Aberdeen Tai Chi Chuan'88

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ANpJe3mTd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

THE DISCERNING EYE.

The Tai Chi Classics: ‘An inch off at the beginning, a mile off at the end.’

Even knowing nothing of ballet, if you were to see a chorus line of dancers and one of them was out of sync, you would immediately notice that something wasn’t ‘right.’ My question is, why is this same discernment not applied to Tai Chi? To know what we are looking at we have to develop a discerning eye. Discernment is the ability to see, even when two people are doing essentially the same thing, and to recognise a subtlety in one that is finer or more subtle than what is perhaps lacking in the other.

However, before we turn our ‘discerning eye’ on to others, we had better begin by being our own severest critic. As Tai Chi is constantly unfolding and changing we have to keep an eye on our own practice before imposing anything on to other people.
My background is well known and where I come from regarding the style of Tai Chi I practice and have done for over fifty years.

To Sifu Cheng Tin Hung’s Tai Chi, there’s enough out there to inform us of the nature of his Tai Chi. His Tai Chi changed over the years, as everyone’s does, however there was always a recognisable continuity, a subtle compactness and a relaxed economy of style. No one can be a carbon copy of anyone else, but it is possible to stay true to his methods and style.

Basic questions, such as: how does this person move, does it look right, is it coordinated, why after all this time is there no refinement, do the weapons look like a natural extension of the person or something held in the hand and ‘made’ to do techniques? A refined weapon such as the sword shouldn’t look like it is hacking its way through the undergrowth.

When I say, ‘does it look right?’ I don’t mean‘ pretty.’ I’m referring to the ‘no deficiencies, no protrusions’ mentioned in the Tai Chi Classics. This means being accurate, that you should be able stop the form anywhere and it should always appear balanced and in the ‘right’ place.
Using the analogy of sword making: The making of a fine sword takes time and follows a meticulous process. From being a lump of of iron to becoming a work of art is no easy matter. The raw iron is beaten again and again until it is pure steel. We can apply the same principle to our practice, ourselves being the lump of raw iron which through constant practice becomes pure steel. We have to do our best to make sure that, by learning too quickly, our Tai Chi isn’t a version of a poorly made sword.

It isn’t enough to get ‘through’ the form(s), it is how you get from A to B inch by inch. Look closely at the hands, always a clue, and you can often see a disconnect between the hands and the body.The connecting links between each posture are a natural following of the circle from one to the other. There should be no ‘fudging’ to ‘get there.’ Given that the Classics say Tai Chi is ultimately expressed in the hands this is an important point.

Forms are there for a reason. The saying is: you do forms to know yourself, you push hands to know others. They are there to develop and refine coordination, structure (no deficiencies, no protrusions)to feel the forms and ultimately, to know ourselves on a deeper level. Refining coordination to make the ex*****on of the techniques more effective. So much to be learned from the forms.The other benefit from having good hand form, is it will influence everything else you do.
Tai Chi Classics: ‘When one thing moves, everything moves. When one thing stops, everything stops.’ We have to integrate these exacting principles in to our practice. If we don’t, what is the point?

Sifu Cheng always said that Tai Chi should be comfortable. He did not mean that it was easy. He meant that it should be practiced until Tai Chi and the practitioner became one. It goes beyond self consciousness to the point where there is nothing in between the doer and the thing done. That you ‘wear’ it well. Many demonstrations are too self conscious, rendering them performances rather than genuine integrated Tai Chi. I prefer the word genuine when talking about forms rather than ‘beauty’ as beauty can be imposed, whereas there is something intangible about authenticity.
I am reminded of an Argentinian tango master, who after giving a lesson was asked if he would perform the tango. He said, “do you want a demonstration or do you want tango?” I feel the same when I see some Tai Chi.

An old Zen master was asked if he would write down what it takes to become enlightened. He went away for a while, then came back with sheets of paper on which he had written, patience, patience, patience……….. Ian Cameron.

Beginners class 17 Sep 7:30.

