The Game of Tai Chi

The form has been refined for thousands of years.  Each posture is in the form to teach you something. The lessons build on each othre as you go through the form. 

  • There is a meta sturcture: a series of learning experiences, that loop back through your form and raise it to another level.   So that you are doing the same moves, and moving more energy. This meta sturcure can be thought of as three different staircases, each wtih three steps.  Each staircase has to do with a differnet type of energy.  The Chinese literature refers to these "staircases" as the Three Pillars of Tai Chi.
  • For instance the firsst pillar is the PHYSICAL PILLAR.. 

    • The 3 levels of the Physical Pillar concern structure and movement:

    First, the structure and movement of the arms. The arms are the easiest to learn because they are not holding you up like the legs and spine are.

    Second level of the physical pillar is the structure and movement of the legs.  This is a little more difficult both because the legs are load-bearing and because balancing is involved. 

    The third level of the physcal pillar is the spine.  This is the hardest because the spine is both load-bearing, and it has the most flexibity.

    As you work you way through the form learning how to move your joints in an open relaxed fashion (We never lift or push; we only sink and pull.) You will start to unintentionally move chi.  The first sign is usually a feeling of warmth, like a radiator, as one palm passes close to other. Now you have started on the SECOND PILLAR.

    The Second Pillar of tai chi has to do with moving chi (qi). First you move chi accidently.  Second you learn to make shapes that deliberately move chi to an chosen area of your body.  And finally you learn to issue chi into someone else's body.

    As you master the second pillar it will lead you to the third, but that is a discussion best left until you have some mastery of the first two pillars.

    Everyone comes to tai chi with different physical challenges.  By using the form to test your posture and movement and using the teacher as your coach you will climb the three pillars and gain control of your body, energy and spirit.