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Walk like a cat. —The T’ai Chi Ch’uan Classics | Beginners class We practice Cheng Man-Ching’s short form of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. A beginner is a person with either no experience of Tai Chi or experience with a different system of Tai Chi. Whether you have experience or not, participation in the more advanced classes requires that you know the Tai Chi postures and the transitions between postures as done in our school. The Beginner’s class is the place where students learn the postures and transitions used in Cheng Man-Ching’s Tai Chi. It is also the place where students begin the process of comparing their own practice with the Tai Chi principles. Two of these principles important at the start, and throughout the study, are rootedness and release of tension. Every movement and posture requires rootedness and release. Using the principles as the guide to correct Tai Chi is the path to a fulfilling practice. |
Intermediate class An intermediate student knows the sequence of postures and their names. At the intermediate stage the effort is to polish the form by working at a greater level of detail. Emphasis is placed on principles such as “one part moves, all parts move” and “the waist is the commander”. Ed once said that the form is a box in which you put your study. At the intermediate level the form is developed to the point that one is beginning to study the principles using the form as an aid. An intermediate student has gone from the stage of the beginner where the Principles govern practice to the intermediate stage where the practice is an expression of principles. Often, this is the point where the student understands from experience that the principles can apply to many parts of life beyond Tai Chi practice. |
Advanced class At the advanced stage the principles of “wu wei” and “use mind, not force” become central to study. Attention is paid to the character and location of attention and its movement and change. The classes go more deeply into the role and kind of intention used in the form or everyday life. Advanced students can (and are encouraged to) learn the pushing hands exercise. Professor Cheng commented in one of his books that this is where the difference between muscular force and resilience becomes clear to the student. It is the place that the error of using force against force, even if that is no more than attitude, is studied. We do push hands as an exercise that benefits both parties, not as a contest in domination. Push hands study will usually be conducted in the hour before the advance class. This way new understandings of the principles in action can be applied or discussed during form practice. The advanced classes, depending on the level achieved and class interest may begin sword form (Tai Chi Jian). Study of the sword requires some neutralizing skill (Hua Jing). |
Class location James V. Harmon Community Center 44 Main Street, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY Walking directions from the Hastings-on-Hudson train station |