Internal attitude

The aim is to train every day. There is no need push yourself, strain your body or perform high repetitions. Train gently.

What is needed is presence and mindfulness. Have your mind on what you are doing and train slowly and carefully.

New starters

New students focus upon practicing (and learning) a series of fundamental standing and moving qigong exercises. These are quite easy to perform and build a foundation level of strength.

Partner exercises are mild, with the emphasis placed upon awareness and sensitivity.

Hard work

Most new starters are not prepared for the amount of physical work involved in learning a martial art.

The image of tai chi creates a false sense of effortlessness.
Few people expect to train hard.

This is naive.

Set aside talk about relaxation, qi, softness and other concerns...
Your body is flesh and bone.
It is moved by muscles.
In order to be strong, agile, flexible and adaptive in combat - you need to strengthen your body.

At one with the Tao

The form is one method for exploring the many insights offered by Taoism.

It is a hands-on approach to spirituality. It is a physical journey that will lead to an inner search for meaning and understanding within the student.

High-level form practice harmonises the body and the mind. We move in a natural, healthy, strong fashion. The lessons learned can be taken into everyday life.

The form is like that of a falcon about to seize a rabbit, and the shen is like that of a cat about to catch a rat.

(Wu Yu-hsiang)

Deliberate practice

It is necessary to have the form regularly corrected, so that a process of on-going refinement and improvement takes place.

Accurate positioning, attention to detail and a growing awareness of nuances is vital. Once the form pattern has been learned, it must also be mirrored.

The highest level of tai chi practice is high stance and small circle. In high stance and small circle you can conserve your energy to a maximum level. This is very crucial in battle. Endurance has always been the crucial key to survival in a long battle. Moreover, due to high stance and smaller shape you can reach to the deepest relaxed stage, the mind is highly concentrated, and the sensitivity and alertness can be extremely sharp.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Embodied spirituality

Instead of talking, praying or thinking, Taoists do. They act. They put their wisdom into practice. Tai chi is a physical embodiment of Taoist insights.

Tao

If you want to find the origin of tai chi, begin with the ancient Chinese study of existence known as 'Taoism'.

He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.

When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

(Nietzsche)

No fixed result

Taking another person's feeling into account means that we can avoid being accusatory or hostile. We can discuss things rationally and sensibly. The aim is not to find a solution or even to win. Rather, we simply want to explore the possibilities together.

A shared journey of discovery is far more productive than starting out with a fixed agenda. Who can say where the conversation may lead, or what unforeseen elements may emerge?

Non-violent communication

It is quite possible to communicate with other people without hostility and conflict. We can share ideas in an amiable way, even if we are in disagreement with one another. Emotional awareness and composure represent the key.

When your emotions are balanced and calm, you can think clearly and see more. You notice things and can respond intuitive and sensitively, rather than blundering around carelessly.

Our choice of words can be well-chosen, without being false or manipulative. Zen/Tao might suggest that we respond with silence. This is not an invitation to be rude. It indicates that talk is not always necessary or beneficial.

Attitude

Being a considerate person makes life much easier. You notice other people, you pay attention to their moods, wants and needs. This does not entail any form of subservience or simpering. You are simply aware. In the here and now. Paying attention. Listening. It is surprising what you notice when you stop your internal narrative and look at what is going on around you.

You may see common ground between you and someone else. Your interests and agendas may not be all that different. Instead of fighting, you could simply talk. Do you need to win? Is it necessary to get your point across? Who cares if the other person does not understand? Instead of getting into a conflict, ask yourself: is there another option?

Fear

Do you anticipate conflict in your everyday life? Do you live in fear? Is your fear genuine or are you just overly-sensitive?

The problem with fear is that much of it is imagined. People create their own problems by becoming anxious about everyday situations. They blow things out of proportion. They over-react.

Are you holding onto an image? Men puff up their chest and strut around like a rooster in an attempt to look 'hard'. This kind of behaviour is designed to intimidate would-be assailants. It only serves to make the individual look weak, fearful and insecure. It advertises their fear.

No lies. No excuses

It is easy to blame other people for conflict. People instinctively lash out and seek to blame someone else. Try being honest. No lies. No excuses.

Are you blameless? Have you played any small part in creating conflict or were you simply on the receiving end?

Be genuine about this. It is impossible to make progress if you deny the truth. Being sullen and resentful only perpetuates conflict. It is important to find the source of disharmony if you desire to move past it. Being willing to change is imperative.

Listening

If we listen to other people, we realise that there are many sides to every situation. It is often possible to avoid conflict.

People do not care to listen these days. They are too busy talking. Too eager to promote their own agenda. Listening is a skill. It requires practice and patience.

Disharmony

Conflict typically involves emotional turmoil, anxiety and stress. Is it worth the effort?

Many disagreements are exceptionally petty and essentially meaningless.

Consider: football fans will assault fans of an opposing team on sight.

For what reason?

If one team or the other wins, what difference does it make?

Is the world a better place?

Has a tyrannical despot been overthrown?

Did someone cure cancer?

Have the peoples of the Third World been fed?

When somebody seeks to argue with you, it is important to ask yourself what the contention is really about.

If the disagreement is pointless, is there any reason to get into conflict?

Pride, ego, insecurity, distemper - these are not adequate reason for conflict. They are just excuses.

Conflict

Conflict may occur when there is a disagreement between people. Contradictory values, priorities, beliefs and opinions create contention. Quite often a quarrel of some nature may occur.

Conflicts often involve:

1. Strong emotions

2. Fixed standpoint

3. Unwillingness to compromise

4. Limited perspective

5. Stubbornness

6. Lack of compassion

7. Raised voices

8. Verbal, emotional or physical violence

The opposition of ideas can lead to bitterness, hostility and a great deal of upset.

He drew his strong bow and invited me to step behind him and feel his arm muscles.

They were indeed quite relaxed, as though they were doing no work at all.

(Eugen Herrigel)

Endurance

Endurance is the capacity to withstand hardship. It is the ability to handle difficulty. To recover from trauma, injury and fatigue.