- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
- 3,397
I think you've hit on the most important--Mike Kilo Niner said:
talk to instructor about what you want.
Given your experiences,
you won't be snowed by a 'salesperson'.
Also;
Observe or participate in a class.
A proper instructor knows that someone watching a class
will not take away any 'secrets'.
The 'secrets' of taiji is in the practice,
which is why books & videos are of only limited value.
No mystic or magical powers,
just guided, correct repetition training body & mind.
Check attitude of instructor & students.
See that the instructor makes detail adjustments
to students form--
the more advanced the student the finer the detail.
Foot movement & placement should have the same emphasis as the hands or hips.
No put-down of any other martial art.
No secrecy (as in paranoia)-------
(at the same time, traditionally some teachings
are reserved for the most advanced students)
The eye focus direction follows a hand (foot sometimes)
for advanced students.
Any potential head instructor should
-at least- be able to describe:
Which family taiji they teach,
and the lineage within that family
from which the instructor's learning derives.
They should teach -at least- 1 taiji weapon form.
They should teach push-hands;
and teach it as training--not to win tournements.
Push-hands competitions are usually not true taiji push-hands.
Competitions are useful, but cannot be the -point- of training.
They best teach/incorporate a qigong practice from the same family as the taiji.
Ditto silk-reeling practice; through it's pretty rare.
If they teach separate practice of taiji circles,
all the better.
If the instructor emphasizes postures.....all the better.
Some taiji is done at a relaxed pace, some faster,
some have a mixture of speeds.
What other arts does the instructor offer or incorporate?
OK if instructor also teaches other Chinese arts,
but beware instructors who teach a buffet of disparate arts;
especially if they are all the 'popular' arts.
If the instructor says that a certain movement has only
one application, then they don't know the art.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment.
Read the 3 sites I provide above,
they know taijiquan.
The spelling doesn't matter.
My teacher's school teaches Tai Chi because that's the
spelling that's recognized by the public.
=========================
There's an instructor in Atlanta that you should check out.
He's listed down on this page:
http://www.chenzhonghua.com/Branches/branches.htm
at Kennesaw State University Extension
David Hilburn 678\462-1697
dhilburn@mindspring.com
www.taichiatlanta.com
