'Grass Hopper, Show Me Single Whip' ... 'But Master, The Ice Cream Van Has Already Left The Temple!' (Tai Chi)

Member Name: Caveat-Emptor

Product:	Tai Chi
Date:	31/07/09 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Health Benefits, Feeling Of Wellbeing And Shared Accomplishment, Great For The Elderly Too!!

Disadvantages: Watch Out For Expensive Instructors And Hokus Pokus 'Mystic' Power Claims...

My review of Tai Chi
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Introduction
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Tai Chi is, as you are probably already aware; best known as a collection of slow body movements (called a form) designed primarily (nowadays - but once it was a deadly martial art) to promote good health. There are many styles of Tai Chi, and branches there of (each style is usually named after the Chinese family credited with creating it; for example Yang and Chen are two of the better known family names/styles) - so it can be very confusing to get a clear picture of the history and evolution of this most unusual 'internal' martial art.

The historical view is clouded even more by the fact that almost every teacher/ style/ school of Tai Chi claim to be the oldest or original style from which the others sprang. Don't you believe it -lol!! Having done a fair bit of Tai Chi over the years, I came to the inescapable conclusion that no one really knows the origins of this art, at least not fully... It's steeped in legend, tales of mysticism and other daft stuff that adds to the image but really detracts from the true art.

So forgetting the 'history' of Tai Chi, and the tall tales, I'd like to talk about what it's like to be a practitioner, through my own experiences to show what Tai Chi can realistically offer...


Tai Chi
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I first got interested in Tai Chi when I saw TV footage of people in China getting up really early to visit their local park and perform a series of slow, complex beautiful looking movements that supposedly promoted good health.

It wasn't until I was in my late 20's that I actually joined a Tai Chi class though. I really enjoyed the experience - and I was surprised at the diversity in the age groups of the people who attended; from folks in their 20's to folks in their 80's (my instructor was 70 when I first started!!).

I learned that Tai Chi was one of the 3 main 'internal' martial arts of China... 'internal' in the martial arts means that instead of using 'external' muscle power (like Karate, Kung Fu, Boxing etc) it's based on relaxing, yielding, calmness and also a (medically unproven) theoretical internal energy source called 'Chi' (rhymes with 'she'), that supposedly regulates our own health and that of all living things...

Now I'm the sceptical type so I have to say I don't buy into all the 'Chi' stuff to any great degree -though I am willing to keep an open mind to the view taken by some people that it refers to the bodies own electrical system (oddly enough humans really do have an electrical system - it controls many aspects such as our heart beat etc).

But I think that belief in (or disbelief of) 'Chi' is a personal thing/ decision and all that's really important is that you personally feel that Tai Chi benefits you on some level... you certainly don't need to believe in the whole yin/yang 'Chi' energy thing to richly enjoy Tai Chi -lol!!


Chi Kung
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I learned that the one of the main parts of Tai Chi was a system of exercises called Chi Kung, which is also sometimes spelt Qigung (pronounced the same), which, as far as anyone can tell -lol!... predates the actual art of Tai Chi itself (and supposedly inspired it).

Chi Kung exercises are strange in that your body does a lot of work but you don't seem to do much :-) Some people call it standing meditation...

For example; the first Chi Kung exercise I learned was to stand, feet shoulder width apart, hands/arms out in front of me (as if holding the trunk of a tree), knees slightly bent, to make the natural curve of my lower spine become vertical and straight.

Now this 'tree hugging' exercise sounds like nothing, but when you've tried it for 5 minutes, believe me; it's a whole different story -lol!! It's not that you get tired or breathless; you don't (I suppose that's one of that Tai Chi and Chi Kung is so good and suitable for elderly people too), but your arms and thigh muscles start to feel like lead, and you become warm -especially just below your navel (this is a focus point for the body in Tai Chi)...

Weirdly, this leaden feeling is not unpleasant -in fact to be honest, the more I tried the Chi Kung exercise, the more I liked it...The static rooted standing position, the slow relaxed breathing; it was great (when you got used it, and your thigh muscles had built up a little)... It was a few months later that I realised I'd stopped getting pain in my lower back in the morning (I often used to wake up with a back ache, sometimes stretching down to my leg too).

