| Why there have been no
follow-up articles in the series "Part Three of
the Yang Long Form"
Some time ago Mark and I agreed
to work together on a new feature for the website
and publish, part by part and as it happened in
'real time', the record of 'in the flesh' studies
of Part Three of the Yang Long Form as undertaken
by the few that do so actually meet here 'in the
house' weekly.
Our assumption was that if it so happened that
we, at this point in time, were studying this
particular part of the form; then the odds were
that there would be other Budoka connected to
the world wide web who might be doing the same;
appreciate this input and sharing and, in their
own time and place - participate. It was a long
shot that we thought 'worth it' for if nothing
else we understand that we have no idea whatsoever
(apart from our tracker and Guest Book ) who it is that views those pages,
let alone where and when they do it or at what
'stage' these viewers practice may be at !
That first nine part piece "Part
Three of the Long Form"
published from late October 2,001 explained that
several members of the group had 'learnt' the
whole of the Long Form some time ago (taught by
myself and others), and indeed at least a couple
were quite content to be 'starting over' for at
least the second or third time. There is no harm
in this and after all, this is about all that
an 'advanced' Tai Chi practitioner can do - because
there is no end to training:
| It
takes about 6 months to learn Grasp Sparrows
Tail sequence.
It takes about a year
to learn Part One of the Yang Long Form.
It takes about 3 years
to learn parts 1 2 & 3 of the Yang
Long Form.
It takes about 8 years to come to a basic 'working
knowledge'
(the Yin and Yang of Martial, Spiritual,
Intellectual) of Tai Chi Form and Application.
So,
it takes about 8 years to become proficient
in Form and Application that (right handed) way ...
and in that order ... only!What after that? In summary:
Part 1 then 2 then 3 'mirror image' (left handed) and then
...
Part
1 2 & 3 together ... mirror image.And then ... Part 1 - from last posture to first ...
and then ... Part
2 - from last posture to first ...
and then ... Part
3 - from last posture to first ...
And
then the above (backwards) from the end
of part 2 to the beginning of part 1 ...
and then from last
to first ... parts 3 2 & 1.
And then that lot again...
mirror image! |
I do not know a single 'advanced'
Tai Chi practitioner who is not most happy to
study again and again what we all together call
"the basics". Those that do have come to understand
the implications of 'mastering the art' and are
expected (without exception) to teach that art
to any willing to listen and learn.
From student to teacher, from impetuous to circumspect,
from taking to giving and from war to peace, this
is the objective of Martial Arts training and
those that are not prepared to teach and fully
understand this follow a short path with no reward
other that egotism and selfishness awaiting.One
of the golden rules/philosophical roots of Tai
Chi is to 'be like water and constantly seek the
lowest point via the way of least resistance'.
This must be firmly understood, appreciated and
accepted to permit and then encourage an attitude
of first 'non-attainment' and then later 'no-mind'.
This is all achieved ONLY with diligent and repetitive
practice and (surely you understand by now!) never
completed. Therefore, the simple rule of thumb
is that progress of the group as a whole is no
faster than the slowest member. I have not yet
come across a single beginner who was not happy
to submit themselves to this simple formula. Those
that find fault are those who hold on to an attitude
of superiority that should not/cannot be tolerated
or endorsed as Budo or True Martial Art.
When it came to revising Part One and Two of the
Yang Long Form with 'the group that meet here
in the flesh' [as opposed to online visitors -
ed]it became apparent that at least one or two
members of that group were a further distance
from any condition of 'no mind' or 'non attainment'
than others and did in fact fluctuate between
triumphant celebration of the form and a struggle
to simply remember which posture came next! There
was (in my opinion) far too much thinking going
on and not nearly enough spontaneity - or Art.
Therefore (upon my instance) the group was returned
to repetitive practice of postures that they previously
considered as done, with (as 'form' practice)
particular emphasis put upon the Grasp the Sparrow's
Tail sequence. As a consequence, the publication
of a second installment in the series "Part Three of the Long Form" remains 'pending'.
Tai Chi going backwards...
However all is not at all lost because
in Tai Chi going backwards can render results
as satisfactory as going forward! I further observe
that those in the group who for one reason or
another have 'started over' and gone back to basics
the most often are without doubt those that have
learnt the most. Each of those would also confirm
that each 'revision' taught them more each time
and revealed some sparkling new facet to study.
In comparison, those that are anxious to move
on, yet not bother to try to remember what they
did last confirm little more than a lack of self
discipline.
Tai Chi does not exclude anyone,
yet I must admit that I can personally see no
way for an impatient person to become proficient
- in Tai Chi. Patience - and the Ancient Truth
http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/truth1.htm that
some call "the passing of time", others "change";
is a fundamental, a golden rule .... root philosophy.