From Five Winds

CHOOSE CAREFULLY.
Grandmaster Cheng Tin Hung taught a down to earth practical style of Tai Chi Chuan with no frills,
backed up with depth and ability, he proved its use time and again as did many of his students. At
Sifu’s gym there were never any of the kind of demonstrations all too prevalent nowadays where
teachers can apparently throw/lead or have their students ‘jump’ around with the slightest touch.
He never at any time tried to impress because he didn’t need to, everyone knew what he was
capable of.
It is probably due to this Tai Chi upbringing that I find myself looking on with a degree of scepticism
at what is on display over on the internet.
It’s there for all to see.Tai Chi is supposed to enhance ones awareness, from our strengths to more
importantly, our weaknesses (No protrusions, no deficiencies). Many appear to have no doubts
about their ‘strengths.’ Easy to do with compliant students, which often leads to teachers believing
in their ‘special abilities.’ It is one thing to demonstrate a technique, that’s what teachers are meant
to do. What they are not entitled to do is make use of the student. The student is asked to attack in
a specific way, the teacher then demonstrates how to deal with it, putting the student in a position
to be hit, thrown, pushed. Not having been placed in a position of disadvantage, to then be hit with
force, knocked down with force or led about like a puppet. We all have to know what it is like to be
on the receiving end, that’s part of the martial experience, but not just to make the teacher look
good.
What would they do if the students decided not to play the game? Would their ‘magical’ abilities still
work when faced with an ‘awkward’ one? There must be a sense of reality present when training in
a gym. The notion that the perfect technique will manifest when needed is for the movies, a
fantasy. No time to think, only respond. You will only know the effectiveness of your training by how
well you deal with the unexpected. Knowing the practical techniques of Tai Chi will give you a
better chance to be able to defend oneself, but it will more than likely be a combination of
techniques. In fact there is only one technique, and that is the Tai Chi principle, everything is
contained within it. In other words, the ability to adapt through mastery of the principle rather than a
specific technique will be most effective. Knowing the principle ultimately means no method,
opening up spontaneity which in turn does away with conceptual thought.
The Ready Stance is so named for a reason. Outwardly it is a stance that looks natural but
inwardly it contains everything. Your ready stance is your fighting stance, your fighting stance is
your ready stance. I mention this in passing only to emphasise the lack of outward show.
It is all too easy to be ‘impressed’ by what is on the internet. ‘Awesome, amazing, fantastic…….
The most effusive praise given to ‘everything and a’thing.’ Even when it is unwarranted. Some of it
is excellent, but we do have to bring some sense of discernment to the subject.
To emphasise this point: I have seen a demonstration of an aspect vital to the style of Tai Chi
taught by Sifu Cheng Tin Hung. It has either been badly taught or been forgotten and ill
remembered. In too many instances it barely resembles the system I was taught and have
practiced for over fifty years. As each posture has a specific purpose, if it is then not done with
accuracy, the purpose of the postures will be rendered useless. It is painful to see something so
crucial to the system being so misinterpreted. This will only get worse when in time, students of this
teacher will begin to teach, diluting it even further. It is certainly not what was taught in Sifu
Cheng's Tai Chi School.
This is not an old man being critical for the sake of it, but to point out how we have a responsibility
and need to be aware of what it we are doing, not just take it for granted that because we have
practiced for a long time that everything we do is ‘right.’ Having doubts is healthy as it makes you
examine yourself. Having none makes you complacent and over confident.Once things are
changed or misused, they may be lost for ever. Enough said.
What is ‘over there’ is always more attractive than what is right here. The Tai Chi classics warn
against this with the saying. “Do not give up what is near for what is far away. It is the constant
‘looking’ that stops the finding, as nothing eve quite satisfies it is on to the next thing or teacher that
promises all. It has been said before that no one can give you anything. Whatever you may have
achieved or will achieve comes down to training and hard work over a long period of time. Having
the ‘best’ teacher means nothing if the student does not put in the required effort.
Impatience is the great enemy. It leads to dissatisfaction and students in to thinking they are
perhaps not being taught properly or the teacher is holding something back. Consolidating your
own practice allows you to view other styles or methods without being pulled about by small
differences or slight variations. You can appreciate others without ‘wanting’ what they have. You
can never have what someone else has, so it is a pointless exercise.
Being aware that Tai Chi will continue to take on many manifestations which always comes back to
those who teach. The fact that the art is so malleable is both its strength and its weakness. This
then leaves the door open to those who have little or no ability to exploit the art and students. I
think this problem has always plagued Tai Chi and will no doubt continue to be the case. It is an
unfortunate consequence that people can waste years with poor teachers, only to be disappointed
when exposed to something better. Time is something you can never get back, so be careful when
choosing a teacher.
When I found Sifu Cheng I thought I was so lucky to have been recommended this teacher. There
were of course many teachers in Hong Kong but it never occurred to me to look elsewhere and I
am glad I didn’t.
Ian Cameron

I do not authorize META, Facebook or any entity associated with Facebook to use my photos, information, messages or posts, past or future.
With this statement, I notify Facebook that
it is strictly prohibited to disclose, copy, distribute or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. Violation of privacy may be punishable by law.
🤫😠