Acid Test of Discipline

  

How to learn Internal Discipline Video

The Acid Test of Discipline

I am Master Stephen Hwa’s senior student and the first certified “small-circle”, Classical Tai Chi teacher. Before learning from him, I was a disciple in the same family that Master Hwa's teacher, Grandmaster Young Wabu learned from; I was in the first group of disciples chosen by Eddie Wu, Gatekeeper of Wu’s Style Tai Chi.  Compared to Classical Tai Chi, Wu’s Style is a “large-circle.” 

Classical Tai Chi  values the quality of what it teaches, thus demonstrating quality over quantity. However, I have also learned from other teachers of tai chi who “vette” students and sometimes make students “wait” for some time. 

Therefore, the particular form of “waiting” is testing their patience before the person is accepted as a student. Doing this works for both teacher and student as a "vetting" time, allowing both to determine if they are well-suited for each other. Well-suited, not only initially, but for a long-term duration. 

During this time, the prospective student may be asked to observe classes, perform basic tasks, or practice foundational movements without immediate access to advanced teachings. This patient approach, not to exclude, but to ensure the student possesses the necessary maturity, discipline, and genuine interest in the art, prepares the student for the journey ahead. 

When teaching at a university, I was repeatedly asked, "Are you my teacher”? It's not a rhetorical question to answer the question with a question and ask an aspiring student, "Are you my student?" It also helps filter out those seeking quick results, ego validation, or romanticized notions of mastery. How can students last a lifetime if they cannot show patience and persevere? Despite its seeming difficulty, the attention to such assessment can create inspiration and motivation for long-term commitment.

This waiting period reflects the cultural and philosophical roots of Tai Chi, where the teacher-student relationship is viewed as a deep, long-term commitment akin to a familial bond. Tai Chi was traditionally taught in families. Relatives had the familial bonding to give essential effort and time to teaching their offspring for the duration of their childhood and beyond. It is natural for many teachers to assess seriousness. The teacher invests time and energy in preserving and transmitting knowledge, and thus seeks students who demonstrate humility, perseverance, and respect.

Looking at a student’s character has been a part of Chinese Martial arts history for some time. Is the student reliable, patient, and willing to learn without immediate reward? Classical Tai Chi is subtle, and its internal discipline is not apparent to the untrained eye. The concept of “internalizing” the internal discipline is one of absorption that “cannot be accomplished overnight” for want of a better term. 

This tradition also protects the integrity of the art and prevents misuse by those unprepared for its diverse dimensions. While modern-day schools may not consistently enforce such strict requirements, many respected teachers still emphasize gradual acceptance, valuing the quality of what is taught over the quantity of students.

Internal Discipline in Tai Chi

Internal Discipline is central to Master Stephen Hwa’s approach to Classical Tai Chi, and its practice is presented as a rigorous test of a student's commitment and sincerity. Master Hwa emphasizes that Internal Discipline involves initiating movements from the body's internal core—the abdomen and back—rather than from the limbs, which requires a significant mental and physical effort to learn. 

This demanding nature of the practice, which involves cultivating internal energy and power to direct external movements, is a fundamental aspect of Classical Tai Chi. The difficulty in mastering this discipline, which requires years of dedicated study and practice, is highlighted as a key indicator of a student's genuine dedication. 

As noted in the context, the knowledge cycle of learning Classical Tai Chi to understand its full consequences is very long. It requires several years to become proficient in the form, additional years to test its effectiveness in martial application, and even longer to confirm its health implications . This suggests that the path demands a deep, long-term commitment. Therefore, the challenge of learning Internal Discipline first is a significant test of a practitioner's sincerity and perseverance in the Classical Tai Chi tradition.