An early piece – written when I was transitioning from Karate to Tai Chi and so perhaps useful also to readers in a similar situation.

Over some years now it has been important to me to gain an understanding of the principles underlying body usage in martial arts – the following is a collection of models that have come from that study – some interpreted from descriptions given to me by teachers and others coming from my own observations – nonetheless they are all simply attempts to describe what I have experienced of an age old practice, in ways that can aid training. They are not new principles – simply descriptions of old ones. Consequently it should be remembered that these models are not exclusive but each can be considered to represent a different facet of the same real body operation in order to illustrate the concepts involved.

These are particularly western models in the main and are predominantly mechanical in nature – a style that the western mind seems to be more comfortable with in comparison to the Chinese models that are available.
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Our group from Shefford, Luton, Hitchin and Letchworth had a lovely trip to Swallowfield yesterday where Karel and Eva of the Chinese Internal Arts Association looked after us brilliantly with a full 3 hour seminar of exercises, questions/answers and explanations. Beginners and more experienced students alike found it informative and motivating with “much food for thought” – especially perhaps the concept of taking an hour over just one exercise! – during the course of which at least one “student back” gradually eased and returned to life from recent problems.

It also provided our “Double Fan Formers” with the chance for some revision – and gave the rest of us the chance to appreciate the results of their work in a demonstration at the end of the session.

So with practice out of the way the group enjoyed a picnic style lunch in the afternoon sunshine – a delightful day – thank you to Eva and Karel – also to all attendees who helped to make it “go” with their enthusiasm and hard work.

I am half way through this book – The Path by Professor Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh – but could not wait to finish it before sharing my enthusiasm.

It really is excellent – it pulls together so many threads of ancient Chinese philosophy into one easy to read package in a way that makes it relevant to everyday life.

If you are already aware of some of the threads it will be a delight to revisit them and to discover the new ones all given added depth and meaning to western society by the authors clear approach – if this area is all new to you then it is a beautiful entry level piece with lots of places to expand your interest.

A brilliant companion to Tai Chi practice 🙂

This is an extension of the Letchworth Centre Monday Tai Chi exercise class, with emphasis on learning how to look after yourself especially in terms of health and falls prevention.

Venue: The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Rosehill Hospital, Hitchin Rd, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3NA, 25th May 2016, 2-4pm
Cost: £15 in advance, £18 on the day
This seminar is an extension of The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living Monday Tai Chi for falls prevention community class

To book telephone 01462 678804. You can also book online

Please wear suitable loose clothing and flat soled trainers or similar

I was thinking that people often present very differently to the way they are inside – some present as relaxed and confident but look at their bitten nails (no don’t look at mine!), many say good things about being honest but when it comes to it costing them then they let you down and it is only when you give them a chance to let you down that they show themselves. Others can appear weak and simple but turn out to have great inner strength and honesty – there is a Tai Chi expression about ” investing in loss ” which is primarily about letting yourself be vulnerable in order to find out your own weaknesses but it works the other way as well – if you show some vulnerability then it encourages the other person to let their guard down and reveal more of themselves.

I believe that most of this comes down to how people deal with their inner fear – everybody runs away at times, the real question is how do they do it – honestly or by blaming others?

We all have expectations about this – that if someone has one trait then they surely have another, but that so often trips us up and they turn out to be other than we expect.

Another martial arts metaphor likens a person’s development to the forging of a Japanese sword – we go through high energy times (high pressure or real fun stuff) – fire and low energy times (depression or relaxing) – cooling, and good steel gets stronger, more flexible and resilient the more it is worked until it is finished. Of course it needs polishing and looking after but at the end of the process a good person/sword is beautifully vibrant and balanced, able to deal with almost anything. We all have our limits of course but the trick is to recognise a good sword.

Interestingly I had the opportunity some time ago to handle some genuine Japanese swords at a museum collection where the curator was an enthusiast. Most felt like cold lumps of steel but one – made in 1360 – had a life of its own – it just felt like it wanted to move on its own. It looked nothing special, simple design, not highly polished, not very large, with some spots of rust and obviously well used, but once I held it I was in no doubt it was the real thing – then the curator told me its age – from a time when swords were made to be used and Samurai trusted a sword with their life, as opposed to later periods when they were often for show. In fact the Japanese master sword makers often did not sign their work saying that if a swordsman could not recognise a good sword without a label then they didn’t deserve it.

