Tai Chi Chuan is, to Western eyes, an unusual
way to exercise. It is not the usual sweaty workout expected in order to build
muscle and lose weight.
The first and most common impression that young
students have upon seeing this slow and almost-no-impact exercise is “this is
for elders, not for me.”
Tai Chi is an ART ; a slow cook, not a deep fry. It’s not fast
food or a magic supplement. Young students often do not stay in class long
enough to digest this art which can maintain the body for a lifetime.
If you are a student who has hesitated to try
Tai Chi, or if you are ready to leave class after just one try or a look or
two, we suggest that rather than just quitting, you try some of the following
guidelines and go to your teacher for some advice and encouragement.
Tip:
Watch for Details During Class
The biggest challenge for beginners is trying to
quickly grasp each movement seen in class. That is a difficult challenge which
can require great patience when progress seems so slow. The trick is to watch
your instructor!
A good teacher will put together slow, segmented
movements to let you see the details. Watch closely, and try to replay them in
your mind after you have left class.
Here are the details you can watch for:
1.
Step: Watch
which foot holds the body’s weight.
(The other foot should be weightless.) Notice how the body weight changes with a step forward or a step backward. Notice the
direction the toes are facing and how that changes with each step. When the
foot is lifted, notice if it turns with the ball or with the heel, and if it
lands on the ball or the heel.
2.
Body: Notice
whether the body turns to the left or the right as it moves forward and
backward.
3.
Hands: Notice
when the hands move from left to right or right to left, from up to down or
down to up, from inside to outside or outside to inside. Notice which direction
palms are facing.
4.
Eyes: The eyes
should not stare, but should gaze through the upper, moving hand most of the
time.
5.
Coordination: As you
become more familiar with the movements of the step, body, hands, and eyes,
look for how they coordinate with one another. For example, one hand will move
forward and the other hand will move down.
Tip:
Class Structure
Our classes are carefully designed to have:
Warm
Up to
limber up all joints.
Easy Energy
Development to practice fixed
step movements that extracted from the forms.
Single
Movement Practice
to learn details and develop expertise in a particular movement.
Form
and/or Routine Practice
to gain familiarity with an entire form.
Movements are carefully explained for your
level, then reviewed again in the next session to make corrections and to allow
you to catch up if you miss an occasional class.
Tip:
Names of Movements
Click here to get the name list for the Yang
style 24 form.
Ask your teacher for a list of names of the
movements for any other forms you are studying.
Our Chinese ancestors created these names in
order to help students memorize the “body vocabulary” of each movement. In the
old days, Tai Chi Masters required students to sing aloud the name of each
movement while practicing. If you will do the same, it will help you master the
sequence of the form quicker until you can perform it on your own.
Each name actually describes a posture that
connects two movements. Each posture is a slight pause. In Chinese, this is
called Ding Shi, the Pause Posture.
All names are vivid descriptions or analogies. “White Crane Spreads its Wings,”
“Wave Hands like Clouds.”
Click http://taichitoday.blogspot.com/2015/02/taichi-24-form-name-list.html to get 24 form name list.
Tip:
Visit with Other Students
Always feel free to ask the students around you
in the class for advice or explanations. They have also been beginners, and are
always glad to help others. Discussions between students will always expose
some interesting thoughts, insights, and questions.
Tip:
Class is not Equal to Practice
Because a class has very limited time, a common
problem for new students is lack of practice. Sadly, attendance at and learning
in class is not enough of a commitment. Students should take what they can from
class and repeat it at home on their own. To master even the rough appearance
of a movement, the movement should be repeated at least 100 times a week.
Practice, practice, practice -- for yourself and
for your teacher. Tai Chi teachers never want their students to say “I learned
a new thing today, but I already forgot what I learned yesterday.”
Take notes if you can, very few students
prepared to take notes!
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