There were many, many more Chi Kung exercises (I wrote many of them down after each lesson so I wouldn't forget them), and I think I would have been happy if that was all the Tai Chi class entailed; but Chi Kung was only the warm up for the main event; the 'form'.


The 'Form'
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The 'form' is the group of slow graceful movements that drew me to Tai Chi in the first place. Each style of Tai Chi has its own form (which is almost always just a variation on the form other styles do -once you learned one form well, you'll easily recognise the very close similarities in other styles forms), so take with a pinch of salt any instructor who tells you that their style is the 'true' style...

I've tried different Tai Chi styles (not deliberately, but because I've had to reorganise my time and change/quit classes when changing jobs etc) and they were all good... It was really down to how enthusiastic the teacher was, as to which class I found the best -nothing to do with the style.

Regardless of style most 'forms' will consist of very slow, carefully controlled moves (hand, arm, trunk movements, steps occasional leg lifts and spins) that are all given separate names to make them easy to learn. (The Tai Chi form is really one long continuous 'Chi Kung' movement from start to finish; the names given to each separate posture are only there to make it easier to remember the order).

I really enjoyed learning (and still love performing) each posture of the 'form'. There are moves like 'single whip' (nothing to do with ice cream -lol!) and 'stork spreads wings' to master. Each posture has its own challenges and rewards... it really feels wonderful when you get a posture right, your body feels so balanced and aligned and your mind feels relaxed and refreshed. It doesn't take long till you can string the first few postures together...

..Then you're performing 'grasping the swallows tail' (the name for the first few moves of the Yang style form, which was the first style I learned). It probably took me about 3 months to learn the basic version of the form from start to finish... and the sense of accomplishment for me personally, and for the class as a whole, when we finished the 'form' was heartfelt!! (There's a great friendly team spirit in most Tai Chi classes, between everyone young and old that really adds to the atmosphere of happiness and well being).

I learned that the better you get at Tai Chi, the more detail you put into each move/posture in the 'form'. It's a wonderful, non competitive relaxing challenge to better your performance of each posture each week (and as a bonus, you get some funny looks from the family while practicing round the house too -lol!). Once you learn the main 'big' movements, you concentrate on the subtleties; the breathing, the exact timing of the hand movements, the way to move you back bone, the interplay of 'yin' and 'yang' (simply two opposites; like hard/soft -not to be confused with 'Yang' the Tai Chi style), and even the direction your eyes gaze... it's a fascinating challenge to try and master.

Some say it's impossible to master the form in one lifetime... I personally don't believe this (and I'm totally happy with how well I perform the forms I know -thank you very much :-) Tai Chi forms are very difficult to master, but not impossible (learning to play guitar till I was really, really good at it; now THAT was hard -lol!!).


Meditation
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As well as the Chi Kung exercises and the 'form' I found that many of the Tai Chi lessons I attended ended with meditation sessions; I didn't like this bit much -I tried to, but that aspect just bored me (slightly) I always felt that the 'form' and Chi Kung exercises are already enough of a a meditation in themselves - because you become so absorbed by what you're doing it frees your mind from everything else... so I personally never thought any additional meditation was necessary, but it wasn't unpleasant... I would just have rather been moving about and exercising that sitting about.


Massage
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If you're lucky (and I was) your instructor may know how to teach massage too, (my first instructor was also well versed in Shiatsu massage, which isn't part of Tai Chi -though Tai Chi does contain acupressure too -which is like acupuncture but without needles) which is brilliant if you've got any aches and pains.

I loved learning the massage - not only did it make me the most popular guy on planet earth with every girlfriend I had (and still does -lol!) because once she knows you can give the most amazing back, and foot massages she'll forgive almost anything!! ...but it comes in useful in other ways too... When I first learned massage I had an elderly dog with arthritis (I love dogs and all animals -just thought you should know -lol!), and my instructor gave me some tips for massaging my dogs legs to help him... and sure enough it genuinely helped, my dog was able to get up on to the couch and bed again!!


Martial Art
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It's very easy to forget that Tai Chi is also a martial art (though most people, including me took it up just for the health benefits anyway), but I certainly learned some interesting self defence stuff in between everything else too.. It's amazing the first time you realise you can gently push an 18 stone man backwards 20 yards and he can't stop you, or that you can move the strongest persons attacking arm away with just a gentle pressure from your finger, and it's a little weird letting someone try to two handed strangle you only to find that you can easily resist their best efforts with just your throat muscles (I know you're too sensible to; but please don't try the last one without proper instruction it could be very dangerous) -strange and seemingly amazing stuff ...

