On occasion, an interesting question comes up for discussion among students and their instructor(s). It is also discussed among instructors: “How important is accuracy in practicing Tai Chi?”
According to the late Grandmaster Cheng Man-Ching, “it is all in the form”. In fact, the term “Inches” was created by the late Grandmaster Huang Sheng Shyan, who studied under, and supposedly became the most accomplished student and disciple of, Grandmaster Cheng Man-Ching. Grandmaster Huang demanded exactitude in the practice of the form. When he/we talk about “inches”, we are talking about the degree of accuracy passed from teacher to student. This accuracy helps the student develop the internal power that can only come from developing correct timing, stability, and force.
Grandmaster Huang designed a number of exercises, including his famous 5 Loosening Exercises, aka Song Shen Wu Fa. These exercises became a “fundamental part of his style”. He also refined Grandmaster Cheng Man-Ching’s Yang 37 Form. Grandmaster Huang often said that Tai Chi’s essence is in the Form; meaning the movements train the body to move in harmony and synchrony (if every movement is done according the Principles).
Grandmaster Huang taught 10s of thousands of students. When teaching students who were eager to learn the Form as fast as possible, he pointed out that “slow is fast and fast is slow”. Interestingly, those students who often rushed ahead, had to return to the beginning lessons due to their inaccuracies! Grandmaster Huang was also famous for repeating “Seek the quality not the quantity”; getting one movement correct before moving on to the next one.
One of my favorite of his comments is about the importance of accuracy when moving from one posture to another. When he was asked about what is important, he may comment, “It is whether you understand the transition from Posture ‘A’ to posture ‘B’.” He emphasized that attention needs to be paid to synchronizing the body alignment and timing in every movement of the Form. Grandmaster Huang believed that when that was achieved, we would then be able to “cultivate” relaxed force”.
According to Grandmaster Huang, when we are learning Tai Chi Forms, we first need to emphasize the accuracies of the external postures and movements. Only then should we work on the internal: relaxing, sinking, and grounding. Later, the external and internal would be synchronized to create rebounding force!
Let’s talk about the Principles:
Grandmaster Huang (along with most late and living Masters and Instructors) advise students that they need to have an understanding of, and not deviate from, the principles and the philosophy of Tai Chi. They are considered “eternal”. As we’ve discussed in most of my recent classes lately, and which Grandmaster Huang put so concisely “The external Forms may differ from person to person but the principles are standard and unvarying.”
For those of you who are experienced practitioners and/or instructors, you are more than likely aware of the many changes made to movements, postures, and Forms over the years by one or more “experts”. There needs to be solid rationale or reasoning behind these changes. It’s vital that any changes be in harmony with the principles and philosophy of Tai Chi.
Important Points:
As you would expect, over his lifetime, Grandmaster Huang, came up with numerous lists. He refers to one as the 20 Important Points. For those of you who don’t want to read the entire list, here are a few of the high points that you may not be familiar with.
Avoid any unnecessary movements in the head, arms, and torso.
Keep aware of the center of the palms, the Dantian, and the Bubbling Well.
Use the mind to keep centered.
The legs “initiate” both the forward and backward movements.
“In calmness there is movement and in movement, there is sinking”.
Your upper and lower body must be synchronized and harmonious. Movements should not be dispersed.
When doing Form, never lock your arms, legs, or body.
Internal and external are in harmony and there is continuity in movement without any breaks.
Move your hands like “reeling silk from a cocoon” and move your feet like a cat in motion.
Grandmaster Huang believed that you would be successful if you possessed “faith, modesty and perseverance”.
As humans (and students), there are activities that we will take seriously and commit to, whether it be a sport, instrument, hobby, or any pursuit. Sometimes we will excel at those activities we find worthwhile and to which we commit time and energy. At other times, we will do it for our own pleasure and are happy or satisfied once we reach a certain level.
For the “engaged” student (Tai Chi or otherwise), there needs to be a commitment to details and accuracy. This, no surprise here, will require practice and energy. In Tai Chi, for example, you need to understand the purpose of your moves, the correct direction of your hips and feet, how and why transitions happen, how to synchronize your body, hips, arms, and hands, etc., and many more details. Those details were incorporated into a Form many years ago for a purpose.
We may also casually pursue some activities that we are not quite as engaged in. We enjoy these activities, but are happy doing them on a casual or intermittent basis. This may have to do with interest, time, resources, and/or a hundred other reasons.
There’s room in our lives and the world for both. Whether we are casually or seriously engaged, is our choice. Unless you try something, you won’t know what your interest may be. Now the big “however”, if you are a casual student, who never or rarely practices, or only in class, you cannot expect to achieve the same skill level, and/or physical, mental, or spiritual benefits as those students who do.
Now let’s relate this specifically to Tai Chi. Learning Tai Chi is an ongoing process for those who are truly engaged. When you maintain the attitude of always learning and being a student, you can continue to refine your “Tai Chi” and take it to a higher level, no matter how old you are!
Here is a fear I, along with many Grandmasters, Masters, and other dedicated instructors have: If we (and our students) don’t commit to accuracy and try to develop an understanding of the movements in the Form we are practicing, the “important movements” are in danger of becoming neglected, vague, lost, watered down, or even at some point, “unrecognizable”. It would be tragic if the “Art and wisdom of the Masters becomes lost.”
Grandmaster Huang’s 5 Loosening Exercises video demonstrated by Sifu Adam Mizner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokEQf3HdWc
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