For the instructors or anyone else into the Tai Chi.
Has anyone else noticed a drop in their class sizes in the last year?
My classes went to having 18 to 20 people down to 5.
I know that tai chi is not the “thing” right now.
I have noticed that the yoga craze my be dying down a little also.
What is big now?
Thanks for any input.
I hate to say it but GOOD, im sick of tai chi being this health dance thing, maybe it finally can mend its ways and once again be known as a martial art.
Qi Gong is always big since the Song dynasty.
Taijiquan would be fine, if not for the ignorant, pious, hypocritical Christian groups and online forums pushing it as new age spiritualism.
I agree that we need to market it friends and neighbors, and the world, that it is one of the oldest, and finest martial art systems out there today, incorporating principles from most every CMA.
The Martial Arts are about pugilism (that is, they come from societies that were based upon feudal dynasties, warring states, etc), not religion.
Sadly, religious groups use the physical and mental aspects of refining, and balancing one’s body as done in Taijiquan and Qigong, for their own selfish ways toward enlightenment, which is nothing more than an altered state of consciousness.
The arrogance of the western mind does not surprise me. They need a little more accepting of their fellow human beings, and learn what it means to learn from history, and not try to twist it into their own ethnocentric closed mindset.
Let’s leave Martial Arts as it is meant to be, and as it was. It’s only fair to preserve history, and not twist it around for your own selfish religious ‘calling’…
Perhaps the more we post what the Martial Arts are really about, the more some will get the clue.
It may not be pretty, and it is primarily physical, but it’s not religion.
Mantid1
I have been wondering about this phenomenon. Basically I think it is just laziness! This lazy attitude and with all the s h i t going on in the world, people seem to be weirdin`out. Have you noticed how much mental illness there is now? Anyway, my Taiji teacher is doing OK, but as good as he is, I wish people would take advantage of his teachings. I push my kf students to study with him, most would rather sleep in, this generation is slothful. I hate this “rather sleep in mentality”. JMO
“The wise man strives to not become what he despises most!”
There is room for everyone within the “Supreme Ultimate”! If there was not room enough then it wouldn’t be supreme or ultimate.
We all train for our own reasons. Some train for combat, some for self-defense, some for personal improvement, and some for exercise. None of these are the one true expression of Tai Chi. Each has meaning within its context!
Tai Chi may have been primarily devised as a self-defense or combat form, (and I don’t necessarily subscribe to this view.) but that does not detract from its other expressions. We each find meaning in Tai Chi according to our own purposes. My purpose is not necessarily yours, yours is not necessarily mine. We may have some common purpose or we may not, but we will each express Supreme Ultimate according to our individual personality and purpose.
Life is a process that occurs in cycles. Tai Chi became prominent in the late 60’s and early 70’s, as well as yoga, then went through a period of decline. Both found renewed popularity in the 90’s and now a new Yin cycle may have begun. Yang too will return in time, it is inevitable.
We will approach our highest skill when we explore our own personal expression of Tai Chi and remain not only open to sharing it with those who find meaning in our expression, but open to the expressions of Tai Chi by others of differing purpose.
Hmmm…
I don’t find the numbers dropping. In fact, I am finding more demand.
However, I do find that more people are looking for fitness, wellbeing and “looking” good, and less on the martial art side of Tai Chi. But if I have to teach Tai Chi for the mind body spirit hippy spin, I rather not do it at all.
At the moment, I am also teaching a Bokken class, and I do find that more people can identify and appreciate with it than Tai Chi in general. It is a lot easier to teach, and everyone’s having lots of fun and very much enjoyable.
The problem with Tai Chi is that to really get something good out of it requires a lot of dedication. Most people do martial arts for fun these days, and Tai Chi is not really delivering what they want.
Cheers,
John
Most people do martial arts for fun these days, and Tai Chi is not really delivering what they want.
I agree with that statement whole heartedly.
Perhaps it is up to the instructor to liven things up, and make it fun, as a Martial Art, and less appealing as some religion or health craze.
