Tai Chi by the Numbers for Advanced Practitioners

Tai Chi by the Numbers for Advanced Practitioners

What you don’t know when you are a beginner is that it only gets more difficult.  The difficulty lies in the changes that need to take place, not because these changes are so difficult in and of themselves, but because a habit sets in and it becomes harder and harder to see what is needed, to feel what is needed, and to move into a new experience.  You really have to become a beginner again in a way that really strains the ego.  You do know many things, but some of those things are unhelpful.  It is extremely difficult to determine which is which.

1. Let go of what you know.  Yep, approach it as if you don’t know this thing at all.  Look at it from every angle and see if something new appears.

2. Try something very different. Experiment. If you like a low form, do a high one.  If you like a slow form, do a fast form, etc.

3.  Find the opposite in what you are doing.  That is, if you are always working the ground, try to work the air, or the heavens.  If you do a “thin” form, try to make it “fat”.  If you have a fat tai chi form, get it to be thin and delicate.  Take on the opposite quality to see what you can see.

4. Watch others to see what you might want to replicate.  Assume they have something you need.  Mostly they do. 

5. From time to time, question each posture.  That is, assume you need to know more about it.  Don’t settle for where it is now.

6. Know that your way is ONE way, not THE way.  Ideally, you should be able to do the form in a completely new way and still have tremendous benefit.

7. Accept all feedback, at least at first.  By this I mean you listen to the feedback, you give it a try to see if it feels right.  You might give it a try again.  It has to be sincere effort here – as if to prove it to you that they are correct. And then you can evaluate if this is something that may be of value to your tai chi form.  You may like the entirety of their suggestion.  You may discover an aspect of their comment that suits you. 

8. Remember, you are somewhat like clay. You are malleable. You want to see how far you can stretch into new territory.  This is very much like play. I’ve seen tiny folk look strong and rooted.  I’ve seen beefy bodies be agile and feathery light. 

This is the joy of our existence and one joy of tai chi.  Go forth and play!