Tai Chi with a "McDonald's" Mentality

 

Hello,

I am a new student in tai chi, as of June of last year. I studied Karate, and then, due to an auto accident, I decided to begin the journey of tai chi. I could not do the Karate. I had back surgery, and tai chi has helped to strengthen my back. I know it is a long journey, but I would appreciate any advice you would give me.

Thank you in advance for your response. I was a school teacher for 25 years, and during that time, I taught Shotokan Karate for several years. After the accident, it took me the best part of a year to gain mobility; then, I started tai chi by finding a class that someone offered for the back. I took it and found it very helpful.

I found Master Hwa's home page, Classical Tai Chi, on the Internet and was drawn to it immediately. It offers the most in-depth opportunity yet. I watched his videos on the page to take a look and found it excellent.

I am still learning the background of tai chi and still have a long way to go. But I want to find the most credible avenue as I begin this journey. I am 56 years old and want to make this decision I plan to follow for the rest of my life. I read on his website that you are a certified teacher and a senior student. I see you were the first accredited teacher. Can you offer some advice and encouragement? It is not easy, but I want to do this.

Roland

Hi Roland!

A big problem with learning Tai Chi is approaching it with a frantic "I want it now" mentality. I'll tell you the same thing I tell my Tai Chi students. Any decision you make as to whether you continue Tai Chi needs one year. You have found an excellent teacher in Master Stephen Hwa, who teaches Classical Tai Chi.

What is relevant is giving yourself enough time to experience Classical Tai Chi adequately in some depth. There is great depth in Master Hwa's many videos on YouTube. Access them from his website, all 50+ videos. I also recommend his Teachable website, and that address is on his Classical Tai Chi page.

On the other hand, a year is short in terms of a lifetime, and you would have needed to make a GREAT time commitment. There is something good about having a good video where you can watch a movement ten times. I know of no teachers who would repeat something that much in class.

Many Americans approach Tai Chi with a "McDonald's" Mentality. Those students expect Tai Chi to be cheap, fast, and enjoyable, just like a cheeseburger from McDonald's. They want it to be affordable, easily accessible, and pleasing to their taste. Unfortunately, this mindset doesn't always align with the principles and goals of Tai Chi, which require patience, dedication, and a commitment to learning and improving over time.

Deciding to stay or go based on less than one year may be doing yourself a disservice. Since you would have needed more time to make an educated decision, you will not be doing yourself any favors by quitting after three months.

I see people every semester in the schools where I taught Tai Chi who I never see again after eight weeks. No matter what I say, they undoubtedly feel that they know enough about it to warrant their decision. Thinking this is a shabby way to treat oneself, taking Tai Chi differs from going out and buying anything. "Well, I don't like this after one month, so I'll return it." Tai Chi better meet or exceed my expectations. This thinking is "frenetic"!

As a teacher, I'm sure you understand teaching students who come to class in a "tizzy," as it were. As the famous Tai Chi author Robert W. Smith said, "I grew tired of teaching Tai Chi and simply retired; I found Americans simply too frenetic to teach." Don't fulfill what sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy about being too frantic to learn.