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excerts from the book ( Learning Tai Chi )
If, like me, your skill and emotional maturity don't guarantee that you can live up to such lofty levels, I recommend the t'ai chi tactic of attacking as you defend.
As a martial art, t'ai chi is difficult to learn because it demands the ability to start after your opponent but still get there first in terms of redirecting his or her energy while adding your own ten ounces" to it.

It can be difficult to experience "flow" as you do form. One way of learning to pay attention is to use audiotapes to accompany your form practice. You can either purchase a suitable tape (e.g., readings of the Taoist classics) or record your own preferences and then play them when doing form.
The sound level should be loud enough to hear clearly, but not blaring. However, doing form in a noisy environment is, in itself, an exercise in being attentive.

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With reference to the preceding section, musical backgrounds can be a means of experiencing how musical rhythms affect our personal rhythms. Many instructors are opposed to the use of music as a background to t'ai chi practice; a few feel that it can be very beneficial, notably the renowned T.T. Liang.

Tai chi should not be something you do because you want to be good at it, nor a superficial veneer that you assume for a few hours every week like some T-shirt with a fancy logo. It is simply another name for seeing yourself, your environment, and the inter-relationship of the two with greater clarity.

You must have or develop patience so that, to paraphrase Chen Wei,ming, (one of Yang Chen,fu's senior disciples and a famous instructor in his own right), if in ten years you don't succeed, you use twenty!

Martial artists ( and other athletes) use many different kinds of breathing techniques, dpending on their particular needs, but to begin, your basic goal should be to simply become conscious of your breathing. Most of the time, we take very shallow breaths. This does not give us the energy we needfor physical action or to cope with stressful situations. Instead, concentrate on breathing deeply so your chest and abdomen visibly expand. Then focus on expelling most ( not all ) all of theair from your lungs to make way for a fresh intake of breath.

Notice your breathing when your'e stressed. It's probably quick and shallow. also, notice your breathing when your'e exerting yourself-walking, running, stair climbing. It's probably irregular. When this happens, concentrate on finding a rhythym for your breathing. This helps you relax and gives you more endurance. This focus on breath helps you tap into your Chi; your breath becomes the physical embodiment of your Chi.

Exercise: Push Hands

"If you know the art of beathing, you have the strength, wisdom and courage of ten tigers"
-OLD CHINESE ADAGE-

Learning to harness your breathing, gives you control over Chi or life force, what might be called your "inner energy" People with strong Chi have vibrant personalities and an excess of energy, a lot like a Labrador puppy or a full grown Alaskan malamute.

Breathing correctly, on a simple biological basis, helps oxgenate your blood, which in turn gives you more energy. Therefore, breathing correctly when you exert yourself, you can use your Chi to give yourself more focus and energy.

Breathing techniques can also be used to help you calm down and de-stress as well as help you meditate. The ability to reduce and control your stress level on demand helps you deal with challenges of all kinds-for instance, training the aforementioned Lab to sit when you gain insight into yourself and the world around you-thus, you will develop the wisdom and courage of ten tigers.

The Tai Chi for Health and Self Defense program at WCCSD is based on the Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan. Our curriculum consists of the Beijing 24 Form, Old Yang Style Long Form, Straight Sword Form, Broad sword form, Tai Chi Chi-kung 18, Eight Strands of Brocade, Zhan Zhuang (Standing Meditation), Push-Hands and Martial Applications (Self Defense). Education in Traditional Chinese Medicine is provided by way of seminars and suggested readings. In keeping with the focus of the WCCSD we teach the Way of Martial Arts. Physical confrontation is not the purpose of Tai Chi Chuan. We show our students how martial arts are physical metaphors for life. The lessons learned from martial arts training teach one how to deal with personal and business relationships. Through the practice and Martial Arts one can also improve their physical and mental health. We utilize both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine to explain how these benefits are accomplished.Self development, (improvement) is or goal and we enjoy helping our students find the path that helps them along their journey. Our program has no formal uniform, we wear loose comfortable clothing. We keep the learning environment cheerful but at the same time serious. We invite you to visit us and watch one of our classes and afterwards chat with our instructors and students. If you like what you see please return and participate in a class. There is no better way to find out if you like something than to try it. The WCCSD Tai Chi Chuan program is a member of the Tai Chi for Health and Self Defense of Sifu Scott Bray, A.P., of Orlando, Florida. For further information about the Tai Chi for Health and Self Defense organization and other Tai Chi topics please refer to our links provided from this web site.