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Martial syllabus
When your teacher demonstrates something for you, you are obligated to
practice it,
or else you may invoke the following consequences of your own free will:
1. Your teacher may not correct you because your actions have shown that
you did not really want to learn the skill.
2. You will not achieve the skill.
3. If you learn the next stage of the skill, it will be weak because it has
no foundation.
4. Your skill will not rise to a high level until your attitude changes.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Neigong
The training is concerned with strength-building, whole-body movement, self
defence and fundamental weapons work.
We practice a very comfortable, natural approach to tai chi.
Neigong eases new
students into health, and provides the coordination, balance and
strength required for tai chi.
It provides the foundation level of strength required for tai chi.
Combat approaches
The internal power training enables the student to employ their
neigong in different ways.
Students in our school explore a range of different internal methods:
Chin na
- cavity press
- dividing the muscles
- misplacing the bones
- floor work
- projections
- sealing the breath
- throwing
Each of these approaches adds a new dimension to your skill.
These skills are trained from the very beginning of the syllabus.
Grappling
Grappling is given
greater emphasis initially because it enables you to incapacitate the attacker
with restraint.
Legally, this is preferable.
The grappling work is diverse and varied.
Striking
Striking is a challenging aspect of the curriculum that requires students to
learn a very different way of using the body.
The use of weight, whole body power, energy release (fa jing), speed and being
hit are all addressed.
Students learn to recognise the difference between striking and pushing.
Knack
Self defence is all about natural responses, comfortable, easy movements and
knack.
It is not about remembering
techniques.
Over the weeks, months and years your body develops an
instinctive sense of what to do.
This knack is essential. Most of
our
material was designed to cultivate the knack of
tai chi.
Revision and refinement
At the end of each grade the student is required to revise everything
they have studied so far.
This is an important task.
Faults, misconceptions and inaccuracies can be addressed.
New insights and considerations can be introduced.
Evolving syllabus
The syllabus is not fixed, it is constantly being refined and developed.
New insights and stimuli are fed into the classes so that everyone can
benefit.
Influences
Much of the
syllabus has been
developed from/inspired
by the teachings of
Tony Buzan, Cheng Man Ching,
C K Chu, Chu King-hung,
Chungliang Al Huang,
Edward De Bono,
Bruce
Frantzis, Huanchu Daoren,
Liz Koch,
Krishnamurti, Lam Kam Chuen,
Paul Lam, Bruce Lee, Dave Lowry, Miyamoto Musashi, Erle Montaigue, Ron Sieh, Mike
Sigman,
Peter Southwood, Sun Tzu, Geoff Thompson, Yang Jwing-Ming and others.
Taoism and zen have also helped to shape the way in which we approach
things.
Taoism
We have learned a great deal from studying taoism and encourage our students to
do the same.
Reading
Tao Te Ching and
Chuang Tzu will help students to explore the way in which the physical world operates.
The books examine the how/the nature of reality and suggest that aligning oneself
with the essence of
reality might be good for health and wellbeing.
These books inspired both the culture and the principles which produced
tai chi.
Home
study
You must train according to your disposition.
Some people will commit quite a lot of time to home study, others none.
What you do at home will seriously affect your progress.
If you really want to be able to use tai chi, you should consider home study.
Any martial art requires commitment. Classes should only represent a small
fraction of your training.
If you are keen, this should be appealing.
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Page created 25 January 1999