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Comfort zone
Humans are biologically predisposed to remain within their comfort zone.
This is the essence of laziness.
It is an energy saving measure.
Rather than exert energy seeking new endeavours we remain where we are.
The problem with this is stagnation and deterioration. The world around us in
flux; continual change.
We are not.
The unfamiliar
Tai chi new starters often comment that the
exercises feel weird, unfamiliar, unnatural, odd or counter-intuitive.
Good.
Such responses reflect that fact that the person is experiencing something
new.
They are no longer in their comfort zone.
Avoid comfort
The only thing that should concern a tai chi
student is the danger of feeling comfortable. This would signify the end of learning.
The plateau
At some stage people expect to reach a plateau where things become
familiar.
They can then settle into a new comfort zone.
They can experience security.
In learning, there are no plateaus.
If you have found one, then you have stopped
learning. You have become complacent and
smug.
Complacency
Complacency signifies an end of growth and development.
Instead of delving deeper, reading more,
uncovering new insights, the complacent person has stopped
learning altogether.
They are resting on their laurels.
Everything they do is within the realm of the familiar, the
known.
Boredom
Tai chi people seek to avoid complacency by
learning new forms, visiting travelling
masters and acquiring new
skills.
To some extent this is good.
It may show a desire for growth.
But it can also reflect restlessness,
boredom and the yearning for
novelty and
entertainment.
Immaturity is the craving for
greater and wider experience.
(Krishnamurti)
Pick a style
Pick one style and stick to it.
Providing your teacher is good,
any bona fide style of tai chi can offer
everything you need to penetrate the
mysteries of the art.
Collecting forms and styles reflects restlessness
rather than knowledge and insight.
It takes you further from the
truth, not nearer.
Go deeper
Instead of looking outside of yourself for
answers, look within.
Explore what you are doing.
See how it operates.
Discover for yourself
Traditionally students were
required to discover and develop their own martial
applications employing the principles of
the art.
The role of the instructor was to poke holes
in these; suggest improvements and encourage
further ideas.
Given that every form movement contains at least
7 applications, many more can be
uncovered.
Sophistication
The subtlety of your applications is contingent
upon practice,
experience, continual refinement and a
deeper grasp of the
principles.
The greater your understanding
of the nature of the art, the more skilful your
application will be.
Remember that 'understanding' is a
physical expression, not just
chit-chat.
Reverse engineering
Beyond form application is the consideration of tai chi biomechanics, neigong
(whole-body movement) and the leverage/anatomical precepts contained within
jing, shuai jiao and
chin na.
In essence the student is required to figure out how tai chi is
constructed, how
it works and why.
This requires an immense degree of familiarity with one
style of tai chi and no leaves no room whatsoever for complacency, boredom or
form collecting.
Page created
2 September 1998
Last updated
16 June 2023
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