Over-confidence | ||
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Unrealistic expectations
Modern society perpetuates the illusion that anything can
be bought.
This is simply not true.
Can money buy: Youth? Love? Compassion?
Depth of character?
Awareness? Respect?
Work/life balance?
Grace? Manners? Common sense?
Purpose? Integrity? Friends? An open mind?
Imagination? Insight? Creativity? Tranquillity?
Calm? Stillness? Patience?
Happy memories? Elegance? Talent? Wisdom? A sense of
humour? Humility?
Honour? Selflessness?
Clarity? Personality?
Other people seem to think that simply wanting something means that
somehow they will get it.
Like a wish...
iGeneration
This modern Age of Narcissus makes it very difficult for most people
to understand the cost of doing a
more in-depth endeavour.
The cost lies not in money but in
time, effort and commitment.
Wanting something is meaningless without an earnest, sincere attitude to pave the
road to your ambition.
I know...
It is tempting to think that we know
far more than
we do.
But this is also naive.
Even a highly qualified university professor
knows next to nothing about everything that falls
outside their own specific field of expertise.
Reading information in books, on-line or
watching YouTube demonstrations is hardly the same as possessing real
skills for yourself.
Being a spectator does not mean that you are well
informed. Talking
is not the same as participation.
Everyday life
Many people drive their car as though they were a
Formula 1 racing driver. But they're not. The
car is usually handled clumsily.
There's a terrifying lack of precision, poor
concentration and inadequate reflexes.
Being macho and cocky isn't the same as being able to
drive the vehicle with
skill.
Real skill requires discipline.
And few people have the patience (or the resolve) to
really commit themselves to the arduous task of
becoming truly skilful at anything in their
lives.
Learning curve
If you want to learn any skill thoroughly and convincingly,
you need to put in an awful lot of time.
Whether you are seeking to learn tai chi, Spanish, cook like a gourmet chef or play
the guitar, it is just the same.
Practice, practice, practice. There are no shortcuts...
Done something before
Many tai chi new starters have practiced (something) before. It may be
dance, running, gym, Pilates,
karate or yoga.
There is often an underlying belief that tai chi will somehow prove to be
easy to learn. As though prior experience with
(anything) means a free ride through the syllabus.
This is somewhat naive.
Done tai chi before
Some people have attended tai chi lessons with another school. This is
fine, but it offers no guarantee that what was taught was
any good.
Not all tai chi is the same.
There are many different styles, schools and
teachers.
Classes tend to have their own emphasis and
some teachers are better than others.
An individual may have spent 10 years studying
tai chi without the slightest
grasp of the
principles underpinning the art.
What you need to remember, with
these guys, is that they don't know they're con men. They're wildly
overconfident. Your guy can walk in the door and promise training in
something he personally doesn't know how to do, and not even realize he's
bullshitting about his own capabilities. It's a special kind of
gullibility....
(William Gibson)
The dilettante
The dilettante is basically a tai chi/martial
arts/alternative therapy/spiritual tourist.
They drift around various classes undertaking whatever interests them.
Unfortunately, these people never stick any class long enough to gain skill,
understanding or integrity.
In lieu of meaningful knowledge they possess titbits from various teachers
and enjoy sharing their experiences with other dilettantes.
They know very little of substance but believe that they
do.
Defending yourself
Most people are not capable of defending themselves, their loved ones or
their belongings.
This is a disturbing fact.
Although society still offers the same dangers
it always has, the general public's attitude towards personal
protection has
changed.
People are unable to protect themselves yet imagine that a cocky 'attitude' and a big mouth will work against a
real life assailant.
Combat
Combat is a misunderstood term. Lay people seldom
distinguish between martial art,
fighting art, sport
or self defence.
Yet these are quite different things. Your
expectations will be shaped by what you
think you are going to encounter in a tai chi
class.
Money cannot buy tai chi
Tai chi skills cannot be
purchased.
You must use your mind and your body. And
you must practice.
If somebody has not exercised for 30 years and
suddenly expects tai chi combat skills, they are going to be sorely
disappointed.
Everyone must patiently develop the foundation
skills, then work gradually up through the syllabus.
Body
It is common for tai chi new starters to imagine that they are
just going to flow around the hall in a
fluid, beautiful
manner on their first lesson.
Instead, they find themselves bluntly facing the reality
of their own physical condition.
Most people are not balanced, have significant
muscular tension, poor
coordination, limited mobility and very poor
footwork.
Instead of the anticipated ego boost, they are politely encouraged to address
basic concerns.
Mind
Working the brain is the real key to
success.
A strong, pliable, flexible, adaptive
brain is required for learning this
art.
If your mind is stressed, thinking about current events, politics,work, family matters or your
diet, then you are not exactly paying attention
to what is taking place right now.
As such, your ability to learn is
impeded.
To learn any skill carefully and thoroughly, your mind must be
trained to pay attention
to the immediate moment.
VIP?
No one gets preferential treatment in a tai chi class.
The teacher has an entire class to
teach so there is no time (or reason) to play
favourites...
Even if the teacher wanted to just gift you the skills,
how exactly can they do this?
Health issues
Some people have obvious medical problems (e.g. a
replacement hip), or are obese, have
back problems, knee
problems, arthritis, heart issues or chronic
fatigue-related problems...
Despite this, they somehow expect to be able to access all aspects of the
tai chi
curriculum without any difficulty - even combat...
Often, people lie on their registration form in the hope that their 'dicky legs'
are not discovered.
Well, of course, all these problems sooner or later become apparent in a
tai chi
class because they actively prevent the individual from performing certain
activities correctly.
Fragile ego?
Quite often students are affronted by the realisation that their
physical ability
isn't quite what they thought it was...
Instead of humility, they respond with vanity, ego, emotion, pride, arrogance
and defensiveness.
Yet, a
student is unfit to judge their own
training.
On what basis is the student assessing their
tai chi?
How are they measuring the skill?
What criteria are being applied?
Which qualities do they consider to be valuable?
Do they really understand
The Tai Chi Classics? Does their
art embody the Taoist
precepts?
Tai chi has measurable skills and clear standards.
Opinions are irrelevant.
Martial practice
A student of judo may train 2-3 times a
week in class. How many tai chi people are prepared to do the
same?
Every martial art requires dedication and commitment.
There are no shortcuts or exceptions.
If you expect to use a martial art, be prepared to put in the time and
effort.
Being complacent or
lazy is a form
of over-confidence.
Your speed
Tai chi beginners always try and do things
faster than they can cope with. They put themselves under pressure and end up hurried,
excitable and clumsy.
Rather than work at their own level, at their own
pace, they are impatient.
This hurried approach may give the student a false sense of their own competence
when working with class mates but would cost the student dearly if faced with a genuine assailant...
Read further
Many books address the folly of over-confidence and are well worth
reading.
e.g. Peak by Anders Ericsson, Grit by Angela Duckworth, Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg, The
Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
and The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Burger & Starbird.
Page created
18 April 2005
Last updated
16 June 2023
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