Health-only
The art of teaching is clarity and the art
of learning is to listen.
(Vanda Scaravelli)
Health-only
If you have no
interest in learning tai chi as a martial art, you are quite welcome to attend
lessons as a health-only student.
You will be taught a physically and mentally challenging curriculum, but no self
defence at all.
Partner work will be limited.
Classes will focus upon flexibility, suppleness, relaxation, mobility,
strength building and boosting your energy.
Over 50's
Our instructor taught tai chi to the over 50's for 7 years at Age
Concern in Newcastle and Age Concern North Tyneside.
Sifu Waller's students were of all ages and had a variety of health conditions.
He had referrals from Freeman Hospital and medical students visited his class
regularly.
Key concerns:
· Alignment
· Balance
· Coordination
· Fall prevention
· Mobility
Sifu Waller's classes have been featured in the local newspapers.
Belts
There are two belts in the health-only syllabus:
Silver
Gold
Silver indicates
beginners level.
Gold symbolises an experienced student.
Grades
Class members work through a comprehensive
non-martial syllabus designed to provide a thorough understanding of health-only
tai chi:
Silver 1
· 3 circle qigong
· 4 directions – forwards & backwards
· 4 directions – to the side
· Cloud hands
· Opening & closing – to the side
· Plate exercise
· Post
· Pushing peng
Having been graded, the student is entitled to wear the
silver belt in class.
Silver 2
· 4 directions – with a partner
· Ba duan jin (8 exercises)
· Form posture qigong
· Full circle qigong (8 postures)
· Monkey paws
· Moving qigong (15 exercises)
· Palm at 3 distances
· Posture testing
· Pushing hands
· Yielding exercise
· Challenge - full circle qigong
Silver 3
· Yang Cheng Fu form (section 1)
· Breath meditation
· Central equilibrium exercise: maintain
centre
· Eyes closed-walking
· Pushing legs
·
Stick drills (set 1)
· Challenge -
form drilling
·
Challenge - stick drills (set 1)
Required reading:
· Chuang Tzu (Thomas Merton)
Silver 4
· Leg stretches (set
1)
· Meditation on emotions
· Qigong development
· Stick drills (set 2)
· Challenge - qigong development
· Challenge - stick drills (set 2)
Required reading:
· There Are No Secrets
Silver 5
· Yang Cheng Fu form (section 2)
· Pushing peng exercise
· Stick drills (set 3)
· Assignment #1 interpret a koan
· Challenge -
form drilling
· Challenge - stick drills (set 3)
Required reading:
· Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its
Power)
Silver 6
· Knife drills
· Leg stretches (set 2)
· Meditation on body sensations
· Yielding basic skills
· Assignment #2
write a haiku
· Challenge - knife
drills
Required reading:
· The Inner Way
Silver 7
· Yang Cheng Fu form (section 3)
· Broadsword drills
· Form posture qigong (60/40)
·
Qigong: column 2
· Challenge - form drilling
· Assignment #3 interpret a koan
Required reading:
· The Little Zen Companion
Silver 8
· Yang Cheng Fu form (mirrored)
· 16 elbows
· High circle qigong
· Neigong (1)
· Standing post with arms
· Assignment #4 write a poem
· Challenge - form
drilling
Required reading:
· Zen in the Art of Archery
Gold 1
· Broadsword form
(regular & mirrored)
· 13 postures
· Double pushing hands
· Massage
· Assignment #5 interpret a koan
· Challenge - broadsword form
· Challenge - double pushing hands
Required reading:
· Commentaries on Living volume 2
Having been graded, the student is entitled to wear the
gold belt in class.
Gold 2
· Staff form (regular & mirrored)
· Da lu
· Neigong (extras)
· Qigong on one leg
· Assignment #6 interpret a koan
· Challenge - da lu
· Challenge - staff form
Required reading:
· Wabi-sabi (Koren)
Gold 3
· Cane form (regular & mirrored)
· First hand/second hand
· Folding
· Stretches & joint work
· Assignment #7 interpret a koan
· Challenge - cane form
Required reading:
· The Way To Love
Gold 4
· 2 person cane form/drill (regular & mirrored)
· Large rhythm, small rhythm
· Neigong (2)
· Small stick drills
· Small stick flexibility drills
· Assignment #8 interpret a koan
· Challenge - 2 person cane form
· Challenge - small stick drills
Required reading:
·
Sword & Brush
Gold 5
· Straight sword form
(regular & mirrored)
· Latent movements
· Neigong (3)
· Psoas exercises
· Challenge -
straight sword form
· Assignment #9 interpret a koan
Required reading:
· The Essence
of Tai Chi Chuan
Gold 6
· Bone marrow washing
· Jing
· Neigong (4)
· Open & close
· Qigong: column 3
· Reverse breathing
· Stretches & joint work
(set 2)
· Unite upper & lower
· Yin/yang
· Assignment #10 interpret a koan
Required reading:
· In Praise of Shadows
· The Book of Tea
Gold 7
· Pao chui form (slow)
· Neigong (5)
· Pre-natal breathing
· Reeling silk
· Rhythm
· Small circle
· Sung
· Tortoise breathing
· Assignment #11 interpret a koan
· Challenge - pao
chui form drilling
Required reading:
· Journey to the West
Gold 8
· Jiang Rong Qiao form (regular & mirrored)
· 6 direction changes
· 8 palm changes
· Assignment #12 interpret a koan
·
Challenge -
6 direction changes
· Challenge - 8 mother palms
· Challenge - baguazhang form drilling
Required reading:
· Back to
Beginnings
Page created 28 January 1995