination, timing,
relaxation and flexibility.
Once you have learned the exercises, practice them every day. That
way, you'll benefit and you also won't
forget them. If you can't remember the exercises,
buy the Qigong DVD.
Practice every day
Failure to practice qigong
frequently enough or thoroughly enough will retard
progress.
Ideally, a student should stand for 20 minutes and then perform plate
exercise, standing post, 4 directions - forwards & backwards, 4 directions -
to the side, opening & closing - to the side, cloud hands, ba duan jin (8
exercises), moving qigong (8 exercises).
10 repetitions of each. Every day.
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?
I don't stop when I'm tired.
I only stop when I'm done.
(Marilyn Monroe)
Sequences
Everything in the tai chi curriculum has an order for practice. If
you are struggling to remember the order, be
smart about it...e.g.
ba duan jin:
Copy out the names of the 8 exercises
Make notes about each exercise
What is each individual exercise about?
Explain its purpose
Which characteristics make it different from the other exercises?
Copy out down the names of the 8 exercises ten times
Now try and write down the 8 names again - without referring to your notes, the handout or the website
If you can't remember the 8 exercises, try again tomorrow
DVDs
If you can't remember the exercises, buy the Qigong DVD, Qigong
Corrections DVD and Partner Work DVD so that you can practice the exercises at home
between classes.
Do the assignments ASAP
Deepen your understanding by committing the time
to the assignments.
The questionnaires provide context.
Commit to
workshops
Often new people don't commit to
workshops. To pass tai chi basics you need to
attend 12 workshops. This is a tai chi
membership requirement.
Overanalysing
Beginners overanalyse the
tai chi rather than just get on with the practice.
This is bad in class.
Thinking is the outcome of memory.
Lacking experience in tai chi, you have no
useful memories to assist you in class. Understanding is the product of
hindsight.
Useful knowledge and experience can
only be gained through practice...
Seek those challenges
Practice them at home as well as in class e.g. full circle
qigong.
High repetition is
crucial
When you are shown a new movement, new concern or a
form
correction, drill it
repeatedly until familiar.
No matter how many times it takes.
Difficult movements may require hundreds of
repetitions to become easier.
How may times? As many as it takes...
Refinement
Eventually the training becomes familiar and
the patterns are more comfortable.
Then you can start to improve.
This is the stage where your awareness will help a
great deal.
Observe your tai chi carefully and
drill corrections thoroughly.
Provide proof
Sifu Waller expects students to critically
self-assess their own practice and
then seek an evaluation.
If the tai chi is good enough for the grade,
it will be ticked-off.
You can then learn something more advanced.
Being assessed is the only way to progress to the
higher grades.
Passing the basics
If you can perform each exercise (or drill) to an adequate standard, it will be ticked off by Sifu Waller
Once everything has been ticked off, Sifu Waller will confirm whether or not you have committed to all of your required workshops
No practice?
If you simply choose to attend class and not practice
at home, that is OK.
Nobody can force you to train.
Simply allow that your progress will be
very slow. Like a health student.
Read The Sword Polisher's Record
Why not consider reading The Sword Polisher's Record? The book will help
you to understand how tai chi is taught.
Beyond the basics
Passing
white belt is important. Once you pass, you can start wearing a black
T-shirt.
More...
Page
created 4 August 1995
Last updated
14 February 2024
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