Teaching Tai Chi 001

I have a new student and as everyone knows, students like homework.

I have a lot to be thankful for and in regards to Taichi, The Yang Family in particular. I still find it odd to think that there is a link from one of the Yang Family, through a chain of minds, (some of whom are now dead) to me. I am unknown and have no affiliation to the Yang Family.

So today's homework is lovingly borrowed directly from:

http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/about/study/#Theory

1. What is the 10 essential of tai chi chuan ?

The following are the Ten Essentials of Tai Chi Chuan Orally transmitted by Yang Chengfu Recorded by Chen Weiming Translated by Jerry Karin, hacked by Alexx Roche:

1. Empty, lively, pushing up and energetic - head suspended by a thread
2. Hold in the chest and pull up the back - feel your inner grizzly bear
3. Relax the waist - your balance is your pelvis
4. Separate empty and full - flow from one leg to the other; never both
5. Sink the shoulders and droop the elbows - release any tension
6. Use Intent Rather than Force - be the ball; see the sphere around you.
7. Synchronize Upper and Lower Body - protect your garden
8. Match Up Inner and Outer - yeah, do that, (then tell me how.)
9. (Practice) Continuously and Without Interruption - \o/ propaganda, yay. The forms are one!
10. Seek Quiescence within Movement - don't worry to much, just do your best.

The 9th essential is really about pushing on even if you notice a minor mistake.
I would suggest that missing from this list is

 0. Practice each day - You learn as you practice, even if you only know the first lifting-the-hands.

11. Colour outside of the lines - play about with each posture to find the perfection for your body; make it your own Taichi, (but keep to the essentials; if you find your shoulders are not above your hips then you have probably strayed from the path.)