And a good teacher is like a good sword maker – pushing the steel to be the best it can be.

I am delighted to be running a seminar to celebrate World Tai Chi & Chi Kung Day – joining with practitioners around the World to share the energy of a day’s practice together.

Venue: Shefford Community Hall, 60 High Street, Shefford Bedfordshire, SG17 5AX
30th April 2016, 9.30am-12.30pm
Cost: £30 per seminar for bookings up to 1 week before the seminar. £40 after

To book telephone 01462 621970 or email: [email protected]

All these activities are very different in many ways – but all share the core of Tai Chi practice – balance, relaxation, posture, power, mental and emotional aspects, plus the sensitivity to relate physically – either to the environment, other players or body extensions such as bats, balls etc. Even in the workplace we find manual workers needing to take care of their bodies, skilled workers needing to balance their body with mental/emotional factors so as to enhance and extend their ability – intellectual workers also find a similar need lest they ignore the non-intellect and find they become no longer able to perform intellectually to the level they aspire.

Tai Chi becomes useful simply because it is in one sense a collection of proven exercises which guide one to an optimal balance. The combination of physical practice with intellectual and emotional awareness is invaluable in itself, however at the core of Tai Chi is the movement it encourages – movement and a way of moving – indeed a way of thinking about moving and of relating with the “outside” that works to maximise the human potential.

Tai Chi’s focus on “natural movement”, principles and power means that the way of moving derived from practice is easily transferred across all areas of human activity and in particular this is often seen most clearly in sport where golf handicaps may tumble, or relaxed focus may be increased, but is also seen in reduced back pain while at a computer or steering wheel and even in improved writing ability.

By not seeking to “force” any particular pattern the Tai Chi practitioner seeks to allow the body to move easily in a centred way – we do this by cultivating certain principles which include centred segmented movement, upright poise, full/empty weighting, opening/closing of all parts of the body, sensitivity, awareness, relaxation, fluidity, light limber movement, absorption, neutralising, deflection, internal power and release of power.

Consequently one may access Tai Chi exercises which promote:
–    Balance
–    Meditation – quiet mind – quiet body
–    Good structure
–    Resilient soft tissues
–    Relaxation in movement
–    Centred movement
–    Sensitivity to the environment
–    Sensitivity to other people
–    Strength
–    Co-ordination
–    Physical connection
–    Mental and emotional awareness
–    Good breathing
–    Good posture and poise

It may be no surprise that many of these may be the same exercise – on the principle that “it is not the exercise you do – it’s what you do in the exercise.”

Many like myself started in martial arts training with Shotokan Karate instructors who, while doing their absolute best, missed something, because the early Japanese instructors couldn’t pass on subtle details. The cultural/language barrier was simply too big to breach in one go.

My Chinese (Tai Chi) instructors are always talking about ‘feeling’ and much of my learning these days comes from being given the opportunity (or setting myself up for it), to experience different ways of being. Interestingly, this touches on the Chinese idea of ‘true transmission’ from a master, where subtle aspects can only be passed on, one-to-one. Also it gives us another answer as to why Kata (or forms in soft arts) are considered the soul of a style. How is it that a really efficient fighter can develop only from practice of one form? Partly, I believe because each form contains the full expression of its originator (his soul). As we learn a form we learn about its creator and come to experience some of the feelings that he may have experienced. The choreography of the moves becomes a language carrying his ideas and concepts. Only by feeling can we begin to understand the message.

Read the full article here

So: Tai Chi movement is how the human body moves when we are relaxed and move from the centre.

We could find this on our own – but mostly we benefit from the guidance of a knowledgeable “other”. My patient teacher, Karel Koskuba, shared with me that I should not seek to explain things to my students – explanations are always wrong and confusing – students must learn to copy the teacher and observe their own bodies. A bit like a guide taking you on a trip or following a satnav.

So there you have it- copy and observe.

Oh and practice – a lot – so you can observe some more and integrate the changes.