Dawn

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Tai chi chuan syllabus (13 areas of study)

Dawn has passed these belts:

  1. White 1

  2. White 2

  3. Yellow 1

  4. Yellow 2

  5. Orange

She is working through the green belt syllabus.  


Syllabus change

In 2023, the syllabus was changed in order to ease learning.
This meant that Dawn still needs to pass orange material before seeking to pass green. Dawn can work on green material but completing orange is her priority. 


2024 workshop attendance (15 minimum)

Dawn has not yet committed to the minimum number of workshops. In order to qualify for tai chi chuan study (and to grade), Dawn must attend at least 1 more workshop.

Tea Club

Dawn is a member of the Tea Club.
 

Very often, the victim of a blow is not actually injured by the serious force of the blow alone; he can harm himself greatly by panic and by violent contraction. The person who hardens his body, believing that physical strength will protect him, has fear within him. He has made presumptions. Moreover, that very rigidity of muscle, bone and sinew in his body can cause it to transmit the shock waves of a fast, focused blow.

(C W Nicol)
 

Tai chi chuan syllabus

White 1

Qigong exercises
- standing qigong/3 circle qigong
- full circle qigong
- form posture qigong
- ba duan jin (8 exercises)
- moving qigong (8 exercises)

Reeling silk exercises
- plate exercise
- 4 directions - forwards & backwards
- 4 directions - to the side
- Opening & closing - to the side
- Cloud hands

Pushing peng (intro)
Standing post

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

White 2

Partner work
- 4 directions with a partner
- central equilibrium – maintain the centre
- eyes-closed walking
- palm at 3 distances
- peripheral vision - mugger scenario
- posture testing
- yielding exercise
- 90°
- diamond stepping
- leading & following (eyes-closed)
- relative distance (tig)
- avoiding line of force (solo & melee)
- riding the attack
The ball game
Monkey paws
Pushing legs
Single pushing hands

Challenge – full circle qigong (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge – standing qigong (4 postures) (20 minutes x 4 weeks)

Yellow 1

 Long Yang form (section 1) (regular)
Ba duan jin #2 - alternate version
 Constructive rest
 Horse stance
How to escape from a hold
 Moving qigong (complete set)
 Partner work mistakes

 Challenge - form challenge (60 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - yielding exercise challenge (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

Recommended reading - The Sword Polisher's Record

Yellow 2

 Bracing
Fear of falling
 Floor work
- basics
- back-to-back
Hitting a focus mitt
 Horse stance qigong
 How to punch
Playing the attacker
- commitment
- range & reach
 Psoas exercises
Punching rehab
Challenge - horse stance qigong (5 mins x 4 weeks)
Challenge - qigong and reeling silk in 30 mins (30 mins x 4 weeks)
Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - Attitude & etiquette

 Recommended reading - There Are No Secrets

Orange
Long Yang form (section 2) (regular)
 High circle qigong
How to slip a hold
Knife drills
Loose striking
Yang style bow stance (intro)
Yielding basic skills

 Challenge - form challenge (section 2) (60 mins x 4 weeks)
 Challenge - knife drilling (30 mins x 4 weeks)
 Challenge - yielding basic skills challenge (30 mins x 6 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Q & A
Assignment #2 - A & E

Recommended reading - The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan - The Literary Tradition

Green

4 directions with a partner (no contact)
70/30 stance
Cat-stepping
 Countering
- 3 B's: blocking, blending & balance
- 4 stages
- fence
- X-shape
Leg stretches (2 sets)
 Monkey paws (5 hands)
Qigong development

Challenge - qigong development (40 mins x 4 weeks)

Assignment #1 - Cat stepping

Recommended reading - Peak

Greyed out items meet the required standard of skill.

school database

Page created 18 April 1995
 Last updated 29 February 2024
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