2012 and the End of the World

When I was a very young boy, I was taken on a short holiday to London by my parents. While we were waiting for the train back home, a woman accosted me on the platform and announced that the world was going to end in 2 weeks time.

My dad tried to tell me that it was a load of rubbish, but it didn't stop me worrying about it for at least a month after that. Finally, I forgot about it until recently, when an acquaintance in an internet chat room got very "excited" by comet Elenin last year. 

According to him, there was an almighty cover up about this comet that was (depending on how he was feeling) either going to smash into the earth or it's gravity was going to create massive natural disasters. Although there was plenty of very precise scientific calculations that the comet was going to have absolutely no effect whatsoever, no-one challenged his ravings, and quite a few people seemed to be really worried by him. Finally, I made a wager with him that absolutely nothing was going to happen.

What was really interesting was that he did not take me up on the wager. Which brings me to the conclusion that there are people in this world who like to scare other people about the end of the world, while fundamentally, they don't believe it's going to happen themselves. What did he have to lose from making the bet if he was so CERTAIN that it was going to happen?... Which brings me neatly to my next proposal.....

I bet all these "Dec 12th 2012 world will end" theorists 1 MILLION of whatever currency they subscribe to that the world will not end on that date. I'll be generous and add a month either way to take account of any 'errors in calculation'. 

Come on, what have you got to lose? If you are right, you won't need to give me any cash, anyway.

BUT.......

If you are not prepared to take me up on this, then please stop adding to everyone's already considerable daily worries. Get some fresh air. Make some real friends - ones who will keep your feet on the ground and let you know when your ideas are going off the deep end. These people - like me - are your real friends. 

Short forms versus long forms

I was recently reading the blog of an old friend I used to train with occasionally, and went to China with. He was lamenting all of the new 'short' forms that were being invented by various Masters around the world. Pick a number between 4 and 19, and there is probably a short form  with that amount of moves in it!

He predicted that these forms would get shorter and shorter until there was hardly any movements left. This got me to thinking. Was this a good thing? 

So what does this trend indicate, and how does it bode for the future of Taijiquan? I gave this some consideration. Obviously, it poses some confusion for beginners. Which form is correct? What are their merits and drawbacks? 

Many people would argue that martial arts need innovation, or else they will die out. This is true. But none of these new short forms have any new movements in them. They are merely older movements in a different order. So innovation is not the reason why these forms have evolved.

Practicing a short form means you take more rests between sets. You also have fewer moves from which to pick up the basics. Therefore, you are less likely to get a good workout or solid technique from the exclusive practice of a short form. So they do not improve your physical condition as well as a long set.

The changing demands on our lives are the reason for these forms. Students have less and less free time to practice. Therefore a shorter form will be helpful. I also believe that modern people give up too quickly. A short form will give a student a more immediate reward of the feeling of achievement at having completed a milestone. Once they are 'hooked', the teacher can then offer them a more traditional long form.

When looking for other examples of this, one only needs to listen to modern pop music and compare it to 'traditional' Classical music. As our attention span decreases, and the spare time available shortens, so do the songs. Do I enjoy modern pop songs? Some are OK. The pop songs I enjoyed from the 70s and 80s that are still being played are great!! However, none of them compare to Beethoven's 5th or Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.

So am I worried that all these short forms will dilute Tai Chi? Well, perhaps they will initially, but everyone still recognises that the traditional forms are the best. These short forms must stand the test of time. For the real value of martial arts is not inventing new tricks, but patiently discarding all things that do not work - improvements by subtraction. A teacher teaches a student to become good by eliminating the student's bad habits until whatever is left is good Tai Chi. The same will happen with these forms. What does not work will be dropped, and what is of true value will always shine through.

Shoes

When I start with new students, I go through the usual guidelines about loose fitting clothes that allow the body to move freely. Then I say the following:

"Once you take up Tai Chi, you begin an endless search for the perfect pair of shoes."

Usually, everyone laughs. But there is genuine truth in this. In my many years of practice, I have tried all manner of Tai Chi and martial arts shoes. They all have their advantages and their drawbacks.

