What Do You Want From Tai Chi?

It is my belief that in Tai Chi one may declare their specialty and excel in that area to the exclusion of others and still be doing Tai Chi or even achieve Mastery. 

I will declare my major in these areas:

       Aesthetics – the ability to move with graceful and fluid body dynamics that display artistic and emotional content in a Tai Chi Context

       Internal awareness – the ability to feel the inner clock work of the body from the springs to the counter weights to the gears to the wave action and how it feels to feel that.

       Energy – the ability to absorb, transform and retransmit energy from the universe, the earth or a partner

Sensitivity – the ability to monitor action from the gross momentum, force and dynamic to the rarified electrical, magnetic and thought intention associated with movement in myself and in others

Neurodynamics – the process of becoming conscious of formerly autonomic reflexes in my body and the skill of attaching to another person’s movement, timing and reflexes through that system

Martial application – the ability to use the skills mentioned in cooperative play and it’s fine with me if I remain ineffectual in martial situations against a truculent and uncooperative partner or attacker. Actually fighting is not really something I am training for even if it is for some a determinant of doing Real Tai Chi.

Internal energy – the ability to immerse oneself in inner space and also to share that space with a partner and to gain feelings, information and to conduct movement from that space.

Peace of mind – real relaxation that comes from the muscles, tendons, the Myo-Facial Web and the overall state of being; being able to simply wave my hand through the air with no anger, no self-judgment, no tension and an open heart

Health – soundness of body including stamina, strength and longevity.

Wisdom – the acquisition of knowledge from the forms, movements and one’s own body placed into higher service.

These things will not happen by themselves. You must identify and study them individually and it begins with asking - What do you want from Tai Chi?