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Archives for 2010

Lost In Repetition

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When I practice I occasionaly get ‘lost in repetition’ which is a bad habit.

The quality of my training suffers because my mind wanders or I’m focused on getting a certain amount of repetitions completed.

It is important that each repetition of a skill is performed correctly otherwise bad habits occur.

This is what I do to reduce the ‘lost in repetition’ effect;

  • Monitor what I am doing
  • Slow down the pace of the repetitions so as to avoid the tendency to speed through the set
  • Reduce the amount of repetitions if the quality is not there

It is the quality of the repetition of a skill not the quantity that will determine how much you improve.

Source: Tai Chi Tip #22

The Best Tai Chi Style?

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When I first started Tai Chi I couldn’t tell the difference between Wu Style and a slice of bread.

It was only after I had started that I discovered that there were several styles of Tai Chi and I was doing Wu style Tai Chi.

And I continue to practice Wu style Tai Chi. Atlhough I have dabbled in Michuan Tai Chi and Yang Tai Chi.

I’ve discussed and read many points of view on which Tai Chi style is the best. And some of those views have been controversial.

What is the best style?

Well, with my limited experience and talent all I can come up with is this.

It would take several lifetimes to comprehensively review and practice all the styles of Tai Chi available. Unless you believe in re-incarnation then this is not possible.

As long as the Tai Chi you are doing obeys the Tai Chi principals then that is ‘the best Tai Chi’.

So the best style of Tai Chi is the style you are doing right now.

Regardless what style you practice, we all part of the Tai Chi community.

Separated by name only.

Footnote: Imagine the possibilities of Tai Chi if more time was spent on practicing rather than arguing which is ‘the best Tai Chi style’ 😉

Rock ‘n’ Roll Tai Chi

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I was playing around with Blip and discovered this clip of Lou Reed performing Sunday Morning.

If you look to the left of the screen you will see Master Ren Guang-Yi, a Chen stylist, performing Tai Chi while Lou Reed is singing.

Hmm, looks like harmony made in heaven unlike the time I ran a Tai Chi workshop competing with an ear piecing band in the next room.

But that is another story.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uquBzrZlImY[/youtube]

Footnote: Check out Gene Ching’s article on ‘Lou Reed on Tai Chi’

Push Or Shove Tai Chi

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One of the techniques I practice each day is the ‘push.’

And there is a difference between a push and a shove when it comes to Tai Chi.

In the Tai Chi Chuan Treatise by Chang San Feng there is a line ‘…. if there is a front  there is a back’  (‘When attacking or defending on one side, you must be aware of the other side’).

Here’s my interpretation of this in regards to a push.

When you are pushing an opponent forward be aware of the reverse direction.

Try this concept on a punching bag.

Hold your arms out in front of you, elbows bent and push the bag and see what happens.

If upon contact the bag swings away from you  then you are shoving and not pushing because you have not paid attention to ‘the other side’ i.e. the reverse direction.

Now try it again by focusing on the reverse direction while you are pushing forward.

If the bag hardly moves then you are correctly pushing and not just shoving.

It took me many attempts to get to a basic skill level.

It’s not easy, have a go and let me know what happens.

Footnote: Quote from Dr Yang Jwing-Ming Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Vol. 1

Tai Chi – Miracle Cure?

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Is Tai Chi a miracle cure for your problems?

Is it the best fighting art?

In two words, no and no.

It’s not Tai Chi that will provide you with a miracle cure.

The miracles you are looking for may occur if you do two things.

  1. Keep an open mind
  2. Practice

Very simple concepts that are difficult to do because it requires discipline.

So the next time you read about the miracle of Tai Chi, ground yourself in reality and focus on the above concepts.

If you do your Tai Chi, wellbeing, and self defence skills will improve gradually.

Footnote: There are no free yum cha’s in Tai Chi. Only practice.