Why study martial arts?
The
real value of martial arts study has nothing to do with
physical feats such as brick-breaking; in fact, it is not
even primarily concerned with fighting. In our modern society,
it would be easier to buy a gun or carry a can of mace.
Their real value lies in what the martial arts tell us about
ourselves; that we can be much more than we are now; that
we have no need to fear; that our capacities for energy,
awareness, courage and compassion are far greater than we
have been led to believe. They tell us that all our personal
limits – and by extension, our destructive social
and historical pattern – can be transcended.
Beginning
with the next breath ………. Drawn deeply
About Tai Chi
Tai Chi Yang style is a soft-fisted non-aggressive martial
art. Here in the West we generally associate tai chi with
images of older Chinese gathered in parks performing very
graceful, gentle movements – almost a fairy dance! Don’t
be deceived! Each and every movement in tai chi is a defensive
martial art move designed to up root or “put the hurt” back
on a would be attacker! Not one movement in tai chi is wasted!
Tai chi players receive the benefits of becoming “rooted
in earth” – increasing balance, coordination, meditation,
discipline and most importantly, increasing their energy
– also known as “chi”.
Class begins with warming up exercises created to increase
breathing capacity, stretching, balancing and most importantly,
learning to “walk” in an empty/full awareness. Balance is
of the utmost importance and will only get better when playing
tai chi. As we begin the journey of learning the 67 postures
of tai chi chaun yang style, we first begin as a group and
then move into smaller groups. Advanced players work with
beginning players – this allows the advanced player to gain
a deeper awareness of him/herself as well as developing
skills to share with others. The class becomes very much
“one with the tao” in this sharing.
Teacher
Jean’s insight:
“I
think people in our society prefer to call it exercise
at first..Most of them..And then the word discipline begins
to creep in. We have an aversion to the concept of discipline
– like it is a dirty word – but it is truly what makes
us embrace Taiji so totally. I think…I think that the
first enjoyment you feel, most of the time, is the movement
of stretching and releasing, becoming more and more familiar
with FEELING WHAT IS GOING ON INTERNALLY WITH OUR MUSCLES
AND LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS. And the harmonizing of that
movement with the mind until the mind is not the primary
mover any more. That is what takes so much time in the
beginning… trying to get your students to consider their
Taiji as an ART, not a SPORT is one of the keys – not
dancing but still an art. At first they are mimicking
you, but later it is their very own individual art.
Love, Jean