...But there's absolutely nothing 'mystical' going on here in any of these self defence moves; it really is just careful use of balance, pushing or yielding at just the right moment or having confidence in your muscle control. Self defence was a very, very small part of learning Tai Chi, and the emphasis was always on peace, or gently diverting an attacker away without hurting them... and it was never taxing or physically difficult (even for the elderly members of my class).. But I think adding the occasional self defence move in there made Tai Chi seem a more 'rounded' complete art.

(Though obviously, someone who really wants to learn lots of self defence would be better off joining a more 'combat' based martial art -as it's not a big focus for a lot of Tai Chi classes).

There are/were no belts or gradings to take in any of the Tai Chi classes I attended, so there was no competitive element to spoil the relaxing happy mood (you only compete with yourself, to try and improve a little week by week). There was no confrontational attitude even when practicing in the occasional self defence moves - Tai Chi positively discourages the use of physical strength or any kind of aggression; it's all about relaxing and feeling healthy and positive about yourself and other living things - it may be a cliché -but you feel in harmony with everything, at least for a few fleeting moments before the gas bill/phone bill turn up in your letter box!!


Lesson Prices
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I have nothing but positive things to say about all of the classes I attended, or instructors I knew (except that they really need to get over the 'my style is the best/most original version of Tai Chi' syndrome). I really enjoyed all my years in Tai Chi, and although I don't currently attend a class (work/time constraints), I no doubt will at some point when I have a little more free time.... And Tai Chi stays with you; it's too much fun to neglect - I still practice the forms almost daily, and do my Chi Kung exercises while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil etc... It been 13 years since I attended my first Tai Chi class, and I STILL don't have back ache anymore -lol!

I have seen a few instructors (no one I've ever trained with) charging silly amounts of money for Tai Chi... I've never paid more than £3 or £4 a lesson and I had some brilliant instruction (so good that I've even taught classes myself on occasion - back when I had more time), I learned all the so called 'secret' stuff like pressure points, massage, explosive energy etc as well as aspects of other internal martial arts... and I never paid out for expensive lessons... find a good friendly class and you won't need to either.


No Time For Classes?
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You don't even need to attend a class to learn the basics of Tai Chi as there are so many cheap and good Videos/DVDs on sale now (and Chi Kung exercise ones too). Obviously, teaching yourself is not quite as good as attending a proper class (I've seen loads of videos that were only a few pounds -in fact I got one from the Pound Shop once that was pretty good and had some great exercises!).

So if you don't have time to join a Tai Chi class and still want to learn then I don't see anything wrong with teaching yourself from a Video - as long as you're fit enough to start; ask your doctor if you're not sure. (There are probably loads of friendly practitioners on the internet who'll advice you if you get stuck too!!).


My Verdict
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As you've already guessed; I LOVE Tai Chi, I'd recommend it to anyone (though it's not supposed to be good for children, as some of the exercises might not suit bones that are still growing).

There are a few things I don't like; instructors who charged too much and/or offer some promise of weird mystic 'Chi' power/healing... save your money, stay home and watch the X Files with Mulder and Sculley instead, it's more entertaining -lol!

...and I'm not a fan of Tai Chi classes that focus more on the martial arts side than the health side of things either...because, although I agree that Tai Chi can be a brilliant fighting art (and I fully appreciate that originally Tai Chi was indeed a deadly martial art) -there are already countless 'fighting' arts; Karate, Kung Fu, Ju Jitsu, Kick Boxing (and about a million others!!) and it would be a shame if many Tai Chi classes went down that route too, because they'd then be so energetic as too exclude elderly people from participating fully... and they're often the heart and soul of any Tai Chi class (I know I mentioned that my first instructor was 70 when I started... but I learned from him for 5 years... lol!) In fact you'll probably never be to old to enjoy Tai Chi!!

Hope you found my review helpful and interesting!!

Best wishes,
Caveat-Emptor

Summary: Brilliant Way For Adults Of Any Age To Keep Fit And Have Fun!!