The physical | ||
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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:
Standing post
Leg stretches (set 1)
Leg stretches (set 2)
Cardio work (set 1)
Cardio work (set 2)
Yoga:
- back extension
- boat
- bound angle
- cobra
- downwards dog
- wide leg stretch (seated)
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)
Page
created 27 June 1996
Last updated
2 February 2014