Training & progression habits

[Spudmore]

Hello all!

*****Please put a big IMHO around all of this*****

In the hope of improving the way I train I'd like to hear about your training habits.

Thinking about training raises the question "What do you hope to achieve by this training?" However, one of the aspects of Tai Chi that you do a lot on faith, the benefits are usually months if not years away.
I respect my teachers and so I'm happy doing something just because they say so, if you do something because your teacher says so, please don't feel the need to explain.

A little background, I have been training with my current club for 4 years (previously 3 years elsewhere).
I study Yang style according to Prof. Li De Yin.
I do 24, 88 & 40 step also 32 step sword.
Last year I swapped external MA for more Tai Chi & Qigong.

My aims are to get the general benefits of health, focus & calm etc. I'd like to explore more martial aspects of the art.

I'd also like to keep my marriage so there are limits to what I can do!!

So here's my rough schedule.

Daily

Lunchtime: Half an hour of form / working on corrections / focusing on specifics (say 10 essentials one by one etc). (Reason just the daily practice required to progress & move Qi)

Evening: Warmup with form or 8 brocade then 10-15mins standing Qigong. (Reason started standing a year ago, this has improved my posture, Qi, focus, calm & relaxation)

Weekly:
2 lessons of 1 hour each, get focus for weeks corrections / practice.
Go thru sword form.
Go thru form 3 times back to back. (2x for 88)

Monthly:
2 hours / month straight sword (Reason : well fun really, hopefully by the time I'm ready to get serious about this I'll have got the basics of holding & wafting a sword!)

Yearly:
To have a major seminar (Usually Prof. Li De Yin but this year was Dr. Yang Jwing Ming)
To get my head around a couple of good books.
(Reason : I like having something to inspire & challenge me over the long term)

So if you have a good formula or recommendations please let me know.

[nzric]

Good article about evaluating your tai chi progress
http://www.taijiworld.com/Articles/evaluation.html

The official WTBA grading system (not that we wear belts or call each other sifu)
http://www.taijiworld.com/WTBA/grading.htm

[nzric]

Background: Been on the path for 2 1/2 years. I started in London for six months and my teacher taught me the first 1 1/2 sections of the (Old) Yang Lu Chan form (under the Erle Montaigue system). I could see the applications and the reasons for the movements from the start, which was good because I probably wouldn't have had the patience to stick with it if I had started with Cheng Fu and qigong.

Then moved to Australia to learn with Keith Brown, who made me go back to the start and learn the basics again, but said I was far enough into Lu Chan to learn that form first. Keith puts a very high emphasis on push hands (cooperative, not competitive).

Finished the Lu Chan form and also ran through the tai chi sword form and the ba gua linear form in a week-long camp with Erle, then promptly forgot everything I had learned once I got home. I'm halfway through the wudang hand weapons and know small san sao, basic long ha chuan and a smattering of dim mak katas. Learned the basics of the full bagua circular form and am now starting on the linear form.

I have been fairly slack with my training recently but the following is my usual:

1 x per couple of days - 5-6am: 1/2 hour 3 circle and bagua qigong, followed by a fast run-through of the 1st and 2nd section of the lu chan form to warm up. Then either 1st section or 3rd section at standard (slow) pace and concentration, or run through ba gua circular form once. If I have time, practice some wudang hand weapons forms.

Once or twice a week: Training in class. Start with 15 minutes 3 circle qigong followed by 1/2 hour plus of single and double push hands, then 1/2 hour of partner work (usually ba gua push hands). Then learn new form (currently bagua linear form) and form correction, then, if there's time, intensive partner work (focus mitts, small san sao or applications).

Monthly: One hour solo practice then 6-hour group class at the park. 1/2 hour or so qigong, then Keith teaches a new wudang hand weapon and one dim mak kata. Practice qigong principles first for 45 minutes or so, then solo practice, then partner work and finally applications.

My goals: To learn the rest of the wudang hand weapons, to get my grounding sorted out and opening/closing. Also to find out how to stop forgetting the lu chan form at the same rate I am learning ba gua. I'm very interested in learning from other teachers, for the range of experience, but I want to get my skill level up before I go to other classes every so often.


What I've found from my short tai chi experience is that your body will tell you how much practice you need. Sometimes you can go a week without doing anything then pick it up like you haven't stopped, other times you are great one day then you can't even stand on one leg the next. Just listen to your body.

[iamno]

I was told that for my daily practice "practice chi-kung and form first thing every morning, after that do what you have time for" You have a spare half hour- do your form. Spare 15 mins-chi kung. Kettles boiling- practice individual moves---on lazydays this sometimes adds up to 5 hours of various practice per day. :)

[Spudmore]

One of the things that sparked my curiosity was this article by Ed Boates.

http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/info/essays/brush.htm

Thanks for the links nzrik, hmmm.. now thats a quest that may take a few years :eek: