Introductions!

[feuervogel]

Ninhao, and welcome!

I'd like to start out with introductions. You can make yours in comments or a new post, as you will.

I've been studying taiji at the Magic Tortoise School for a little over 2 years. I studied Chen style with Dr Jay from March 07-09, and I've started taking weapons with LaoMa since mid-March of this year. I'm learning the stick version of the dao broadsword form (because it's safer than using a sharp thing for a beginner ;) ) I participated in the 2-day San Shou workshop in March, and I'm doing the 4-day in May. (Even after being exhausted during the 2-day. It was pretty awesome, though.)

I'm participating in the MT school's advancement program, and I earned the red sash in January. I decided to do it after a year of study, because I wanted a focus or a framework. I'm externally motivated, and I realize it, so I need something outside to give me that motivation.

So, what style or styles do you do? What would you like to see in this community?

Comments

[brightfame]

I've been doing tai chi off and on since about the mid-nineties, but I've come back to it more seriously over the past year. I do the 24 simplified form and the 42 competition form. I also do two fan forms and have started to learn a sword (jian) form.

My club doesn't worry too much with assessment structure - you just keep training hard! Our sifu is constantly pushing basics, so we also do a fair bit of standing meditation and qigong, and the usual exercises to improve flexibility, stamina and leg strength.

I have no expectations where this community is concerned. Surprise me!

[feuervogel]

Ooh, fan. My weapons teacher does some fan forms. I think he said he wanted me to learn the Chen dao form after I get the one I'm currently learning, but fan looks cool. I also want to learn a jian form, but I'm not sure he teaches one. (I know he teaches baguazhang.) Dr Jay teaches a taijijian form, but not at the moment.

From what I understand, most schools don't go much in for assessments and advancements. Ours is strictly voluntary (but anyone who wants an assessment can get one.) Just to see how they're doing. Dr Jay is very keen on the qigong and chansi exercises, but LaoMa isn't so much, at least in the weapons class. (He also teaches Wudangshan, but I'm not in that class.)

[brightfame]

Fan is very cool, and I find it has taught me to keep a firm but relaxed grip (too loose, the fan flies out of your hand; too tight, it won't open properly, or the form doesn't flow smoothly).

Tell me more about your San Shou training! Do you have a preference between forms and fighting?

[feuervogel]

The way I've learned it is as half of a matched set, like a dance. LaoMa teaches a push-hands class that I think may be more like sparring, but I haven't taken it. I can make a post about it, if you want?

I'd like to read about the simplified and competition forms, since I don't know anything about the former and little about the latter.

[brightfame]

That sounds a bit like what I've been doing recently. Please do post on it.

I don't know if I have enough knowledge about the 24 and 42 forms to fill a post, but I have got a couple of links if you'll let me cheat and use Wikipedia:

24-step

42-step

[feuervogel]

Will do! I'll even promote our workshop in the process ;)

I'm OK with wikipedia, especially since books on taiji are hard to find. The book I have doesn't even go into san shou, so I'm having to use the internet and the workshop page to find stuff.

I'm looking for a co-mod or two. Interested? (It's pretty quiet here, but DW isn't even out of closed beta yet, so... maybe things will pick up? I hope?)

[brightfame]

I am interested, though I'm a bit busy right now and, as you say, the place is a bit quiet to need more than one mod. Perhaps we could return the question after about ten members or so? You might even find a better candidate!

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about your workshop and your club. :)