Measuring The Immeasurable

A good friend once observed about Tai Chi training that it is like walking toward a wall and each step you take is half the length of the previous step. Will you ever reach the wall? When we look at the art, done correctly (according to the rules laid out in the Classics), the subtlety and complexity seem overwhelming and makes it hard to measure growth. This leads to frustration, despair and some times abandoning the practice, which is tragic since we know the benefits it gives us in all aspects of life.
So how do we advise practitioners on the correct way to train? How do we recognize that the way they see the effort given is likely not the way anyone else sees it and is unique? Teaching is not enough and sometimes we need to coach and lay out a method for practice.
The first step is the form, on this everything depends. We must first check the choreography of our form and make certain it follows the structure laid out in the Tai Chi Classics, not because of devotion to the text, but because when applied, one feels the correctness of posture. The form that does not follow these rules becomes arbitrary and disorganized and ultimately, ineffective. Once we have established the integrity of our form, a student copies the movement, we explain the principles behind the movement, and we show examples of why it is correct through contact and pressure.
As the student gains more autonomy, we must encourage thinking, and understanding. We use this process as we teach, but we must also encourage the student to apply this themselves. When performing each movement, the practitioner must ask themselves where the movement starts, and what it moves in turn, and what effect it has within the greater structure. For example, feel the connection to the ground, the pull of the feet, the lifting of the ankle and knee and the opening of the kwa. The tailbone sinking, head lifting, spine elongating and shoulders opening. As we guide them through the process, make it clear that they must have two voices within their minds, a teacher’s voice and the students voice, because ultimately we all teach ourselves and realize our Sifu is but a guide. The student must ask themselves “Why am I doing this movement? What initiates it and what results from it?” By examining the question, they will find the teaching voice inside their mind and answer their own questions. If a student is fortunate enough to be able to train with junior students, they will see this play out more obviously, but even so, they must be reminded to advise themselves just as they would advise others.
Once this level of understanding has been achieved, assign movements of the form and have the student analyze it and explain to you where it starts, what it affects and what results from it, then move on to the next posture until you have gone through the entire form.
This is a guide from a teacher to fellow teachers to help students achieve the results they want, but be mindful that one does not need to have a roomful of students to be a teacher. One pupil is enough and you can find that student in any mirror. Use the teaching process to teach yourself and you will find you have an excellent teacher who truly understands you. This is how you measure your growth and make what seems impossible suddenly within reach.