Tai chi class or school?

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Tai chi class or tai chi school?

Most people never think to ask whether or not they want to attend a tai chi class or a tai chi school. The two are not the same.
It is worth considering the differences...


A tai chi class

Most tai chi classes in the UK are essentially drop-in sessions. Students attend as and when they feel like it. The teacher is often not qualified and there is no syllabus in place.
The attenders usually have a good time. They follow along with the group and do more or less the same things every week. Very little progress takes place but people enjoy being there.


What is commonly being taught in a tai chi class

According to The Journal of Asian Martial Arts, most tai chi classes in the world offer solo form (a sequence of moves), and a bit of qigong. Not many classes actually do pushing hands.
Some do sword form. Occasionally, teachers speak of self defence applications. Things like 'san sau' are very, very rare, and rarer still are classes that teach anything approaching an actual martial art.


A school

Newcastle Tai Chi is a tai chi school. As a school we offer:

• Professional instruction from a qualified instructor
• Cultivate healthy social relationships within a safe, friendly environment
• Fully-differentiated syllabus 
• Address individual health concerns & training requirements, tips & pointers, refinement & corrections, one-to-one assessment/feedback/guidance
• New material/insights every week
• Access to on-line resources and school DVDs, workshops, boot camp and class social events

Although we don't offer drop-in classes, we do encourage people to explore tai chi in whatever manner best suits the individual... If somebody wants to chill out on a Monday night, that's fine. If they want to work through the syllabus, that is great - Rachel will help them to do this.


Tai chi chuan (Chinese boxing)?

If an individual is seeking the martial art of tai chi chuan, this is taught by Sifu Waller.

• 13 areas of study
• Complete biomechanical understanding of form, along with exploration and application of The Tai Chi Classics
• Opportunity to study multiple tai chi forms, chin na (seizing), shuai jiao (take downs), self defence, form applications, weapons training, neigong (whole-body strength), jing (whole-body power), Taoism & Zen, martial principles & practical application, tai chi principles, meditation, brain work (meditation, awareness, metacognition)

This level of study is not going to happen via a drop-in class...


The purpose of a school

If you attend a night school class to learn Spanish, French Cuisine or how to paint, the lesson is simply teaching you the required skills.
The next step is to go home, speak Spanish, cook or paint. You learn through practice. Tai chi is like this. We show you how to do tai chi. Now, go home and practice the art for yourself.


Night school

Tai chi is not supposed to be a spa treatment or a chill out session. It requires the individual to mentally engage with the material - to deepen their knowledge and skill - to understand.
This makes the training far more stimulating and encourages long term interest in the art.


The 'vibe'

A tai chi school has an entirely different dynamic to a drop-in class. The school has a sense of community. People enjoy a shared experience and develop friendships that last many years. 


Not all tai chi is the same

Choose wisely... Not all tai chi classes are the same. There are different qualities and grades of tai chi; some approaches/classes are far more potent than others e.g. our school offers tai chi chuan. Not many modern tai chi classes teach kung fu.
 

Following some diligent research on-line and in the library I identified the handful of most highly qualified teachers in the country. Then was amazed to find one such teacher was right here in Newcastle. Having attended the school for a number of months now what is happening for me is nothing short of incredible. The strength and stability developing around my knees has put thoughts of joint replacements out of mind altogether. I've increased strength and muscle tone similar to when I attended a gym for years. But, without one drop of sweat! My energy level has also dramatically increased and sense of well being. As well as improved flexibility and movement, which I had expected. All this with only the right attitude and regular practice, no fancy equipment required.

What is required however is the right teaching. The quality and standard of the teaching at my school, and their whole approach to health and well being, is done with a level of integrity I would only have expected to find in the best schools in China itself. Not just teaching the movements but also the understanding behind the movements, which is necessary to properly benefit from Tai Chi. Their relaxed and friendly environment are helping with learning and practicing what can be a challenging skill to master.

I must be driving passed at least a dozen schools teaching Tai Chi on the way to my school every Monday. But would consider myself mad to even contemplate practicing Tai Chi anywhere else.

(Tony Jackman)

Page created 2 August 1995
Last updated 11 March 2024

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