Reflection

I stumbled upon Tai Chi many years ago when a friend of mine suggested I give it a go.

After my first lesson I was hooked for life.

It’s a fascinating journey which still continues because there are still higher mountains to climb in learning and teaching Tai Chi.

I don’t think I will ever reach a destination in Tai Chi but that’s okay because I don’t feel the need to ‘get there’ anymore.

Entering the many gates to continue the journey makes it a challenge and it’s also worthwhile from a health and self defence point of view.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on what Tai Chi means to me. What is it about it that resonates the most that encourages me to continue practicing and teaching?

Well, I feel it’s a gift that has been given to me. As it has been given to many many others over the centuries.

And I feel the responsibility to give the gift of Tai Chi to as many people as possible.

Why?

Because if you do then your Yin Yang energies are balanced in regards to giving and receiving.

That to me, in simplistic terms, is what Tai Chi is all about.

In the early years of my Tai Chi training my instructor would demonstrate a technique quickly and wait for a reaction from the class.

If we were confused at what we had seen he would say ‘clear as mud?’ and then laugh.

I’ve been thinking of what he’d said and now realise there was depth in that remark besides the humour.

As a beginner, the techniques and most of the classical Tai Chi sayings were as ‘clear as mud’ to me.

I couldn’t see the correct technique or the meaning of a saying because of my inexperience and my tendency to analyse too much.

I now realise it’s about the doing rather than the anlaysing that will clear the mud away.

23 years since I started I still make pleasant discoveries of what appears to be a simple technique or saying by practicing more and analysing less.

It’s something I teach beginners – just do – and you will discover the meaning.

For safety reasons I keep a close eye on beginners so they don’t injure themselves.

As long as they’re within the safety limits of a technique I let them discover the meaning for themselves.

And this can be achieved by constant practice.

Otherwise, it will be ‘clear as mud’.

Gift Of Tai Chi

Clear As Mud