02 February 2006

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

John asked me to write an intro to Tai Chi and a little about the old BTCCA for a business associate. This is what emerged. Fond memories.

Background

T'ai Chi Ch'uan (usually shortened to Tai Chi) is an internal Chinese martial art – one that uses softness and energy to counter aggressive force. It is named after the famous Tai Chi symbol – the yin/yang circle symbolising the dynamic interaction of the two primal forces of male & female, hard & soft. Ch'uan simply means fist or boxing. Central to T'ai Chi is the concept of yielding – the idea that the adept, without retreating, meets hardness with his softness and absorbs and redirects that hardness back into the opponent. This is achieved with superior sensitivity and subtle turns of the body. It takes many years to master. There are two sides to the Tai Chi coin: the solo Form, a slow and graceful “dance” performed alone in which the student works with the principles of Tai Chi – relaxation, sinking, turning, roundness, etc., and the partner work (Pushing Hands) which involves yield-attack exercises, done very gently to begin with, but gradually, over the years, increasing in intensity and ferocity to eventually emulate real fighting exchanges.

The Chinese have a saying that to learn Tai Chi one needs three things: correct teaching, hard work, and talent, in that order of importance. Correct teaching is vital. It is very important that the teacher comes from a respected lineage – an unbroken line of great masters going back to the originator of the art, and it is crucial that the teacher has received what we call “a transmission of energy” - an unspoken aspect of the teaching which a teacher imparts and embeds in the student at various times in their relationship. This hidden teaching is energetic and will variously come to express itself, often many years after teacher and student have parted company, as long as the student continues to practice sincerely. Without these transmissions the teaching is not alive.

The Tai Chi Centre

Learning Tai Chi is very much a graduated path: one starts at the beginning and gradually builds the Form, adding new postures weekly. Once the Form is complete a new more elaborate one is started. The Tai Chi class usually contains one chief instructor (an advanced student of the Grand Master), various assistants (keen, talented and hard working students who are being groomed for eventual instructor status), and the students. The class commences with gentle partner work allowing students to informally relax for 20 minutes or so after arriving. Then a 30 minute series of simple Ch'i Gung exercises are performed to prepare for the Tai Chi Form. The Form work involves the revision of postures taught in previous weeks, followed by the teaching of new postures. At this stage in the class the Grand Master will come in to demonstrate the correct way of doing things, and to physically adjust each persons posture (including instructors and assistants). He will also give a short pertinent talk about some important aspect of the art to help inspire the students to practice correctly at home during the rest of the week. The Grand Master's presence is vital to learning because he embodies the internal aspects of the art – his energy, bearing and understanding are Tai Chi. The class finishes with more Form practice, often splitting into smaller more intimate groups, each led by an assistant, and then a final exercise done with a partner to round things off. Tea is provided at the end of each class and students are encouraged to stay and chat with their comrades for a good 20 minutes or so.

The experience of the class is relaxing, energising and uplifting. A confined group of 20 to 30 people all working on energy, with energy, but also softly, respectfully and together – is always going to be intense. It also gives everyone the opportunity to touch what we call the perfection of Tai Chi – a feeling of total connectedness, with the Tai Chi, with ones own faculties, and more importantly with the others in the room. We stress from day one that unless the Tai Chi you learn and practice actually improves your humanity – your ability to connect to and be generous with fellow beings, then you are wasting your time. We also stress to students that no matter how tired they are after work, try to make the class and we guarantee they will feel better by the end.

Our Tai Chi naturally encourages a culture of respect and generosity, and the school is built on this. With so many classes per week, each at a different stage, the school feels active, exciting and welcoming. Sunday afternoons are devoted to the largest class of the week – the Revision Class – which students attend to either catch up on classes they may have missed, or simply to revise postures they are unsure of. Most of the instructors and assistants also attend so each student is usually guaranteed at least some individual attention. This class can stretch well into the evening, and students have always said how it sets them up for the working week. Once a month day-long Intensives are also held. These can be attended by all, including students of Tai Chi from outside the school – students of students or of other Masters. Often people travel from afar to attend these popular events, and friendships are struck allowing our own students the opportunity to travel with their Tai Chi to other schools. Networking like this is very much in the spirit of Tai Chi.

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