The physical
Tai chi eligibility
     

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Tai chi for health & fitness

Faced with a major health crisis in the 1950's, the People's Republic of China turned to the old Yang style tai chi for a solution.
They wanted a form of exercise that could be performed by students of all ages. The simplest way to achieve this was to remove the more demanding fitness component and the combat.
Most modern tai chi classes are teaching an art that an old person could cope with... By definition this cannot conceivably be a martial art.


Conventional martial arts

In a typical martial arts class students spend a good hour going through a military-style warm-up routine before the combat practice starts. This usually takes half the night.


Tai chi

Tai chi has a far more sophisticated syllabus than mainstream martial arts and we don't want to waste the lesson warming-up.
The preferred alternative to a military-style warm-up routine is for the student to address their own fitness at home each day... Most people don't do this.
 

Compromise to please others is not as good as integrity that annoys others.

(Huanchu Daoren)

Martial attitude

Attending class and training that night is fine if you are a tai chi for health student. It can be a pleasant evening
of gentle exercise, relaxation and de-stressing.
But this is not a 'martial' attitude.


Fit for combat

Train at home or train in class; you get to
choose. You do it or we will. Students who neglect to take responsibility for their own
fitness level make it our responsibility.
You may not take it seriously, but we do.
 


MOT

The Ministry of Transport require all motorists to submit their vehicle to an annual roadworthiness test. We implement a similar policy when it comes to fitness.
Every time a student completes the training for a grade, they must undertake a physical. Failing the physical could mean 'rehab' work with the tai chi for health group rather than a new grade
.


Expect no charity


The physical is mandatory. Martial arts classes are potentially dangerous, and being in adequate condition is a safety prerequisite. If you injure your body, there may be long-term consequences. Combat training isn't like buying goods at the supermarket or the clothing store. You cannot just point at something and pay for it. Your thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, ambitions and fantasies won't mean anything if you are unfit for fighting and get hurt. It will be too bad, and too late.
Our only means of offsetting the risk of bodily harm is to ensure that you are in reasonable shape to start with. Hence the physical.


The physical

The physical was designed by Rachel in order to test a variety of different requirements:

  1. Baoding balls

  2. Standing post

  3. Leg stretches (set 1)

  4. Leg stretches (set 2)

  5. Cardio work (set 1)

  6. Cardio work (set 2)

  7. Yoga:
    - back extension
    - boat
    - bound angle
    - cobra
    - downwards dog
    - wide leg stretch (seated)

  8. Full circle qigong standing challenge (30 mins)

We want to scale the steepest cliffs to lofty heights.
But forget about ambition;
get on with the work of climbing,
this is what the sages tell us.
Vinegar has its own sweetness.

(Loy Ching-Yuen)

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Page created 27 June 1996
Last updated 2 February 2014