Accuracy | ||
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What is accuracy?
Accurate means 'to be free from error'. In
tai chi, what would you consider an error to be?
Failure to copy what the master is doing?
Postural faults, misalignment?
Holes in your applications?
Lack of groundpath?
Any number of criteria could be considered in terms of accuracy, but you
need to ask yourself: what is the most important concern?
Surely the first concern must always be your physical
wellbeing?
Awareness
Many students are more interested in learning applications or form movements
rather than having awareness.
Tai chi is found in the quality of the
exercise, not the amount.
If you practice tai chi with awareness, feeling how every step and
movement affects your body, you are less likely to
injure yourself.
In-built mistakes?
You may be capable of copying your teacher's form exactly and doing precisely
what they do, with no errors.
Yet, the form itself may have positions that put a
strain on your joints.
If the angle of a step is too far or if you are
overstretching - you may be loading the knee or
twisting it. A form may be ancient, but is it flawless?
Balance
Dr Paul Lam encourages students to explore tai chi carefully and safely.
By remaining balanced and moving
with constant awareness, there is far less risk of
injury.
If you follow the criteria of The Tai Chi Classics, listen to your body and
remain in the immediate moment - your practice will be
balanced.
Gauge
Accuracy is a kind of measurement.
If your intent is to be healthy, then you must
consider the accuracy of your practice relative to the
effect it has upon your body, rather than how the
tai chi looks.
Tai chi
contains essential principles, all of which are fundamental and similar in
the different styles. When you concentrate on the essential, you speed up
your progression, and you improve, no matter what style you do. Don't worry
about the minor details.
Focus your practise on these principles.
(Dr Paul Lam)
Page
created 2 April 1998
Last updated
16 June 2023
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