The hunt for Taijiquan….X marks the spot!”

Part 3:“Don’t skip legs day!”

………. know that I am a student of this art and that I have much to learn. I am not a fighter and I never will be, the idea of being punched in the face doesn’t appeal to me. Likewise, mystical words and incantations are thought about but not recited like mantras. The path I have chosen to walk has not been full of encyclopedias on forms and styles. My journey has been a gentle slow stroll along a path strewn with stones and littered with wrong turns, and I have embraced each and every part of this journey. 

Practice, books, videos, workshops, and thousands upon thousands of hours of study, during which I have tormented my teacher as he has scrutinized and then refined each movement of each routine. Layer upon layer of understanding has been slowly coaxed out of me, under the ever-watchful eyes of a true master. Each posture and transition have been practiced thousands of times and will be scrutinized and practiced a thousand times more. All of which has brought me to the conclusion that whatever path you choose to follow, be it that of a fighter or that of a philosopher, the path of Tai Chi begins and ends in the same way. It begins with the body and ends with the spirit. The journey between these two elements exists within the mind. Which leaves me with one last question………what on earth does that even mean? 

To begin with, think of Tai Chi as nothing more than a sequence of connected body shapes. The beginning of each movement can be found in the end of the previous one, and as a result we begin our Tai Chi journey by learning to control our bodies. We learn the shape, then we learn why each shape is made by understanding the reasons for it, and then we find the most relaxed and efficient way to execute each movement. Most practitioners never get beyond the second phase of this part of the journey.  Routines are mimicked, remembered, and then mindlessly repeated. It is only when we begin to explore the third level of refinement, that we gain access to the ‘Mind’ of Tai Chi. Each of us must learn that less is more and this can only be revealed by learning to relax and let go of everything that is not needed. The more we focus on doing less, the more the mind begins to lead our journey.

The next stage of our Tai Chi journey can be found in the breathing and stillness we use when practicing. It is not enough to move gracefully; with practice we are all capable of this. Instead, we must learn to move without moving. This is achieved by controlling our breath which in turn enables us to steady the mind, and by doing so our movements begin to take on a life of their own. Eventually the mind moves from being conscious of movement, breath and time, and a calm still mind-set reveals itself. Movements become effortless and time ceases to exist. It is here that we begin to find the stillness that exists within each movement as we learn to move without moving.

Eventually, Tai Chi becomes a study of intention. This is the spirit of Tai Chi and it is a place where even fewer practitioners reside. This is the fire and energy with which Tai Chi resonates when performed by a true master. It is something that you cannot easily explain but can clearly see when a master flows through their routine. It starts as a visualisation as you use your mind to ‘see’ the flow of energy from one point to another. In time this develops into what can only be described as waves that build and flow within each movement. It is now no longer visualised, instead it is felt and expressed. Body, mind and spirit are united and in total harmony with each other. It is here that I find myself searching for the essence of Tai Chi, it is a long path, an even longer journey, and one that can only be finished with my very last breath.

Through these three Blog entries, I have tried to explain what Tai Chi means to me, and to offer my advice on what to look for within a class, a teacher and within your own practice. However, no two journeys can possibly be the same, so instead let me offer this very simple piece of advice, practice with passion, patience and openness. Whatever you do, don’t try to take short cuts, instead practice with care and honesty. Or in other words, next time you are on your way to the gym, “Don’t skip leg day!”

Happy Christmas