Red Dragon Tai Chi

“There are three things’” we suggest to our introductory T’ai Chi Ch’uan classes, “that will assist with your success in this class: practice, practice, practice.”

And by the end of an eight week session, they are tired of hearing us talk about the importance of practicing what they learn in class in a setting outside of class. So our students frequently tell us. “Ninety-five percent (95%) of your effort,” we remind them, “is outside of this class in your daily practice.”

Most beginning students have a steep learning curve to navigate. New concepts are presented: root, body alignment, body center, balance, weight distribution, etc. And the choreography of the introductory form is demonstrated and taught. This is a large amount of new information. Of course, students with previous martial arts or professional dance experience start a little further up that learning curve. People who are simply more aware of their body seem to have an easier time learning the choreography.

For most students, learning the choreography seems to be the key for their initial progress. And practice – regular, daily practice – seems to promote that learning. Since the individual movements themselves are not particularly difficult, the two movements we teach each week can be learned – if the student practices. The students that do practice experience a positive feedback that reinforces their progress as they notice that the earlier movements (the ones they have practiced most often) are more easily executed.

Practice time is reasonable. For beginning students we suggest starting with a five (5) minute daily practice and gradually work up to between ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes by the end of eight weeks. For intermediate and advancing students we suggest a twenty (20) minute daily practice, a time that approximates one (1) long form (108 movements) or two short forms (54 movements).

So, why don’t students practice?

About sixteen years ago we had student who only practiced the form in class. He was mid-sixties, retired Air Force, and poor health. His open, friendly demeanor masked an extremely high blood pressure that required extensive medication. He found his blood pressure would drop twenty points or more when comparing before and after class readings. At the time we were teaching class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and he attended both classes. We asked him why he didn’t practice outside of class, when the benefits towards reducing his blood pressure were obvious. With a shrug of his shoulders and a disarming smile, he replied that he enjoyed attending class. He studied with us for eighteen months, then he stopped coming to class. We never saw or heard from him again.

The excuses for failing to practice are many and varied: illness, family crisis, work schedule, etc. Some of these reasons are external and unavoidable; an unexpected family crisis can preempt many of life’s activities, for example. But some of these reasons are a matter of choice by the student.

The students that do practice seem to have both the intention to learn the form and the will to achieve that intention. These dual characteristics seem to be related to why the student enrolled in the class, that is: the student’s motivation. Early in our teaching career, we asked students why they were taking the class, and the answers generally fell into two categories: curiosity and health issues. Students with health issues seem to be more motivated than the curious students.

But enough talk! Have you practiced today?

Practice. Practice. Practice.

Sifu Jim

We are often asked by students about books on T’ai Chi Ch’uan. “Do you have any recommendations for books?” they ask.

A good question.

I recall asking my teacher, Master Choy, for his recommendations on books. I was quite persistent, perhaps a bit of a pest for a while. I remember my delight when Master Choy agreed to visit a bookstore near Chinatown with me to look for books. We spent an hour in the store: I would find a book, bring it to Sifu, and he would smile and say: “Yes, yes. That’s a nice book.” It didn’t take me long to realize that every book I brought to him, he had that same response. I left the bookstore with an armload of books, much to the store clerk’s pleasure.

A few weeks later, we visited Brendan Lai’s Martial Arts Supply Company with Master Choy. Brendan Lai’s store was on Mission Street in San Francisco, and it unfortunately closed in January 2014. After the obligatory visit with Sifu Lai in the back of the store, Master Choy took me to the book section and pointed to a two volume, red-covered book set, and he said, “These are good books.” I bought the books. It was the only book recommendation I received from him.

The books were an early edition (1977) of “T’ai Chi Classics” by Waysun Liao. It was republished in 1990 and 2001 as a paperback book by Shambhala Publications. I have read this book several times, and I learn more each time I read it. I recommend this book to any T’ai Chi Ch’uan student.

