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Our tai chi
Okinawan karate became more sophisticated by
continuing relationships with Chinese combat arts experts, Okinawans
began concentrating on some of the finer details, especially those of
the Chinese internal arts like tai chi. These arts stress subtle muscle
movements and the stretching of tendons and ligaments. Anything that
reflected a Chinese influence would have been highly regarded and
recognised as advanced.
(Dave Lowry)
Modern culture
Our culture has embraced the superficial; fads, trends, fashions,
celebrity...
People are seldom prepared to be patient and put in the work.
They want a quick fix. They want immediate results.
You cannot apply this same attitude to tai chi.
Could you play Mozart after a couple of piano lessons?
Modern tai chi
Tai chi is often imitated by people who like the idea of tai chi.
Dancers, martial artists and performers copy the appearance of the art, and
sometimes even claim to be teaching it.
Many classes focus on 'form', as though form were somehow the whole of tai
chi rather than just a fraction of the training.
'Form collecting' occurs when an instructor fails to understand the purpose
of form.
Other classes pitch the art at old age pensioners, and ignore the martial
syllabus entirely...
A simplistic perception of tai chi leads people astray.
Progress
We offer students a clear path of progress through our
syllabus.
They know where they are, what they should be working on and have an idea of
what comes next.
At each stage of the curriculum the student possesses clearly defined skills
that can be proven in practice.
We know how to organise material in a structured manner and teach it
systematically.
This way, each student is free to progress at their own pace.
Functional
We offer a functional approach.
Everyone learns how to use their body in a more healthy way.
Martial students explore the physics of movement, seeking optimal
application in kung fu combat.
Challenge
Learning an advanced form of kung fu is not easy.
It involves a lot of time, patience, practice and commitment.
We want students to delve beyond the surface; to
understand how tai chi operates, and how the principles can be applied in
everyday life.
Martial art
Learning
tai chi as a martial art requires commitment.
The student must invest time, money, attention and patience.
They must suffer set-backs, frustration and quite a few bumps & bruises.
The journey will be anything but easy.
Tai chi employs three areas of skill for defeating an opponent in combat:
Shuai jiao (grappling)
Chin na (seizing)
Jing (energy expression)
As well as gaining valuable
martial skills, you must learn how to strengthen the body, protect yourself
from injury and become seasoned to combat.
A living art
A living martial art must address the needs of times, the opponents of the
age, the weapons of the era.
Right now that means: multiple opponents, knives, chains, sticks, baseball
bats, batons etc...
You (the defender) will be unarmed.
Most of your life will not involve physical combat.
You will be faced with psychological, emotional and physical challenges
every day: stress, health, work, family, fear, driving.
A living art must address the nature of your interaction with life.
It must furnish you with the means to cope with a wide variety of attacks;
very few of which will involve physical violence.
Grass roots
We adopt a 'grass roots' attitude to tai chi, going right back to the
basics.
Students explore the human body, physics, biomechanics, principles and
martial theory.
The syllabus is lengthy and thorough, but you can study it at your own pace.
Re-learn
In conventional martial arts training a student uses aggression, strength
and speed to defend themselves.
Tai chi applications are somewhat different, more sophisticated.
It takes time, patience and perseverance to learn new ways of using the
body; new ways of perceiving things.
A receptive mind and a degree of talent is necessary.
Page created 2 March 1995