John Kells - The Mysteries of Truth

Noticing

Part of the work in exploring tai chi is to notice things.

Notice connections such as the inside of the shoulder to the inside of the opposite hip.

Notice the connection to the ground as the pubic bone is gently lifted forwards and up.

Notice when you feel connected.

Notice when your upper body feels empty and light.

Notice the heat in the feet.

Notice.......and keep on noticing.

Lively and Spirited

" Being relaxed does not mean being limp, loose or sloppy. Practice your T'ai Chi Ch'uan in a lively and spirited way.

This means being attentive and agile, trying to understand the nature of yin and yang, substantial and insubstantial.

Many people fall on hard or bad times but find that their spirit enables them to live through these times more easily.

As T'ai Chi Ch'uan is practised more and more this feeling of spiritedness will increase, working towards the spirit of vitality."

Excerpt from a sheet of principles put together by an old friend of mine for his Adult Education classes in London during the 1980's.

Affirmation of Life

Here is some inspiration from Chungliang Al Huang, author of "Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain"

Same Difference 2

Two versions of Single Whip.

One from John Kells' Short Form, the other from Sun style.

The Left Side

After learning the long form on the right side, John Kells then taught the mirror image form.

This is called the left side because we started by sinking in the left leg. Let me dispel straight away all the idiotic suggestions that this will make your Chi run backwards or somehow damage your health.

What was interesting for me was the effect it had in terms of coordination and the mental clarity it evoked. Even now it feels better and more natural to me to  do a left side long form.

Whilst we will always favour one side more than the other, especially in applying the techniques, I do believe it makes sense to work both sides to increase mental agility.

The left side form also included some new postures and variations which we could then incorporate into our right side.

I don't believe it is absolutely essential to do a left side as we should thoroughly master one form and  the principles and techniques. But it does, in my personal opinion, add interest and depth to my practice.

Of course, in the words of the late Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse...opinions vary.

Softness

I find imagery very useful in approaching Tai Chi.


When it comes to Softness I like the image of the bale of straw.

When pressure is applied to the bale of straw, it naturally compresses , not collapsing or resisting.

When the pressure is released the bale of straw regains its shape.

This is Softness.