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How Do I Find A Teacher ? Written by Knud Erik Andersen © 1998 |
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This article is written with background in Danish conditions. Tai Chi has become more popular for each year that goes by. Many have heard about or seen Tai Chi and want to try it out. But often it's not enough with only one hour where You can try it out for free. You have to know a little bit more about Tai Chi, and You have to give it a chance, to find out what Tai Chi can give You. Tai Chi still have a mysterious reputation, it's not all who really knows what it is, and there are many myths on Tai Chi, which can be both attractive and deterrent. For the readers who have been practising Tai Chi for a long time, these good advices are natural, but many beginners ask exactly these questions. It is often misunderstood, what Tai Chi really is all about, and the different styles and the variations of the styles does it not easier for the beginner to choose a teacher. In the beginning when Tai Chi was only taught to a few selected students, it was natural that there would be some kind of obstacle and things wasn't told, it was a test to see how the students character was and a guarantee that it would only be the most persistence students which "survived". Today things are different. The benefits of practising Tai Chi have been available for all, who shows interest in learning it, even though the advanced forms, only are taught to the persistence student. Today Tai Chi is being taught around the world from China to Denmark. In Denmark most of the teaching take place in night schools, but gradually there are also some private schools, which offers teaching, all though it can be difficult to find them, because the small schools have a hard time advertise for themselves. What each school or night school can offer of teachings, depends a great deal on the teachers background and experience, if the only teach the slow form or if they also teach the more advanced forms, such as weapons and pushing hands. Next I will try to give some simple advice to those who seeks a teacher. Be prepared ! Try to find out as much as You can about the style, before You go to Your first lesson. Most libraries and book shops have a great deal of book on Tai Chi. If You live in a major city, You possible have access to more special places, where You can gather information - shops which sells equipment for martial artists. You can also buy videos, however it has to be said, that the instructions in such videos does vary a great deal, moreover it's considerable cheaper to buy books. Many have also heard or read of Tai Chi from TV, which gradually shows more on Tai Chi. Or talk to someone, who already is doing Tai Chi. Maybe they can recommend a good teacher. If You in advance take some time to learn a little bit on Tai Chi, and of what it contains, maybe learn a little of the background and history, You might get a feeling of what, You will be facing, but also be sure of Your own expectations. Seek and find When You have read a little bit on Tai Chi, then the next step is of course to try it, the next problem is to find a teacher. That's not always easy, even though there are many, who teaches, the teachers are not evenly spread out around the country. There are more teachers around the major cities. And it's not all that advertise for themselves. If You live in Denmark, the most obvious thing to do, is to contact TAI CHI NYT phone 36 75 18 03, because they have a list over teachers in Denmark, You can also look at the library, in The Chinese Shop in Aarhus phone 86 19 00 91, and in the local night schools programmes. "Seek and thou shall find". Phone the teacher, mostly they will talk with You a little bit of Tai Chi. Now when You are prepared with the most relevant informations, You are ready to step three.... The Class and The Teacher The first time You might just want to watch - most teachers wouldn't mind this, but many means You get the best experience by trying it on Your own body. Notice the students and the teacher. Do they live up to the principles of Tai Chi? Are the movements relaxed and lithe? Is the atmosphere pleasant in the class? The only advantage of looking at a class in stead of participate, is that Tai Chi often looks easy to do, then it actually is. So if You really want to get an impression, what it's meant by doing Tai Chi, then try it on Your own body! |
In the class You have the opportunity to ask more detailed questions, but wait until the class is over. You could ask the teacher where he or she about their background. Who is their teacher/master. Maybe You want to ask for how long they her or she have been practising. Tai Chi takes time. You will gain something from the very first day, but You will not master it in a couple years. Try to find out what style is being taught. How many students haven't asked this question: "How many different styles are there?", "There's a Yang style, is there also a Yin Style?". You can generally say, that there in Tai Chi are four main styles: Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun. But even inside the same style, there can be several variations. There is also some newer varieties or shorter styles from Yang style e.g. 24-style also called Beijing style. The names of the styles are named after the founder e.g. Yang after Yang Lu Chan. So the name Yang have nothing to do with the philosophy of Yin and Yang. The next question You get across, is how much does it cost? The price vary from place to place. Some night schools are not receiving any contributions for the rental of the rooms, so the price here will often be higher. In the clubs prices there are often an annual members fee, otherwise the price is the same of the night schools. But this doesn't mean You get an better teaching, because You more, here You have to use Your common sense. In some area You have to take what ever teacher that is teaching there, if You are luckily enough that there are one. Otherwise You have to take the time it takes to get to a teacher. It's a good thing to talk with some of the students, ask for how long the have been practising with the teacher, have the been happy and contented with him or her. As an old master once said, when he was asked the question, if he was any good, he answered : "Ask my students". It's also very important to talk a little bit of etiquette. Traditional Tai Chi is being taught under more relaxed conditions then they do in the external forms e.g. karate etc. This doesn't mean, You just rush in asking a lot of questions. Also have in mind even though the teacher don't mind answering Your questions, he or she is there to teach, not to talk. As master Tung Kai-Ying once have said: "Talk less, practise more". There are others present, that have paid for the teaching, so don't waist the teachers time, with unnecessary questions. Remember Tai Chi have to be experienced not explained. Don't expect the teacher to explain the deeper aspects from the style in details, or that they will show some advanced techniques in Your benefit.
There are many different style in Tai Chi, and they all follow the same basic principles:
The Tai Chi form - is a set of flowing circular movements, which is performed flowingly as one long movement. The form last between 10 to 60 minutes to perform. Even if You are doing Tai Chi to get a better health, every movement in the form have a self-defense aspect. A good teacher can show You, how the movement works with a partner. Pushhands is an exercise for two persons in the Tai Chi training. The basic purpose is to push or pull Your opponent of balance, while You yourself remain relaxed and in balance. You can do Pushhands with one or two hands, where You are fixed, and Pushhands where You move around. Fast Tai Chi and Weapon practise Advanced students will be able to practise the Fast forms and The Weapon forms in Tai Chi. Tai Chi weapon sets with sword, knife, sticks, lance etc. the movements are relaxed and flowing just like in the Slow form. Fast Tai Chi and the weapon practise is an extension of the things You learn in the Slow form.
©1998 Knud Erik Andersen
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