Groucho - When darkness and disorder began to reign in a kingdom!
'Groucho quotes' were some of the most repeated of the 20th Century. The one that I draw upon here as start point or theme to this months newsletter is: "I wouldn't want to become a member of any club that would have me as a member".

Whilst wearing his ridiculously oversized dress of formal waistcoat and tails, Groucho confidently mocked, harried and insulted the 'High Society' of the time ... and we loved it! Hence Groucho won his battles and consent to anarchy over authority; and Women were not at all spared his sword! Millions laughed not only with him, but also at him (still do), because more than any he mocked himself - with greasepaint mustache, jam-jar glasses, cigar and the original 'silly walk'.
I now please offer Chapter 18 from the Tao Teh Ching as the ancient reflection of Groucho's silver screen sarcasm:

TTC18
When the Great Tao was abandoned,
There appeared humanity and justice.
When intelligence and wit arose,
There appeared great hypocrites.
When the six relations lost their harmony,
There appeared filial piety and paternal kindness.
When darkness and disorder began to reign in a kingdom,
There appeared loyal ministers.

Harpo - Abandon Cleverness!
The counterpoint to Groucho was Harpo. Groucho was an outspoken character, Harpo was a mute enigma that communicated not with words, but with a smile, music and dance. He took whistling to an art form and played Ragtime on the Angelic instrument that gave him his name.
Grouchos' trademark was the one line 'put down' delivered like an archers arrow over the heads of his charging cavalry of wit, and infantry of diversion and double bluff!
Harpo had 'another way'. May I here please call Chapter 19 of the Tao Teh Ching "Harpo's".

TTC19
Drop Wisdom, abandon cleverness,
And the people will be benefited a hundredfold.

Drop humanity, abandon justice,
And the people will return to their natural affections.

Drop shrewdness, abandon sharpness,
And the robbers and thieves will cease to be.

These three are the criss-cros of Tao,
And are not sufficient in themselves.
Therefore they should be subordinated
To the Higher principle:
See the Simple and embrace the Primal,
Diminish the self and curb the desires!

Hotchpotch
The Tai Chi that most of us perform these days (in the west) is what we here in this part of the UK (colloquially) call, "a right old hotchpotch!" I am however happy and willing to accept this evolution as "good" - because I have nothing, no other 'evolutionary process'' to compare it with. I am simply grateful for the existence of this 'spirit' of Tai Chi that, as far I as I am able to discern, is itself the mother and father of hotchpotches! I have no right to complain anyway. I myself might be perpetrator of the greatest corruption's of Tao by encouraging entanglement in a Web and confessing this dojo that I lead is not real.

This dojo is as real as Tai Chi, therefore it is 'here' as much as Tai Chi. For either to be 'themselves' they should each ideally be nothing. This 'Club' that is not a club, this Dojo that is not a dojo can have no rules. [The only "no can do" of the site is profit not financially in any way through the generous LAN provision of Southampton University].

You will not be surprised to hear that questions as to 'what is taichido?' have been raised before now. The first was on the occasion of 'founding' Southampton City Dojo in 1996. Since then various fundamentals of Martial Art Tradition (Budo), Taoism and Buddhism have been my reference or refuge. My own 'rules' (instructions/advice) are few. 'Elbows down'. 'Relax' ... so on. My most urgent request is "be yourself". The brainwork/logic involved in avoiding admitting or denying ego is not worth it and only the cause of the other, even greater transgression of Tai Chi, therefore Tao. To add and/or to take away.

Please see foot of page for "further reading" links

The 'rules' - in entirety - are within The Tao Teh Ching
So what rule book do I apply to Taichido? Many! There are many rules of codified conduct available in all formats; most of them I am, as above, willing to accept as "good", valid and helpful.
The one that I use most often use as personal 'default' is the Buddhist "Eightfold Way". I surmise this aspect here as "the meditative" and "devotional". For the physical I apply Tai Chi Form, and the 'rules' for this - in entirety - are within The Tao Teh Ching. For instance, without the need to turn to many pages of The Teh Ching I am able to quote:

21
It lies in the nature of Grand Virtue
To follow the Tao and the Tao alone.
Now what is the Tao?
It is Something elusive and evasive.
Evasive and elusive!
And yet it contains within Itself a Form.
Elusive and evasive!
And yet within Itself a Substance.

Shadowy and dim!
And yet within Itself it contains a Core of Vitality.
The Core of Vitality is very real,
It contains within Itself an unfailing Sincerity.
Throughout the ages Its Name has been preserved
In order to recall the Beginning of all things.
How do I know the way of all things at the Beginning?
By what is within me.

The Shaman and soothsayers of The I Ching were said to pass unhindered between this and 'the spirit world/s'. The scenario is common in many ancient cultures as is also circles, nature, fire, water chanting, worship etc. - and rendered mainly redundant in modern!
In this 'way' (this world and others) The Teh Ching becomes a defused diamond that eerily reflects dozens, hundreds of aspects or facets. "Elbows down, relax, be yourself, no adding, no taking away ...

22
Bend and you will be whole.
Curl and you will be straight.
Keep empty and you will be filled.
Grow old and you will be renewed.

Have little and you will gain.
Have much and you will be confused.

Therefore, the Sage embraces the One,
And becomes a Pattern to all under Heaven.
He does not make a show of himself,
Hence he shines;
Does not justify himself,
Hence he becomes known;
Does not boast of his ability,
Hence he gets his credit;
Does not brandish his success,

Hence he endures;
Does not compete with anyone,
Hence no one can compete with him.
Indeed, the ancient saying: "Bend and you will remain whole" is no idle word.
Nay, if you have really attained wholeness, everything will flock to you.

TAO TEH CHING, Lao Tzu, Translated by John C.H. Wu, Shambhala Dragon Editions.
ISBN 0-87773-388-0

FUNDAMENTALS OF MARTIAL ART TRADITION (BUDO)
1> KYUSHINDO

TAI CHI
2 > What is Tai Chi?
3 > Instructor or Teacher. Student/teacher 1
4> Instructor or Teacher. Student/teacher 2

WIDER TAI CHI
5 > (the fall of) Tai Chi Chuan

TAOISM
6 > The Taoist Philosophy

PHILOSOPHICAL
7 > An Affectionate Word: Finger

further reading from 'Doshi Home' website
Spiritual and Chuan Tai Chi
8 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/sactc.htm
Taost Philosophy, in pictures ... "this and that" ...
9 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/thisthat99.htm
Three Rings/The Three Treasures - "Refuge"
10 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/treasures.htm
Three Rings/The Ancient Truth
11 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/truth1.htm

dojo notes@doshi home
Tips for Beginners Tai Chi
12 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/dnbegtc.htm
To do with Taichido
13 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/dntcd.htm
Inspirations
14 > http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/dninsp.htm