The Improvisation of Tai Chi

With tai chi it’s very important to learn to color inside the lines.  It’s essential to do each move in just the right way.  Once you learn to do this, you’ll begin to feel the energy within your own body.

Once you’re able to ‘play’ with the energy you then learn when to ignore the lines.  In my view Tai chi has a number of similarities with improvisational acting.  Improvisational acting paradoxically has rules to follow, the primary rule being to say yes to whatever line or whatever situation is offered you.  Everything is a gift.

My take on tai chi at this moment in my training, is that every move your opponent makes is a gift for you to accept.  When you are able to feel your own energy, you can also begin to feel your opponent’s, then you can take their energy in and redirect it where you like … once you’ve begun to master the art.  I’m still working on it.

I’ve hear you should give tai chi 10 years before feel you’re learned something.  I’ve also hear 20 years.  I think the first person had been studying more that 10 years and the second, more than 20.  No one seems to think they are where they should be.

My senior training sister and teacher, Miriam, was told by our master to start teaching beginners after a few years of training.  She says she learns as much from her students as they do from her and I feel the same way.  Now, after more than 14 years, she still feels she is just beginning to learn the depth of tai chi chuan.

My master, after well over 50 years of study, still says he wishes he had listened to his grandfather more.  His grandfather was a senior disciple (protégé) of the great Yang Chengfu and is the master who took over the northern part of his Chinese training route.

It seems that the journey never really ends, that there is always more to learn.  This is the challenge, the mystery, and the reward of studying taijiquan.  Just show up, say yes and enjoy yourself.

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