Patience is essential, and please note, patience
cannot be faked!. Patience must be experienced, patience must be understood, and then
patience may be left there/let go of. When we
have learnt to let go of patience, we may begin
the process of letting go of the process of letting
go!
That is what Tai Chi Form is. It is the creative
process of letting go and thus 'being tao'.
It's no real surprise to learn that
few aspire to the heights of "Mastering" the Art
of Tai Chi is it? Anyone who has any insight at
all into this ancient art must understand that
Tai Chi, Tai Chi Chuan, The I Chin'g, Chi Kung,
Yi Jin Jing, Root Philosophy, Religion, Politics
(what we call "Taichido")... the lot ... is far
to big for that!
The beauty of Tai Chi is that no
matter where you are and whatever 'form' you practice
we are able to 'meet' in our Virtual Dojo anytime
we wish and physically share the unsayable tao
of The Great Ultimate as illuminated by countless
Buddha's and Enlightened Beings. All it takes
is an open mind! If you still want my advice -
just practise ... patient practice.
further reading...
Your readiness to step forward and
declare yourself as amenable by requesting this
Taichido Newsletter is an honor gratefully accepted,
invaluable assistance and encouragement. In response
(or: How this Newsletter Started!) I have personally
reviewed what we actually did do here over the
last three months and point out (for reference
if necessary) pertinent articles already existent
or recently added to www.taichido.com
"Pushing Hands": http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/taichi/push.htm
"How Form Begins": http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/taichi/formbegins.htm
"Tai Chi Ruler": http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/chikung/ruler.htm
"Taoist Meditations" http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/philos/TaoMed.htm
"Saddle Stance Excercise" http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/chikung/sse.htm
"Embrace the Tree" http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/taichi/embrace.htm
"Tai Chi Walking" http://www.soton.ac.uk/~maa1/chi/taichi/walking.htm
...and/or @ (my personal home page) "Doshi
Home" :
"Yi Jin
Jing" http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/YIJINJING2.htm
Author (research and original text/format): Gordon
Backhouse - Senior Budoka Taichido.
A work in progress that I am assisting in. It
is hoped that this will progress with Mark's assistance
to become an animated video guide in the style
of our 'Flagship' Feature - "Net Guide" and incorporate
fast download videos of Warm Up, Chi Kung and
Yi Jin Jin 'sets' in the familiar format.
"Thumb" http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/thumb.htm
The most recent entry to Yin Yang Journal: "Thumb"
chronicles an accident that caused me to break
my thumb in an accident at work. Consequently,
I was off 'sick' for a couple of weeks. This 'gave
me time to think' ... and then the events of 11th
September.
This all ultimately gave rise to a 'companion'
article "Pain
and Suffering" http://uk.geocities.com/scd3r/grsuffering.htm
since published deep in the depths of the "Three
Rings - Buddha, Dharma, Study and Practice" section
of "Doshi Home".
Newsletter, Taichido and
Doshi Home
Without entering into a personal
communication with each of you, I have no way
of knowing quite where your interest in subscribing
to this newsletter lies. I can live with that,
after all those are the terms of engagement in
this virtual world, are they not? You may of course
E-mail anytime you wish; that would be nice, but
it is not strictly necessary because all I need
to say for now is already there somewhere either
@ www.taichido.com or "Doshi Home".
The majority of visitors to Taichido
do so looking for some sort of information about
Tai Chi. Conversely, most visitors to "Doshi Home"
register regular 'hits' to pages concentrating
upon aspects of Buddhism. This is terrific reassurance
that the two sites together serve you and each
other exactly as they should and disparate interests
are broadly embraced.
If the former is our most public face, then the
latter is the most personal and there are parts
of "Doshi Home" that are overtly religious and
apparently a long way from Martial Art. This is
only to be expected! I am a complicated person,
the group that meets here in the flesh at the
house of taichido is a complicated group, and
... I assume that goes for you to.
and finally...
I remember one of the first Open
Evening's that I 'led' in our previous Dojo, way
back in '94. After the event a good friend asked
"how did it go"? "O.K." I replied, with a rhetorical
"... but why does everybody look at me
and expect me to make something happen"?
"Because you invited them" concluded my good friend.
With the same 'down to earth' thud
I thank you again for your interest shown. Your
subscription to this newsletter confirms it as
shown - that's enough for me!
Gary Robinson, Doshi Leader for
Taichido
the Taichido Newsletter
is presented by www.taichido.com and is not linked
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do not wish to receive this newsletter, then please
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