Once the form choreography is accurate and familiar, the real work begins. The choreography is the beginning of your tai chi, not the end of it.
Some forms are admittedly more sophisticated than others, and require greater skill. Whilst there may be merit in challenging your body with new material, can you honestly claim to have mastered your existing material?
Most tai chi practitioners are not experts. The more forms you collect, the more diluted your practice and the less time you have to train (and understand) each form.There is no real advantage in training more than one style of tai chi form. Any (and every) form should teach the same underlying principles.
Form choreography is akin to learning the alphabet. You do not need to learn two alphabets. One will suffice.It is important not to think of tai chi form in terms of external kata.
External martial arts students learn kata in order to train specific insights and skills. Learning the kata is a way of gaining a thorough, well-rounded sense of the art. Each kata is different and necessary - it imparts a new lesson - and adds another piece to the whole.
However, kata and form are ultimately not the same thing. Form teaches 'a way of moving'. A style of using your body. A habit.
A kata is considered 'correct' if it looks accurate and crisp. This is not the case with a tai chi form. A form must be performed in a relaxed manner, with attention to how the power is being generated. Every movement must contain peng, and would be completely useless without it. A comprehensive understanding of how to apply every nuance of form is necessary for true understanding.
You do not need to learn several forms. All of the lessons and skills are contained in the one sequence.
We teach an 'internal' martial art and follow the teachings of The Tai Chi Classics. In order to start learning the system, a student must begin by letting-go of postural tension and the desire to use clenched muscles for strength.
For some people this is a gargantuan task because they rely on their arms for strength and do not really want to let-go. The problem is attitude, as much as body. Being open-minded and receptive is not easy.Karate, wing chun, tai chi and every other system has its own inherent feel; and this unique sense of the art takes time to unfold.
Questions will not give you meaningful answers because the art can only be understood in terms of itself.
Learning a martial art involves a certain process that is not exclusive to tai chi:
Unlearning bad habits
Conditioning the body
Learning new habits/responses
It takes months of weekly lessons to make headway with these three concerns.
Progress is steady, notable and ongoing. 'Countering' is the first real step towards learning tai chi.
Unlike most tai chi in the UK, this particular style was never simplified or watered-down to accommodate Western students.
It remains sophisticated and intricate. Most of the detail is too subtle for a new starter to grasp.Tai chi has an exciting, complex syllabus that cannot be summed-up in a few words or a 90 minute class.
If you start a new class, open your mind and accept that you are only experiencing a fragment that lesson.
To truly understand the art for yourself takes time.
Few things in life yield their treasures quickly or easily; you need commitment, sincerity and patience when studying tai chi.
Tai chi is not about a result; the entire system is process-oriented. Your attention needs to be on what you are doing, how and why.
A scientific attitude helps; strip things down and understand what makes them work. Explore their resilience.
The journey is unique to each individual. We all come to the practice from a different place and have our own reasons for walking the path.
Those who persevere with the training gain a quiet sense of accomplishment. An inner surety and confidence takes root. Such people grow as their art develops and continue a journey that will change every facet of their lives. They achieve something remarkable each day, re-awakening an inner joy as they continue their training.
Tai chi theory is akin to a Zen koan: clear to the insider but indecipherable to the novice.
Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, The Art of War, I Ching, Miyamoto Musashi, Tai Chi Classics and the actual tai chi principles themselves are all pretty hard for a beginner to come to terms with.
It is like learning a new language.
We seek to perpetuate the art of tai chi. We want to pass it on, and every lesson is designed with this in mind. As with any artist, the teacher is very particular.
We want to make sure that every aspect has been thoroughly understood and retained. The standard is very high.
That entirely depends upon you. Everyone is different. There are so many variables.
Consider:
Have you set aside some time every day for practice?
How long is it?
Do you bring preconceptions with you to lessons?
What are your expectations?
Did you think it would be easy?
Are you open and receptive?
Do you have some plan/ambition in mind?
Are you studying the DVD's regularly?
Is tai chi part of your life or a one-a-week night school class?
Do you train with other students between classes?
Have you any existing health problems that might impede training?
Is your body entrenched in hard-style habits of resistance and stiffness?
When you train at home, is your recollection good or poor?
Do you respond well to corrections in class?
Can you admit your mistakes?
Do you learn from them?
Have you committed to private lessons as well as regular classes?
What is your awareness like?
If things do not work for you, do you become aggressive and push?
Where is your focus?
Your tai chi is only as good as you make it.
Learning the tai chi syllabus is not easy. We are not going to mislead you here.
It takes a lot of time and a lot of work.
However, you are welcome to work through the material at your own pace...
Feeling to be under pressure runs contrary to the very spirit of tai chi.
Be patient and allow that things take time:
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)
People are not always happy with the reality of their situation. We teach the material, we revise it with you, we offer you practice partners and we pressure test your understanding. But only you can do the work.
This is not what most people want to hear. Tai chi skills cannot be purchased. You must use your mind and your body. And you must practice.