I agree that at the very least it is healthy, and good for you.
I also agree with the fact that in order to at least preserve it for health reasons, then we should at least teach the long form along with push hands.
But the true yin and yang effect, that is when they combine to become Taijiquan, (note the use of the required term ‘quan’), then and only then does Taijiquan truly become Supreme Ultimate Fist.
Again, perhaps it is time that instructors evolve a bit in order to meet the changing demands of society.
Some great posts.
I have to think that I agree with most of them. I do think it is Yin right now but will come back around.
As for it being a martial art. I agree. I came to the conclusion a few years ago that I am only teaching a very few “Tai Chi” . The rest are just killing time.
I think I will go back to 5 or ten students in my program and not except anyone that I do not feel can do it. My standards for accepting students have just gone up.
I have had two students in tai chi go off and start “teaching” . They were only beginners. Like Yushan said they were lazy. Just because they spent a few years in and out they thought they were “good”. I am afraid this type of “teacher” represents 95% of the tai chi Insturctors out there.
It is sad.
Do your practice, let everything else take care of itself. Worrying about what the “next in thing is” is no starting point for self cultivation or the improvement of technique.
When you are secure in your own way, other’s way will only make you identify more closely with your own. Like when certain individuals insist that I need to “condition” like a boxer to fight. To me, that is only more evidence as to why I am on the right path for me.
If you change with every fancy … you’d be doing karate, then ninjitsu, then kung fu, then Gracue jujitsu, then MMA then Thai Boxing and MMA, etc., etc., etc.
Find your way and stick to it, veen if that means changing in your way later.
ironically, the very things you harp about as being Western are the very same follies you’re making in your post. :rolleyes:
Greetings..
Something can be “spiritual” without being “religious”.. we often refer to the martial “spirit”, that elusive quality that indicates the depth of our understanding of the art.. it is the signature of our intentions..
I don’t see a decline in the interest in Taiji.. i do see a more educated public, they are becoming more aware of the differences between authentic Taiji and “feel-good” Taiji.. noting the lack of authentic Taiji teachers, i think there is a disillusionment with the general offering of Taiji instruction..
I also think there is an “expectation” of the general public that the Taiji instructor is some wise sage-like character.. and, at some level, we need to feed that expectation.. not with BS but with genuine understanding of the history and philosophy that is inherent to the art.. Those that insist that Taiji is purely a martial art are in denial of its broader applications and potentials.. but, make no mistake, i fall squarely on the side of those that recognize Taiji as a valid and formidible martial art, i simply don’t confine it to that definition..
Taiji marketing is like fishing.. we can be purists and try to grab the fish as it swims by.. or, we can use shiny lures and be a bit more successful.. it has been my experience that students like uniforms with an oriental flavor, it seems to impart a feeling that they are doing something “special”, and they are.. sometimes we downplay the uniqueness of the art in favor of our own understandings and forget that the student has an entirely different perspective.. The object is to keep the student’s interest long enough for them to have a real Taiji experience, then the rest will take care of itself..
Taiji doesn’t decline.. it is what it is.. interest and presentation may vary, though..
Be well..
ironically, the very things you harp about as being Western are the very same follies you’re making in your post.
I am being anti-western in my thought, though western myself by region, but not necessarily philosophy.
I believe that there is a baseline human condition or experience with all things, and to view the world with a set of particular philosophies is wrong.
I agree with TaichiBob that their is spiritual and that their is religion.
Each of us have our own human spirit. Each of us have our own religion.
Each of us strives to cultivate our spirit, either through religion or some other practice.
Some of us strive for enlightenment, others reincarnation, various few - nothing but the physical best, and yet others for salvation.
My path is toward salvation. However, to each their own.
My point is that Taijiquan is no less spiritual than american football…Both are esoteric, and contain many ethnocentric values that only those that truly digest them understand.
I am not saying be ‘trendy’, rather, it wouldn’t hurt to make Taijiquan as alive as it is meant to be.
