Basic Skills in Traditional Taiji Quan
Nowadays, many Tai Chi teachers focus their teaching on the repetitive practice of the Form, which is often empty but is accompanied by encouraging praise. And they may promote Tai Chi as a cure-all type of fitness exercise. Authentic Tai Chi is not at all easy and must be taught with a systematic and comprehensive methodology. This methodology requires a hands-on approach, which cannot be substituted with books or DVDs.
I discussed the meaning of Quan in a previous post. Nonetheless it is worthwhile to mention it here before proceeding with the Basic Skills, known as Jiben Gong. Although the use of the term “Quan” is now largely disregarded, it is imperative to understand WHY it is important as it references combative arts. Without Quan, Tai Chi is no longer a complete art as it loses its martial arts heritage.
Another important factor is the pronunciation of the name of the art. The pronunciation most common in English is Tai Chi, pronounced “Tai Chee.” This is far removed from the proper pronunciation. The Pinyin spelling is Taiji Quan or commonly written as Taijiquan. The ji is pronounced “jee.” Another misuse is the pronunciation of Quan, which should sound like “Chwan,” not Chwon or Quen. The proper pronunciation is for educational purposes; I commonly use Tai Chi in our school signage and pamphlets. This is done because it is the most widely recognized spelling.
The title of this post, “Basic Skills in Traditional Taiji Quan,” is important because it refers to how the art is taught traditionally by a true master-teacher with decades of experience and a lineage traceable to the masters who propagated the art.
Preparatory Exercises
Usually when people first attend Taiji Quan classes, their muscles, tendons, and joints are stiff, especially the shoulder and hip joints and the muscles of the legs. Preparatory Exercises, sometimes called warm-ups, are required to loosen the joints and relax the muscles. These Preparatory Exercises serve a dual purpose: The first is as described above. The second is to introduce basic Taiji Quan principles. To me they are indispensable and a prerequisite for quieting a student’s mind. I usually spend 10 to 15 minutes in class on the Preparatory Exercises. In the old days much more time was devoted to their practice, so I advise you to incorporate them into your daily routine as you can derive many health benefits from them.
Post Standing
Zhan Zhuang or Zhuang Gong, which means “Post Standing” (or stand in place like a post planted into the ground), is done after the preliminary exercises. Through Post Standing you learn to develop a proper posture, the same posture that is required when practicing Taiji Quan movements. You learn proper breathing, to become aware of your center, and to begin to develop a root.
The old masters placed great importance on Zhan Zhuang training and students would often be required to stand for an hour or more. Practice was conducted even on the bitter cold days of winter and the hottest days of summer.
Besides developing the prerequisites of proper posture and correct breathing, you learn to train your mind to focus and concentrate, to bring your thoughts to bear on the work at hand, and to develop perseverance and resolve. Through Zhan Zhuang practice you will develop your Tai Chi Bones, the framework that is the structure of Taiji Quan. The importance of Zhan Zhuang practice cannot be overstated and should not be overlooked if you hope to advance in the art.
Stances and Basic Hand Formations
Learning the various stances, hand shapes, and stepping methods are a necessary requirement in your progression in Taiji Quan practice. I always come back to working basic stances and stepping methods in class, no matter how advanced the students are. As for hand shapes, I correct these as students learn various movements, but this does not diminish their importance.
The Practice of Individual Movements
Traditionally, a master would teach you the principal Taiji Quan movements individually. You would be taught one movement and would be required to practice that movement hundreds of times. You would then receive corrections, and you would continue to practice that single movement repeatedly. Slowly, new movements would be added to your practice and finally a combination of movements or short sequences would be introduced.
Nowadays, with students taking classes two or three times per week, this type of training is difficult to implement. Students, to their detriment, become easily bored. While we carry on this type of training in class, not nearly enough time is spent on each movement, so I urge all serious-minded students to implement this practice in your own training regimen.
A Final Word
Our ever-hurried modern pace of life, our families and our work, put a lot of constraints on our leisure time. As a martial arts teacher, I too have similar obligations. But since my work is my chosen profession, I certainly have more time to practice, and through teaching I am also practicing. You simply must learn to make time. Get up 15 minutes earlier and practice Post Standing. Cut back on your time spent watching television and run through your form. Persevere and practice every day, even if only for 10 to 15 minutes, and you will make steady progress.