Interpretation
Rick Faye,
my kali instructor in Minneapolis,
has an interesting view of the arts.
In a newsletter he wrote that at the origin of every 'traditional' martial
art was a creative individual, a rogue - someone usually outside the
tradition - who was different from his contemporaries. Unorthodox and
effective, he did what worked. What was communicated in the teachings of
these individuals was basically the techniques of their art. These
techniques were handed down and a 'traditional' martial art was established.
Sincere exploration is not supported in 'traditional' classes, but rather
obedience to the 'style'. Yet this is precisely what the founder undoubtedly
broke away from.
(Ron Sieh)
Every class is different
Beginners often notice that every school of tai chi approaches the art in their
own
way.
This is normal and to be expected.
Tai chi is a
folk art and the styles of teaching will
reflect this.
Our way
There are many aspects of the syllabus that will be different to how other
schools approach the material.
Every school has its own agenda and focus, and the way in which tai chi is
practiced will reflect the character of the teacher as much as anything else.
We are keen to avoid the 'cult of the personality' and feel that the teacher
should remain in the shadows rather than the forefront of the class.
Our syllabus follows martial science and the tai chi classics, rather than the
opinion of one individual.
Good teachers
Many teachers have influenced the way in which our school practices tai chi.
They have been a source of some excellent material and offer a variety of
perspectives on Yang Cheng Fu style tai chi.
The different approaches reflect the character of each individual and their own
respective influences.
Realise that the differences are not a question of right/wrong, better/worse,
martial/health - they are about values.
Everyone has different values and what people teach is an indication of what
they see as being important.
We can learn a lot from other people, but the composite product should be our
own.
Some of the teachers address how we think and how we use the body. These topics
are as important as the tai chi itself.
Led astray
In your quest for martial power, it is very easy to be led astray.
Gimmicks, short-cuts and secrets will promise you everything you desire.
The danger lies in the fact that you are inexperienced.
Your quest is based on your perception of what is important, of what is
necessary.
To a more experienced student, those same concerns may seem irrelevant or
misguided.
Secrets
Tai chi hides its
secrets in the open.
Your inability to comprehend them is a reflection of your own occluded nature.
To unlock tai chi, you must change yourself.
If you are not discerning and scientific in your study, years may be spent
practicing material that conflicts with the tai chi classics, and does not
really follow the way of tai chi.
Transcendence
Some people subscribe to the view that a student is defined by their teacher.
They believe that the student cannot exceed the teacher.
This is a 'lineage' approach and amusing when you consider people such as
Einstein or Mozart.
Clearly Einstein exceeded the sum of his teacher's expertise; he is considered
to be one of the most powerful thinkers of all time...
What was his physics teacher called?
Every good teacher wants the
student to exceed their own limitations.
Origin
No matter who your teacher is or how good they may seem, their art must
follow
tao.
Tai chi is performed in a taoist way. It follows the
teachings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
Understanding tao is as important as being taught good quality tai chi.
Studying tao will offer you new insights and deepen your understanding of what
tai chi is about.
Tai chi as a creative process
Whoever invented, developed or adapted tai chi
did so in order to accomplish certain requirements.
Perhaps they sought to counter specific weapons or allow for group attacks?
Maybe certain movements simply felt better if performed differently?
We will never know.
As a student, the challenge of tai chi does not
lie in the past but in the immediate.
We gain an understanding of the tai chi through the
doing of it, through the creative application of the forms and drills.
How we perform the tai chi and what we do with it must
be relevant to our time and our culture.
We do not live in medieval China.
People will most likely not attack you with spears, swords and metal fans.
What we do with the tai chi must be pertinent to now.
It is essential to breathe life into our practice and discover what lies at the
root of tai chi.
Newcastle Tai Chi classes
Our classes are a forum for discovery. They operate as workshops
for experimenting with tai chi.
If you want to just come along and copy, you are in the wrong school.
We want you to undertake your own journey of creation.
You need to be burning with imagination and curiosity, playing with every aspect
of the training - honing, adapting, changing and learning.
Making it yours.
You cannot wear somebody else's shoes. Be yourself. Do not try to be somebody
else.
Page created 3 December 2001