Tai Chi

Spring 2007

This is not a schedule so much as a list of what I hope for us to accomplish in our approximately 26 hours of class time.

• Learn the basic movements of the Standardized 24-Posture pattern of Tai Chi Quan well enough that a knowledgeable observer will recognize it.
• Refine the basic movements so that the aforementioned observer will consider the physical movements to be "correct".
• Introduce, and practice, enough fundamental principles that you will have moments where you unify mind, body and qi when playing the pattern.

In addition, we will take time to introduce some subset of the following. Note that all of these are associated with the third point above.

• Standing Zhang exercises to help develop correct posture and the beginnings of qi.
• Walking Zhang exercises to help make the transition to correct posture while moving.
• Push Hands basics to point out the original reason for the movements in the Tai Chi pattern.
• Additional Tai Chi Patterns.
• An introduction to Bagua Zhang (another "internal" Chinese martial art)