One other book I recommend, also written by Master Liao: “Chi: Discovering Your Life Energy.” The book is also published by Shambhala Publications. I found that many students, particularly intermediate students, are puzzled by the concept of chi. This short book provides a clear and lucid discussion of chi that is very useful.

Not withstanding these two recommendations, I must confess that we have a five-foot bookcase overflowing with books on T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Chinese martial arts. Acquired over thirty five years, some of these books I have read, most I have not. A few of them I have used as reference material as a teacher. They certainly look nice in our practice space.

But the only T’ai Chi Ch’uan book that I read and re-read is Master Laio’s “T’ai Chi Classics.”

In class, we ask students to address us as “Sifu.” “Sifu” is the title given to us when our teacher, Master Choy Kam Man, certified us to teach T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Within a week of presenting us with our teaching certificate, Master Choy would accompany us to one of the printers in San Francisco Chinatown to produce business cards with both English and Chinese.

The term “Sifu” is pronounced “sea-foo” – like “seafood”, but without the “d” sound. Some Chinese martial arts schools pronounce this word “shur-foo.” You will hear this term used often in the older made-in-Hong-Kong martial arts movies. The term has specific translations from the Chinese characters that comprise “Sifu” (you can look it up on the Internet), but its usage in our classes is equivalent to the English terms “instructor” or “teacher.”

When we addressed Master Choy inside and outside class, we used “Sifu.” Interestingly, we never used “Master Choy” in his presence, just “Sifu.” Whenever we would ask him a question, we would preface it with “Sifu.”

“Are you holding classes this summer?”

This time of year, we are often asked this question. The answer is “No regularly scheduled classes over summer.”

Why?

When we first began teaching in Spokane in 1993, our classes were held at the old YMCA building in Riverfront Park. Class attendance was robust with 15 to 20 registering for our classes – except summer. For several years in a row, we tried different formats for summer classes, and each attempt followed the same pattern: by the fourth summer class only one or two students would attend. One year we offered an early morning (7:00 am) half-hour “Tai Chi in the Park” on the lawn in front of the YMCA building. Same result as the other summer classes.

For many Spokane residents, their energy is directed outward (yang) in the summer, and we found that some students had difficulty moving into the receptive (yin) energy needed for successful learning in class. Families with school-aged children found their schedules completely changed in the summer and focused on their children. As one intermediate student offered: “Why be inside at a class when I could be sitting on my deck in the beautiful, warm evening.” Good point.

So, we decided to “Follow the Energy”, and we stopped offering summer classes. It was nice to take a break from teaching and focus on our own private T’ai Chi Ch’uan practice. Teaching does take time and energy, and the teacher’s private practice usually suffers if time is short. We would return refreshed and recharged to regularly scheduled classes in the fall.

This summer we are offering two workshops for our current students (July 13 and August 10). These 2-hour evening classes are designed to support the continuing practice of those students who have just started their studies during the past six months.

Will they be successful? We will see. In this case, we are just “Following the Energy.” It will be an adventure in any case.

Sifu Jim

The last class of the Spring 2015 quarter was concluded last night. As a teacher, I feel the energy of completion and accomplishment. For the students who finished the class, I celebrate their perseverance and hard work: at the end of class I thanked them all for their participation. For the students who dropped out, I wish them well and hope they return to class in the future.

Last night I sat on the deck in the warm eastern Washington twilight and reflected on the Spring classes. I felt gratitude to my students for all they taught me. Yes, I learned a great deal from my students. My effectiveness in class is a function of the balance of sharing what I know (yang) and of listening to the students (yin). I find it curious that the longer I teach, the more I value the receptive energy of teaching. My ability to communicate with the students is related to how well I am open to hearing (and seeing) them. Each class, I learn something new about myself or T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Sometimes it is a small thing, sometimes it is a major “ah-ha” understanding. Large or small, I am grateful for all the gifts my students provide.

Thank you.

Sifu Jim

This is my first post.  More posts to follow.

Sifu Jim