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Novelty
New students often fail to
make progress.
Typically they falter before they have even really started. How come?
Everything is new
Yes, the novelty is initially exciting.
But this passes and the student is left with the
intimidating realisation that they don't really know
anything.
Qigong & tai chi
All students commence training studying qigong & tai chi.
The student only moves from the qigong &
tai chi training onto tai chi once they have passed the
qigong ticksheet.
Not so easy
A new student must learn all manner of skills that are
unfamiliar to them:
Qigong exercises
Their previous knowledge and
life experience is often irrelevant. Or worse; it is an actual
impediment to progress.
Most people quit
The sad truth is that most students quit
before they've even got going.
They give up at the onset.
It is easy to talk about challenges but far
harder to endure them.
In order to function beyond the
use of ordinary strength, you must study what seems inconvenient and then work
to make it efficient.
(Kuo Lien-Ying)
Answer
The answer is to work hard until the new is no longer new.
Familiar
Once a student is adept at section 1 of the
form, it is far easier to learn section 2.
The same applies to qigong, partner work,
assignments and
applications.
Yes, there are new and intimidating things
to learn.
There always will be.
But much of the syllabus is merely a variation on
a theme.
Get used to it
Once you get used to doing something, it no longer seems like work.
It actually feels easy.
e.g. a student who learns the entire pattern
of the Long Yang form normally has no difficulty mirroring the sequence or
learning a weapons form. At some point, the student gets the knack of doing it.
A rut
People who don't quit usually settle into a
comfortable rut.
They attend class, have a good time and feel great.
They are resigned to the fact that they are unlikely to really penetrate the
mysteries of the art.
Progress
The advantage of working through the basics and
lower grades as quickly as
possible is that once climbed, the hurdle is gone.
There are always challenges but the newness of tai chi is long forgotten.
Variations, permutations, possibilities and options are fascinating rather
than intimidating.
Anything unfamiliar is embraced rather
than rejected because the foundation training
enables the student to cope with the challenge.
Priority
Climbing over the hurdle has to be the priority
during the early stages of the syllabus.
Aim to set time aside - regularly - between classes in order to
practice qigong, form and read the
books for the assignments.
This will ensure strong, steady progress.
Concentrated practice in
the early stages of an endeavour dramatically improves the value of
future
practice.
(Michael Gelb)
Worth reading
•
The basics
• White belt
•
A method
•
Know the basics
•
Self-differentiating
•
You make it happen
Page
created 21 May 2007
Last updated
30 November 2023
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