Fast-track | ||
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Fast-track
The 'inner school' offers serious depth and is not for the half-hearted
student. Indoor tuition is aimed at people who want fast-track
progress through the tai chi syllabus.
Can you become a fast-track student?
If a student is seeking a faster rate of progress, they need:
Skill with form
Work the mind as hard as the body - assignments, reading, meditation
Frequent exposure to the material
Heavy repetition of basic elements
Practice in class with a variety of partners
A commitment to daily home training
There are
no shortcuts, quick fixes or secret methods to
assist you.
There is just practice.
What's the rush?
Every student is expected to proceed at their
own pace.
We accommodate all ability levels.
However, if you possess the skill and the
inclination to practice, then why dawdle?
If you can,
do...
The lower grades lay the
foundation for the
art.
It is prudent to work hard to get through these grades ASAP.
They introduce the applications, the weapons and the
skills.
The deeper you penetrate the
syllabus, the more
powerful
your skills will be.
Aging
Dawdle whilst young and the dreams of youth will become the regrets of
maturity...
The ideal is to make as much progress as you can whilst your youth,
lifestyle and family
situation offer this opportunity.
Typically speaking, the older you get, the slower your progress will be.
This is to be expected.
Train hard
whilst you can
A 40 year old may
have the patience and the life experience to appreciate tai chi but a 20
year old has the drive
and the stamina to pass the grades.
As people age, they
struggle to learn and they struggle to change.
Work hard
in your youth. Be
moderate in middle age.
If you can make serious progress in your youth, you will enjoy the
benefits throughout
most of your life.
You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as
though a fire were raging in your hair.
(Zen mondo)
Ambition
Many people dream of becoming a martial arts
expert. Very few people accomplish this dream.
Everyone who became a master
started out as a student and became an indoor student.
This is the Way.
Realistic
goals
Your mind may want certain skills in a particular time frame, but maybe your body lacks the
coordination or
you have not set the necessary time aside.
Be patient. Be realistic. Do not be silly. Everyone has limits. Do what feels right for you...
Motivation
Students often comment that they lack the
willpower to train
hard. This is a misconception.
Work
You go to work in order to earn money. If
you could earn money without going to work, you would.
So, the act of going to work (for many people) is reluctant.
This requires willpower.
You recognise that work pays for your food, shelter, belongings and quality
of life.
Therefore you have self-discipline: you acknowledge the purpose of going to
work and you go.
Tai chi training is not like this.
Enjoyment
If you enjoy doing something, and have a genuine enthusiasm for it, you do
not need to be persuaded.
You do not need self-discipline.
Does a thirsty man need to be persuaded to drink water?
Your idea of what training constitutes
If you see tai chi training as being akin to the
gym, you are still a novice.
There is no strain, no forcing involved in tai chi.
The exercises are not strenuous or painful.
Weight training, cycling, swimming or any other
sport - they drain your
energy.
Internal training
Qigong and tai chi are not easy, but instead of tiring you
out, they have the opposite effect.
Your body feels nimble, agile, relaxed and comfortable.
Your skeleton is not distorted by body building and your system is not
addicted to endorphins.
The exercises sharpen the mind, increase acuity and calmness.
The nerves are smooth and the emotions settled.
The great leap forward
Setting yourself targets is worthwhile but not for everyone. Realistic
learning goals can help a fast-track student focus their training.
Look at your
progress page and determine what you need to work on and get through it.
Ask for tuition in class, attend the relevant workshops, read the
appropriate books and web
pages.
Page created 2 March 1995
Last updated
16 June 2023
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