A taijiquan exponent seeks to have the supple, soft body they once had as a child. The joints are mobile and flexible, and the muscles move smoothly and easily.
Poise is good and the body is used naturally and comfortably. The mind is quiet and we listen to what the body is telling us.
The Chen form derived from battlefield military movements, where people wore medieval body armour that had to be compensated for. The Chen-style stances were specifically designed to achieve these compensations and obtain a workable position from which to realistically throw an armoured opponent.
By the time Yang had reached Beijing, times had changed. With the advent of firearms, battlefield armour became obsolete; hence, the need for techniques to deal with armoured foes had passed.
Yang and his students had to deal with situations encountered by bodyguards, not armies opposing each other.
(Bruce Frantzis)
How well you do is entirely down to you. Your capacity to coordinate the body, memorise, observe, comprehend and adapt will all be put to the test.
Yet, this is no competition. You do what you can, as you can. The class is for you. We are here to assist you. The process of learning takes as long as it needs to.
A professional syllabus is not the norm in tai chi; most schools do not have a formal syllabus. At best they have qigong, forms and drills - and these are taught in a habitual manner.
A curriculum needs to be very carefully thought through in order to build layer upon layer of understanding, body growth and internal development.
Every exercise has been systematically broken-down, explained and re-built. This is a very thorough process. All aspects of the syllabus interlock.
The material is self-reinforcing and challenges each student to understand tai chi for themselves.
The aim with differentiation is for all students to access the curriculum relative to each individual's ability. This means that those who struggle are assisted, those who do fine are developed and those who do well are challenged further.
Nobody actually wants to be hurt. Broken bones, concussion, bleeding and damage are not going to be found when training with Sifu Waller.
Aggressive martial arts classes can cause their students more harm than a real life attacker would - instead of learning to defend yourself, you are beaten up every week.
Be honest with yourself: what do you really want from your lessons?
There are no blocks in our taijiquan. Rather than block, we affect the incoming force in other ways.
Whole-body strength is commonly referred to as being "cotton-covered iron". The metaphor suggests a firm centre, surrounded by something softer.
This is the essence of what we are developing in taijiquan.
Being the martial arts equivalent of a bargain hunter will not get you internal skill. Focus on the one art, the one approach, the one system. This is the Way to skill. We teach the Yang system.
It involves learning qigong, form, and a whole range of ancillary drills and training methods. The material is extensive and thorough, relevant and related.
Progress in our taijiquan class is simply a question of tenacity. If you have the wherewithal to stick the syllabus, attend regularly and train at home, you will gain the skills.
Learning is not a haphazard process. Each student has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We have designed a sophisticated syllabus. It is fully differentiated. All you need to do is practice.
Taijiquan cannot work if you resist force with force. Yang (firm) must encounter yin (soft) in order for balance. This is not just philosophical, it has a basis in reality and can be illustrated in the class.
Soft meeting is sometimes called 'blending'.
Not everyone is as capable as everyone else. We all start from a different place and approach the material in our own unique way.
The curriculum we have devised ensures that every student who puts in the work will gain the skills. It is not a matter of natural ability, secrets or happenstance.
The syllabus is thorough and builds the necessary foundation. Everyone can benefit. Everyone can learn. Gaining the skills is not a matter of chance. If you have the commitment, we have the way.
Playing is the first step in mastering your own ego and overcoming your conditioning. Lao Tzu wrote: "master self before attempting to master others".
If you lack the control necessary to employ the taijiquan safely and carefully, you are still a beginner.
Humour is the greatest contribution you can bring to the practice; be good-natured, kind and light-hearted. When you stop taking yourself too seriously, you can begin to play in earnest.
If you can play for the fun of playing, then the syllabus will be an enjoyable experience.
Many studies have proven that 'exuberant play' is the most effective learning medium. With the stigma of violence, pain and injury removed, students are free to relax and explore at their leisure.
The paradoxical physics associated with taijiquan emphasises the importance of relaxing and letting-go.
Play encourages this.
In a 2008 Stanford University experiment taijiquan expert Chen Xiang generated a force 14 times his body weight when striking. 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds.
This 'soft' striking method is accomplished by keeping the muscles soft, the intention clear and undulating the entire body in a split-second wave of power. The body is soft, the effect is hard.