When we do not do this, yes, there is too much Yin, and not enough Yang. I also agree that Yang will reappear at some point, but believe that it is mankind that brings it together, or should.
Sorry, to lighten things up a bit:
I thought what we need is a better advertising campaign for Tai Chi like the following:
Do you feel like a fat pig? Does everyone ask you how many months pregnant you are? Do your friends describe you as that pregnant guy? Are you one of the millions of people who have tried exercise dieting, and psychological counseling? Are you ready for that new body to emerge from your old shell of flatulent fat? If so, then you are in for a treat with the Tai Chi Fat Loss Program. Now you can forever change that cycle of eating, depression and more eating.
I know your response: What? Tai Chi you say? That slow, idiotic, boring looking exercise thats meant for people who are nearly dead or who would have a heart attack if they moved any faster? How can that stuff be good when more than 98% doing it are fatter or at least as fat as when they began their exercise program more than ten years ago? Isnt Tai Chi a cult? I thought its on the FBI top ten cult list? You mean that Oriental nonsense about chi? I thought they locked up all those Tai Chi guys who do those fancy ads on TV with dozens of beautiful models and million dollar yachts?
Your absolutely right! How can a slow ridiculously boring exercise get anyone in shape? The sloth, which is one of the worlds laziest animals, has been known to weigh more than 4,000 pounds. Its simple, slow activity translates to fat. Slow things are fat, fast things are thin. Its that simple.
Heres the secret, the Tai Chi imported to the West is all *ss backwards. Somebody got it backwards and it stuck ever since. You see the normal way is to do it fast first and then you can slow down when your tired. Fast and Fit go together as do Slow and Slob. Isnt that easy to understand and remember? You dont need a Phd. in electrical engineering to understand that. No, any child can understand that.
Still not convinced? Well read this:
Heres a testimonial from a Mr. Frank Round-belly from Canada. Hi, I come from Canada where it snows year around. As you can imagine, shoveling all that snow is backbreaking work. I got tired of my wife nagging me every morning: Come on Frank shovel a little faster, Im late for work! Easy for her to say when shes watching her eight oclock soap while gulping down a gallon of coffee and having her third donut for breakfast! Well one morning I just cracked. Thats it. I had enough. Enough is enough! Why does my wife get to eat donuts while I shovel and shovel? Its just not fair. I decided right then and there to try that new Tai Chi Fat Loss program they advertise in those sleazy Health magazines at the local fat loss clinic. I spent the nine bucks it cost for the fancy shrink wrapped DVD. It even came with a little booklet. You dont see that too often these days.
At first the DVD didnt work. At first I thought, is this a rip off like all the other rip offs from the Internet? Well stupid me. My four-year-old daughter told me I needed a DVD player to play the thing. My VCR just doesnt work on those DVDs. I told the wife to pick me up one of those DVD players on her way home from the fried chicken place. My wife was very happy because she got the last end of the line model for 10% off the regular price. You cant beat that, can you! Well, to cut a long story short, me and the wife started watching that DVD while were eating our chicken. I can tell you that just watching the thing made me feel 10 pounds lighter. The fat seemed like it was just dripping off our bodies. My wife thought it maybe came from the chicken but I know shes not too smart about these things. The Tai Chi Fat Loss program is just amazing. Watching all those ladies with their burned off fat was an inspiration to behold. I can tell you Im hooked. Im recommending this program to all my friends at the pub.
Well there you have it. We get thousands of these kinds of Emails every day. If your interested to have that lean mean body that you see in all the movie magazines then try the new Tai Chi Fat Loss program.
Note: This program may not be available in your area. Normal restrictions apply. No claims are made as to the effectiveness of this program. Results may vary with the individual.
Ray
The masters could do Taijiquan fast, and with fajing, etc. T
heir boxing skills were also extremely quick ~ they were fighters.
The Taijiquan form is just part of the equation.
That is what is often overlooked. They take out the ‘quan’…