All elephants are gray, but not all gray things are elephants.

A mentor of mine once commented rather forcefully that "Tai Ji is NOT Qi Gong." Having thought about this for a while, it is fair to say that the differences are related to goals.

We've been training the "Eight Pieces of Brocade" over the last month or so. This is a very popular (for a thousand years or more) form of Qi Gong, which goes very well with Tai Ji. For the most part it is performed in a similar manner as the Tai Ji form, in the sense that we want to move in a smooth, rhythmic, and fluid manner for almost all the postures. The exception being posture 7, Punch and Glare, which is performed with a good bit of muscular intensity.

The other major difference is that Tai Ji is a martial practice, with martial intent in each movement, while Eight Pieces of Brocade is not a martial practice at all. The Eight Pieces is only concerned with health development and the development of the Qi system. The Tai Ji seeks to develop good health and powerful Qi flow in the Grand Circulation to support the martial aims of Tai Ji. Incidentally this improves health and well being. The Eight Pieces seeks nothing beyond the improved health and improved Qi flow in the grand circulation.

This distinguishes Tai Ji from Qi Gong practices, in that Tai Ji has a practical and utilitarian aim for the "use" of the Qi, while Qi Gong practices do not. Another way to view this, is that I can lift weights and do various calisthenics solely to feel and look better, or I can do these same practices because I want to play football better. In one case, I am able to increase the amount of weight lifted or the number of pull ups I do, just to have measured improvement in those specific activities. In the second case, the increase in weight lifted and pull ups performed is incidental to the true goal to improve the ability to block, tackle, catch and throw. In either case I will improve my health and appearance but in only one case is that the intended goal.

All elephants are gray, but not all gray things are elephants.

Schedule and Venue Change

A new year and a new schedule for Tai Chi at Gold's Gym. Commencing Saturday, 07 January 2012, the following new schedule and location will take effect.

Tai Chi will meet in the GGX Studio at 1130 AM vice the Mind and Body Studio. This will provide a larger venue and incidentally some improvements for training since the floor is hardwood rather than carpet. The time change results from the annual gym member survey, in which a number of members expressed that the present class was "too early." It also relieves some schedule conflicts in the Mind and Body studio and places Tai Chi after the Body Flow program in GGX.

Please see the complete schedule at the Gold's Gym Fredericksburg web site or take a sneek peek at a printed copy at the front desk.

End of Year and A New Beginning

Merry Christmas! We approach the end of the year and a new opportunity for a fresh beginning. Best wishes everyone. Good intentions matter less than plodding daily action. Take up a fitness activity you can enjoy this year and do it daily. Take care of your well being and do not allow anything else to distract you from your goals. Investing in and maintaining a fit body and mind will pay big dividends in your daily work and family life both now and in the years to come. Hopefully many of you will find that Tai Chi fits the bill as it will help both mind and body.

I'll share a comment that nutrition and fitness coach, Covert Bailey, used to share. He said "People are always asking me, "What's the best fitness activity? Is it running or swimming or what? and I always tell them the same thing. It's the one you do."

The Purpose of Training and Discipline

There is a quote from "The Life Giving Sword" by Yagyu Munenori, a famous Japanese swordsman. He wrote (tranlation by William Scott Wilson):

When you begin to study, there is something in your mind; you are obstructed by that thing, and it becomes difficult to do anything at all. If you can clear from your mind those things you have learned, they too will become nothing; and when you perform the techniques of the various Ways, the techniques will come easily regardless of what you have learned and without being contrary to it. When you perform an action you will be in harmony with what you have learned, without even being aware of it. ...

When you have run the length of various practices and none of those practices remain in your mind, that very lack of mind itself is the heart of 'all things.' When you have exhaustively learned the various practices and techniques and made great effort in disciplined training, there will be action in your arms, legs, and body but none in your mind; you will have distanced yourself from training, but will not be in opposition to it, and you will have freedom in whatever techniques you perform. You yourself will be unaware of where your mind is, and neither demons nor heresies will be able to find it. Training is done for the purpose of reaching this state. With successful training, training falls away.

This is probably one of my favorite quotations with respect to training and developing skill at anything you do. It was written with respect to swordsmanship and is especially relevant to Tai Chi and other martial arts. Even when we practice Tai Chi solely for the wonderful health benefits it can bring, this truth applies. We begin in a fog of confusion but disciplined training will dissipate that fog and eventually lead to a light of clarity beneath which even the shadow of discipline and training disappear. I am still seeking that light.