Comments on: Tai Chi Vision or The Vision of Tai Chi? http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2833/tai-chi-vision-or-the-vision-of-tai-chi/ Tai Chi and anything I can relate to Tai Chi ... like life Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:10:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: John Crewdson http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2833/tai-chi-vision-or-the-vision-of-tai-chi/comment-page-1/#comment-1737 John Crewdson Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:03:17 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2833#comment-1737 Claude, The monster always seems to be a threat. ;-) One thing I'd like to add is that the student who has no physical access to a teacher should pick a style they think will fit them and buy some DVD's from a good teacher. Over time the depth of knowledge the teacher can pass on through DVD's will help them know if they've found a good teacher or not. If they stick with one teacher, and therefore maintain consistency, they can advance further in their own knowledge. When filming themselves they should be comparing their movements to the teacher to make sure they are doing what they think they are correctly. Reading books from other teachers and learning concepts should be encouraged though. The knowledge is pretty much the same when viewed on a conceptual basis. I think doing this allows the student to test things out and make their own informed decisions. Thanks, John Claude,

The monster always seems to be a threat. ;-)

One thing I’d like to add is that the student who has no physical access to a teacher should pick a style they think will fit them and buy some DVD’s from a good teacher. Over time the depth of knowledge the teacher can pass on through DVD’s will help them know if they’ve found a good teacher or not.

If they stick with one teacher, and therefore maintain consistency, they can advance further in their own knowledge. When filming themselves they should be comparing their movements to the teacher to make sure they are doing what they think they are correctly.

Reading books from other teachers and learning concepts should be encouraged though. The knowledge is pretty much the same when viewed on a conceptual basis. I think doing this allows the student to test things out and make their own informed decisions.

Thanks,
John

]]> By: Claude http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2833/tai-chi-vision-or-the-vision-of-tai-chi/comment-page-1/#comment-1734 Claude Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:23:23 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2833#comment-1734 Good article! Here are my two cents: I have always explained to students that through consistent practice you will eventually reach a point where the movements (forms) become part of your "muscle memory". This basically means that your body knows what to do even if your mind forgets. The best way to know you are reaching that point is when you are doing your form and you accidentally do the wrong sequence. You will know right away that something isn't right even if you don't know what that is. Once you reach that point, your training can evolve to another level such as martial applications or you can begin to focus on other aspects of tai chi such as flow, expansion, etc. The fact that a beginner student has difficulty realizing what their body is doing is probably the best reason to have a teacher. This teacher has already traveled the path you are on (read: made the exact same mistakes you are making) and is able to help you more than a DVD ever could (because of this feedback). Mirrors can also be a valuable tool to practice. Finally, for those students who are in a remote location (without access to a teacher), filming yourself with a camcorder doing the form is the best way to get feedback. Of course, none of this will matter if the monster in the bushes gets you. Good article! Here are my two cents:

I have always explained to students that through consistent practice you will eventually reach a point where the movements (forms) become part of your “muscle memory”. This basically means that your body knows what to do even if your mind forgets. The best way to know you are reaching that point is when you are doing your form and you accidentally do the wrong sequence. You will know right away that something isn’t right even if you don’t know what that is. Once you reach that point, your training can evolve to another level such as martial applications or you can begin to focus on other aspects of tai chi such as flow, expansion, etc.

The fact that a beginner student has difficulty realizing what their body is doing is probably the best reason to have a teacher. This teacher has already traveled the path you are on (read: made the exact same mistakes you are making) and is able to help you more than a DVD ever could (because of this feedback). Mirrors can also be a valuable tool to practice. Finally, for those students who are in a remote location (without access to a teacher), filming yourself with a camcorder doing the form is the best way to get feedback.

Of course, none of this will matter if the monster in the bushes gets you.

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