Most people have never attained a level of performance in any field that is sufficient to show them the true power of mental representations to plan, execute and evaluate their performance in the way that experts do. And thus they never really understand what it takes to reach this level - not just the time it takes, but the high-quality practice.
(Anders Ericsson)
Our class is like Alexander the Great teaching Dad's Army. Sifu Waller's not even trying. It's unbelievably powerful and looks like nothing. It's beyond impressive. I think it's the ease and speed at which Sifu Waller does it. It's like a magician with a sleight of hand but obviously with potentially deadly consequences. It's amazing to watch and utterly awe inspiring.
Sifu Waller is incredibly quick sometimes it's impossible to get your head around it. The more I get into this, the more I realise how lucky we are as a class. Most people could look their whole lives and never find anything close. I find the class to be very empowering.
(Karen Laws)
Having escaped/evaded the attacker, do not stand there waiting for applause.
Incapacitate the assailant efficiently and leave.
Messing about will only increase the likelihood of further confrontation.
Do only what is necessary and depart without fanfare.
Taoism and tai chi require a person to develop a growing awareness.
This requires immersion in the present moment and a calm mind.
By slowing down we can see and feel more, become more sensitive and alert.
To live skilfully we must accord ourselves with what is happening and be fully awake at all times.
If our mind is dreaming of some distant goal, we are not rooted in the immediate and it is only the here and now that can produce any outcome.
People argue that the end justifies the means...
Yet, the end cannot be divorced from the means. Means and end are part of the same process.
Without the means there would be no end.
The means is the vehicle or mechanism for the production of the end.
Sadly, in our world, the means is considered only in terms of time and money.
When things do not go the way we want them to, we are trained to lose our temper and try to force the outcome we desire.
This is not healthy.
In tai chi we are encouraged to allow others to go their own way. Whenever we encounter an obstacle, we seek to flow around it and avoid confrontation.
Even in self defence we look to use restraint; to do only as much as is necessary. Why cause harm to another?
Body building and weight lifting are fashionable activities today. The emphasis is upon developing external muscles which creates an armouring effect that can eventually distort the bony structure. It is the over developed musculature that actually torque's the bones and discourages them from bearing additional weight. The body attempts to compensate and problems arise.
Running does not necessarily in and of itself improve posture that is already poor and constricted. It often exaggerates problems due to the substitution of inappropriate muscles. The repetitive inappropriate development of the musculature (as in body building or weight lifting) often leads to diminished sensitivity. Stress occurs in the knees and lower back, encouraging injury.
Swimming is an activity that can either create structural problems or release them depending upon the way it is taught and practiced. Professional swimmers are known to develop shoulder tendonitis and kyphosis. Overriding head/neck righting reflexes (as occurs when the head is repeatedly turned but the body does not follow) eventually result in overdeveloping shoulder muscles, pinching nerves and distorting the rib cage.
Various sport activities emphasize strength, endurance and speed. Development of muscle control rather than skeletal balance takes precedence. Gaining speed at the expense of mounting tension, is too often the goal.
(Liz Koch)
Standing in one place advertises your position. You are literally a 'sitting duck'. You need to move spontaneously and freely, without any preparation or preamble.
This requires presence, awareness, composure and physical relaxation.
No matter what occurs, it is advisable to evade the attacker. If your opponent cannot make contact, they cannot inflict injury upon you. Agility is essential.
A cat can go from complete passivity to combat readiness instantaneously. It does not tense muscles and prepare. It just moves.
The cat does not psyche itself up, rock, dither or demonstrate any of the characteristics you often see demonstrated by human fighters.
Only a skilled student tends to move smoothly and calmly in response to threat. Beginners are jerky and tense.
Have you ever watched how a cat responds to perceived danger? The entire body moves as one, drawing away from the threat, coiling and expanding.
This is akin to the amoeba-like movement students acquire from reeling silk exercises if they take their training far enough. The cat evades and counters without hesitation or doubt. It moves.
Some things can be taught, whilst other things just occur.
You cannot teach someone to ride a bicycle. You just cajole and encourage. You do not really teach anything.Tai chi is not dance, gymnastics or boxing. Do not treat it like weight-lifting, either, and try to build muscles.
Over-training can harm your body and will reduce your enjoyment of the art.
Do less rather than more.
Stagger your training across the week and do a little every day.
If your training exceeds an hour a day then you are doing too much.
Even a skilled student should constantly trim off unnecessary exercises and keep their daily practice time down.
Qigong is intended to condition your body, to develop stamina and endurance.
But be wary of trying too hard.
If you find that your body is aching considerably and you feel really tired, you are doing the exercise incorrectly.
Let-go of your tension and relax into the posture.
Imagine that your arms are on strings or resting on something.
When in contact with another person, 4 ounces of pressure must be maintained.
This is not accomplished through effort.
Relax.
Let gravity do the work for you.
Beginners wear themselves out training qigong and partner work with too much tension.
Remember to use only the minimal amount of strength; use only what is necessary to hold your limb in place.
Anything more is wasted.
