How long will it take to get good at tai chi?

That entirely depends upon you. Everyone is different. There are so many variables.

Consider:

1. Have you set aside some time every day for practice?

2. How long is it?

3. Do you bring preconceptions with you to lessons?

4. What are your expectations?

5. Did you think it would be easy?

6. Are you open and receptive?

7. Do you have some plan/ambition in mind?

8. Are you studying the DVD's regularly?

9. Is tai chi part of your life or a one-a-week night school class?

10. Do you train with other students between classes?

11. Have you any existing health problems that might impede training?

12. Is your body entrenched in hard-style habits of resistance and stiffness?

13. When you train at home, is your recollection good or poor?

14. Do you respond well to corrections in class?

15. Can you admit your mistakes?

16. Do you learn from them?

17. Have you committed to private lessons as well as regular classes?

18. What is your awareness like?

19. If things do not work for you, do you become aggressive and push?

20. Where is your focus?

Your tai chi is only as good as you make it.

Tai chi syllabus

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...

Under pressure?

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) 

Acquiring tai chi skills

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.

 I don't stop when I'm tired.

 I only stop when I'm done.

(Marilyn Monroe)

Our next induction course is Monday 7th September.

New starters are welcome! 

The presence of the Way can be intuitively sensed,

but it cannot be pinned down in any way.

(Thomas Cleary)

Natural range

In tai chi you must always remain within your natural range of movement. Any stretching is done gently and never forced; the body is allowed to open by itself, rather than be put under duress.

By encouraging the joints to be free, mobility increases radically and the body can move more comfortably. Tai chi should never strain or hurt the body.

Some movements may feel uncomfortable if you have bad postural habits and this is to be expected - your body is already used to set movements and poise - and the tai chi is gently changing these.

Context

Tai chi requires the student to perform every movement in a comfortable, relaxed manner, whilst maintaining optimal structural alignment relative to the opponent.

At no time should your use of strength exceed 4 ounces of pressure, nor should you allow more than 4 ounces to be placed upon you.

Force is never used against force. Every action should be a whole-body movement rather than independent limb action.

There are no conventional punches or kicks; the body employs a whipping action to throw the limb out when striking.

Tai chi is circular in movement and application - it must follow the way of nature, the path of least resistance.

 Tai chi article

How

Tai chi is concerned with the how. It is process-oriented; paying attention to the way in which you do things rather than just the result.

The risk of injury in combat sports is especially high. To prevent injury, do the following: 1) Learn to warm-up well before any exercise, 2) Do everything possible to accelerate recovery between workouts.

(Frederic Delavier)

The value of reading

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEu0tx1_Zwk 

Purpose

Beyond the physical tai chi training there is a complex theoretical, philosophical, spiritual side to the art. People have spent centuries engrossed in its mysteries.

Being engaged in the unravelling of ancient secrets is a great reason to stay alive. You will need those 120 years.

Wear & tear

Suppose you buy a car in 2020 and use it very rarely. In 2026 you decide to sell the car and take it to a dealership.

The mileage is unusually low for a car of its age. Yet the car is still 6 years old chronologically. In terms of wear and tear the car is 6 months old.

Tai chi is about spending your energy frugally. That way, as you get older, your wear and tear is unusually low for a person of your age.

Tai chi for sustainable living

Long held to be an excellent anti-aging regime, tai chi may indeed be the perfect exercise (Harvard Medical School). The art is not as easy to learn as people seem to think.

It takes dedication, time, patience and the application of your mind as well as your body. The training is concerned with re-energising the body.

Low stress

Avoiding stress is crucial. Stressful situations and stressful people are downright toxic for your health. Stay away from them whenever you can.

Organise your life to reduce and (ideally) avoid stress.

Tai chi is the one exercise that can universally help solve our growing health crisis. It has stood the test of thousands of years. We have a generation of baby boomers with increasing health problems; old people who are sick, in pain, fearful, and cranky; a middle class that is increasingly incapable of affording most of the drugs that are prescribed for their ailments; children that are flaccid, diabetic and asthmatic. People of all ages are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sugar, cigarettes, and caffeine. Stress follows almost everyone like a shadow.

(Bruce Frantzis)

Do not retire

Often people retire from work only to become incredibly lazy or obsessively active. Lazy individuals refuse to do anything.

Manic characters go crazy in their attempt to stave off deterioration; often speeding up the process rather than retarding it.

In Asia, the preference is to remain gently active, to not actually retire as such. Instead of going crazy or slobbing out, keep occupied and continue to develop your body, mind and interests.

Our next induction course is Monday 7th September.

New starters are welcome!