A pair of Tai Chi shoes should be well-fitting to keep the foot secure, but not constricting in any way. They should allow you to grip the floor well, but also allow you to slide or twist your heel if required. Your shoe should allow you to move your ankle freely, yet support and protect from knocks and blows. The sole should be thin enough to allow your feet to feel the floor, yet it should also be thick enough to support the arch and protect you from some of the more powerful stamping moves.

Once you find a shoe that really works for you, the chances are you will wear through them in a few weeks, because you feel so confident using them. When you do wear through them, you go back to the sports shop, only to find out they are discontinued!

After a long period wearing a pair that were ok, I recently bought a new a pair that are fantastic. They are light, comfortable, grippy, supportive and padded in the right places. They were also very cheap because - guess what? - They are a DISCONTINUED LINE !!!!

Oh well, back to the drawing board. I'll enjoy these while I can. The search will continue when I wear them out.

Sound and Movement

This is how I discovered one of my most effective training tools. I am telling you about it, because I believe it has applications that may help you make significant change in your life.

It starts back in 2010, when I started experimenting with music as an aid to focus for Tai Chi. Following a visit to the Monroe Institute, I was keen to see if the binaural beat technology that they used for personal exploration could be used to supplement martial arts training. I decided that any verbal guidance would be off-putting, so I opted for using Metamusic; specially adapted music designed to bring about changes in brainwave states.

There are many titles available, so I purchased a range and set about testing them on myself, until I finally decided to use "Indigo For Quantum Focus" written by J.S. Epperson.

At the time I had 3 separate Tai Chi classes, all with similar levels of skill and at roughly the same place in the curriculum. Class 1, I decided to have no music at all (control), class 2 were given normal inspiring music (a mixture of standard New Age and Tai Chi music). Class 3 were given "Indigo for Quantum Focus" to listen to while practicing Silk-reeling and Zhan Zhuang training.

I expected a general lift in performance for groups 2 and 3, given that they were having music to focus on. However, I was very surprised when Class 3 all said "What IS that music?" They were all surprised at the effect. Amongst the feedback I received was a greater ability to focus on the movements and a more intense awareness of the body (kinaesthetic awareness).

As the weeks of the study continued (10 weeks in total), class 3 moved on significantly more than the other two classes. The measurable benefits were as follows:

• Increased focus of attention.
• Increased ability to relax while the body is under sustained pressure.
• Heightened awareness of 'Chi' circulation.
• Greater sensitivity and observation of one's partner during pairs work.
• Greater group social cohesion.
• 22% lift in retention rate (the number of students who don't skip a class). 

As a result of the above trial, I now integrate "Indigo" into regular sessions where there is a need for sustained focus and relaxation. There is no doubt within my mind about the efficacy of binaural beat technology for enhancement of the experience of internal martial arts.

Restaurant Kung Fu

I was recently discussing the various merits and drawbacks of alcoholic beverages with my friends, when it reminded me of some of my time in China. Master Liming Yue had organised a get-together with some of his martial arts friends. There was a Shuai Jiao master (Chinese wrestling), some various modern Wushu practitioners, a young boy who was learning Shaolin and a couple of Tai Chi practitioners. 

I had just received my instructors certificate, but was under no illusion that I was in the company of people with far more experience. Things were very formal. Everyone was polite. We went to a restaurant, and ate a hearty lunch together. As per normal Chinese custom, we started toasting each other. As the beer flowed and inhibitions dropped, the young boy (prompted by his father) got up and did some Shaolin Long Fist form. Everyone cheered and clapped. 

Then up stood the Shuai Jiao master, who wanted me as his stooge. He showed me some locks and throws - very interesting techniques. Then as the drink continued to flow, I think just about everyone got up and showed their skill - me included. There was no hint of competitiveness or ego. Everyone wanted each other to do well. 

With all of the problems that alcohol causes, it is interesting to note that in this situation, it was a definite aid to conviviality, and a big learning enabler for me. I wonder how little I would have learned that day, if everyone remained polite, formal and defensive?