 |
2017 Master grading.
Prom Coast Martial Arts club senior instructors Andy and Karen Law recently returned from another successful training journey to Guangxi Province China. After more than 20 trips throughout China this one was made a little more special by the announcement from their own Master of Chen style Tai Chi that both Andy and Karen had progressed after 30 years of martial arts training to the title of Tai Chi Master.
This was very unexpected as very few westerners progress to be known as a Tai Chi Master and to achieve this from a very traditional Master is both a great honour and a significant achievement and is also recognition of the perseverance and dedication applied by both Andy and Karen over many years.
Traditional Tai Chi encompasses Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong (energy health practices) and Chinese WuShu (martial arts) theories to provide a base for a system evolved over many centuries to promote better health through improvement to both blood and energy flow obtained through the ability to soften/open the bodies joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles etc. An extremely important aspect of correct Tai Chi practice is to achieve a better balance in life both within the body and externally, this can also be called the balance of Yin/Yang. Only through proper traditional training instruction can this balance commence to have impact on one’s health and life. Traditional Tai Chi teaching revolves around the individual learning when he is ready rather than forcing or pushing someone to learn something for which they may not be ready. This way is the natural way of learning with no pressure or expectation to know or do anything, this is also known as following the Dao or the natural way to create the zhongqi (peaceful or middle energy) to allow the body to balance and become stronger/healthier internally.
Tai Chi practice while seemingly complex is in fact quite simple and easy to perform if practiced with the correct attitude, Masters Andy and Karen’s experience has always been students that can practice/learn without worry or pressure to perform will eventually achieve the benefits Tai Chi as a holistic system has to offer and are always reminding students to take their time and not push themselves to learn to quickly as this will create an obstacle along the path of correct
learning/study.
Tai Chi is meant to be for all, no matter what perceived abilities. Individuals are always advised to just do their best and that this will be good enough, maybe to even become a Master one day! |
