EasternPeace Tai Chi Teaching Methodology -  Dated 2007

I teach Tai Chi using a combination of Tai Chi Foundation Classes and Tai Chi Form Classes.

The Foundation Classes teach the basic energy work behind Tai Chi and also serve as Qi Gong / Health Exercise Classes for those who don't wish or are unable to learn the Tai Chi forms.

The Tai Chi Form Classes build on the Foundation and teach the actual sequence of movements which make up a complete Tai Chi Form in this case Simplified Yang 24.

Tai Chi Foundation Classes

My goal in the foundation classes is to give students an introduction to the spirit of Tai Chi, some simple Qi Gong meditations and exercise to build Qi awareness, some basic joint release exercises, some muscle stretching exercises, the basics of Tai Chi stances and the principles of Tai Chi movement.

This follows the style of the two classes I taught over the last two years and will develop towards exploring 'fang sung' movement within a short sequence of three Tai Chi 'walks' using three of the most important stances from Simplified Yang 24.

I will use a variety of exercises and this year will also teach exercises from 'The 5 Animal Exercise' which is by far the oldest exercise system in the Chinese Martial Art Tradition and was invented by a Doctor. It's focus is on strengthening the health of the individual and the body generally.

This foundation encapsulates the heart of Tai Chi and can provide a dedicated practitioner with all the tools they need to develop in Tai Chi and receive most of the health benefits that it can offer.

The greater part of my Tai Chi practice time over the years has been spent on this area and still continues to be because this is where most of the growth can be had.

This class can be used as 'health activity class' as well as a personal training, though my goal is to teach people skills that they can take anyway and practice by themselves on a daily basis to improve their health now and for the future.

Tai Chi Form Classes

My goal in the Tai Chi Form classes will be teach the Tai Chi sequence called Simplified Yang 24 which is a relatively short sequence practiced all over China today.

Simplified Yang 24 was created in 1956 to solve a problem. The original Yang style Tai Chi though designed with health in mind was long and complicated and contained movements which were difficult for most people to learn and carry out in modern life. The Simplified sequence serves as an entry point into Tai Chi for those who may not have good health or body use or even much time, yet it offers an enormous wealth of health benefits for those of all ages.

One of the delights of travelling in China is getting up early and visiting the local park where you will see groups of people practicing this sequence. Even those of advancing years often move with amazing flexibility.

So in these classes I will endeavour to teach the whole sequence.

Self practice is essential for success with this class and like anything in life you will take out what you put in. The rewards for the initial effort put into learning Tai Chi are very great, but its not easy in the beginning.

Simplified Yang Style Tai Chi  24

Step 1 - Commencing Position
Step 2 - Part the Wild Horse's Mane to Both Sides
Step 3 - White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Step 4 - Brush Knee and Twist Hip on Both Sides
Step 5 - Hand Strums the Lute
Step 6 - Repulse the Monkey on Both Sides
Step 7 - Grasp the Bird's Tail on the Left
Step 8 - Grasp the Bird's Tail on the Right
Step 9 - Circle & Single Whip
Step 10 - Wave Hands Like Clouds
Step 11 - Single Whip
Step 12 - High Pat on Horse
Step 13 - Kick with the Right Heel
Step 14 - Twin Dragon Searches for the Pearl
Step 15 - Turn and Kick with the Left Heel
Step 16 - Snake Creeps Down - Left Side
Step 17 - Snake Creeps Down - Right Side
Step 18 - A Fair Maiden Works at the Shuttles on Both Sides
Step 19 - Pluck the Needle from the Sea Bottom
Step 20 - Flash the Arm
Step 21 - Turn, Deflect, Parry and Punch
Step 22 - Push Palms Forward
Step 23 - Cross Hands
Step 24 - Closing Form

My teachers and I have been developing a system of Yang Style Basic Exercises to teach Yang 24 and I will use these in my Tai Chi course this year - I've used a few before.

Step1 - Commencing Position is taught for many of the exercises I do.

Yang Basic Exercise  1 :  Teaches Step 2 - Part the Wild Horse's Mane to Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise  2 :  Teaches Step 5, 6 - Repulse the Monkey on Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise  3 :  Teaches Step 4 -Brush Knee and Twist Hip on Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise  4 :  Teaches Step 18 - A Fair Maiden Works at the Shuttles on Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise  5 :  Teaches Step 7 & 8 - Grasp the Bird's Tail on Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise  6 :  Teaches Step 10 - Wave Hands Like Clouds
Yang Basic Exercise  7 :  Teaches Step 3 - White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Yang Basic Exercise  8 :  Teaches Step 9 -  Circle & Single Whip
Yang Basic Exercise  9 :  Teaches Step 11,12,13,14,15 - Twin Dragon Searches for the Pearl
Yang Basic Exercise 10 : Teaches Step 16,17 - Snake Creeps Down to Both Sides
Yang Basic Exercise 11 : Teaches Step 19,20,21,22 - Pluck the Needle from the Sea Bottom
Yang Basic Exercise 12 : Teaches Step 23,24 - Closing Form

It may look a bit complicated and in a funny order, but you will see when you practice that there is a good logic behind the teaching system.

Having learnt the Yang Basic Exercises, it is then a fairly straight forward matter to introduce the actual sequence of movements which is Simplified Yang 24.

And from then on it's up to the individual to practice as often as possible, until it becomes second nature and something that your body can do without you having to think.

At this stage, you really start to practise Tai Chi Chuan...


Self Practice and Independance

I want to discuss this because its very important to my perspective on what Tai Chi teaching is all about.

As with any health related exercise class there is a level of health benefit to be had, not to mention pleasure and social comfort from just attending classes each week and simply following the direction of the teacher each week. I am not against this in any way, and it will be open for people in the foundation classes to stay with this if they wish.

For me personally though I am passionate about sharing something or leading others to something which will change their lives and this actually requires the individual to make effort themselves.

It doesn't actually matter what one takes on board and practices in your self practice or for how long as long as you do something. Self practice of anything works best on a daily basis at least until you are more experienced because it's a body thing and bodies like daily rhythms and familar habits when they get their time and space.

Once you have a self practice or you might call it 'time you give to yourself each day', then it has the potential to develop and expand and Tai Chi is a perfection path for developing this self practice.

Self practice means you do it yourself, you are the boss, you do what you want and you are your own guru.
It also means with your own energy and motivation and so this is something you have to develop naturally yourself.  Willpower only goes so far.
It really develops when your practice feels as natural as eating your breakfast, you miss it when you don't do it and enjoy it when you do.

Each individual has to find a practice that suits them and for myself, I enjoy Tai Chi and the many diverse exercises around it and if at all possible I enjoy doing it outside in a peaceful setting with the fresh morning air, the birds, flowers and trees.

I enjoy it for its own sake, as well as because its good for me and makes me feel better for the day.

Our World is very demanding. Energy is sucked from us everywhere with the busy-ness of it all, the media, the cars, jobs, the sheer pace of change etc. and so for me the most important foundation for looking after ones health is to learn some way, whatever it is, of centering and grounding oneself and putting energy back. Food and sleep alone have not been sufficient in my life although they have to be right as well.

I hope my students are able to find their own self-practice from the various things I teach and live a long and healthy life.

So why not learn Tai Chi....

Email me:
anthony@easternpeace.co.uk

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07881 836359