M
y first Tai Chi teacher Professor Huo Chi Kwan taught that Tai Chi Chuan is boxing for physical and mental health, the self-defense is secondary. However, self-defense is the key to harvesting the physical and mental benefits. The self-defense serves as a metaphorical Rosetta Stone. Like the Rosetta Stone which helped scholars interpret ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, studying self-defense is the key which unlocks the art's secrets. New Tai Chi Chuan students face a special challenge. Far too many Tai Chi Teachers have little or no understanding of Tai Chi's martial Professor Huo and Alan Ludmer with Tuey aspects. They see the martial as confrontational, unnecessary, and Staples onlooking — 1975 way too scary. These teachers can be kind, decent and certainly well meaning people, but if they don't understand the martial, they are limited in what they can teach. I understand that they just want Tai Chi's health benefits. The older I get, the more I too want and need the health benefits. However, you can't get the physical and mental benefits without understanding the martial aspects. My initial martial arts exposure was all about fighting. I began with boxing and Shotokan Karate. It was rough, tough, and real old school. I loved it. Yet, when I was first exposed to marital Tai Chi Chuan, I was entranced with its grace, power and elusiveness. However, I quickly discovered that learning proved challenging. Long complex forms made little sense. Softness and relaxation were completely counter initiative to my external training. Fortunately, Professor Huo, was able to use the martial aspects as a teaching vehicle. It provided critical basics for my understanding of Tai Chi. This article will introduce several concepts based on my personal experience and exposure to great teachers. I believe that these are critical to beginning Tai Chi study, no matter if your goal is martial, health or both. This article isn’t meant to be comprehensive, nor an in-depth thesis. It is not a criticism of anyone else’s approach. There are many ways to master an art. Tai Chi is a life long learning experience, and after 50 year plus years of study, I still have more questions than answers. Conceptual Overview Tai Chi study should initially address key concepts critical to understanding Tai Chi. Concepts help us to see the big picture. They give us an idea of where does Tai Chi help us go and how does it help us get there. I believe that there are two core Tai Chi concepts: 1. Tai Chi Chuan is built upon specific concepts/principles which enable you to be in the present or what psychologists would call a state of heightened situational awareness. Being present allows you to respond appropriately to any physical, mental, emotional, etc situation. The concepts are presented in a martial format which is an ultimate reality therapy. If a punch is coming at your nose, you better be awake. The better you understand the concept of what awareness entails, the more your art will grow. 2. TCC principles are contextual. Specific situations dictates what and how concepts are applied. It is said that the only constant in life is change. The martial echoes this with teaching to expect the unexpected. Dependent upon your level of understanding, principles can be modified and even changed to reflect various situations. Tai Chi is an art of infinite flexibility and constant change.
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