1. “How do I know if what I am doing is truly healthy for me”? 2. What attitudes should I take concerning pushing or being pushed?

Everyone’s journey is different according to the individual state of each person at a particular time and all should be allowed to grow into and out of things. That withstanding, I suggest we look at practicality, the human organism and the basic needs of the human condition. Inevitably, we must look into why we are entering into Tai Chi practice. This means reflection and seeking insight into our own condition. Whether it is martial arts, meditation or health that we seek practicality and attitudes that develop and forge a fluid, healthy and happy spirit, mind and body and system that encourages continued practice throughout the remainder of life.

Tai Chi, A System of Health? When I came to Tai Chi, I did not know it was a health system or meditation. I understood it was a fighting system that incorporated meditation thereby falling into the category of “health system” and understood it would require lifelong persistence in solo and group practice to achieve high level in all platforms believing, and confirming that for me, the ability to identify the intentions of myself and others and learn to respond appropriately through interaction that is friendly and mentally and physically challenging was a worthy pursuit.

My interests quickly shifted from merely the martial to the spiritual, medicinal and practical martial art properties that I believe preoccupy the mind and psyche constantly. Time management would be required if I was to transform my life and being. Having realized some basic human needs I found Tai Chi time and cost effective. I would have a daily exercise, meditation and a relaxed yet scientific martial arts program all in one time investment.

Making three honest lists in each category and seeing which list is greater may give insight into what we are “truly” looking to get out of our practice and study.

Survival- Defense (against assailants, old age, shame, your own and the worlds ignorance etc.)

Food- Nourishment in all it’s forms (food and the ability to get more, meditation, acceptance, love exercise etc.)

Shelter- A place to put your physical body where it will be safe from the elements (meditation to reside in the soul, friends that console and warm, family etc.)

It is my opinion that most if not all of our actions stem from supporting one if not all of these categories. All of these categories are important and devastating when deprived, none so much as “Survival” more directly “self-defense” at all levels; physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological etc. Without this, the other categories are not sustainable regularly enough to support what we would call a more or less healthy and productive existence or “harmony”.

Inquire into what are the things you are looking for?

1. Motivation. 2. Competition. 3. Friends with like interests. 4. A Possible Mate. 5. Martial Arts For Protection 6. Martial Arts For Exercise 7. Therapeutic 8. Improved health 9. Meditation 10. Place To Get Away 11. Relaxation 12. Life Direction 13. Looks Beautiful 14. Enlightenment

Group Vs Solo Practice As in all physical systems, Tai Chi appears not to be for everyone though it is my personal opinion that everyone can benefit on many levels from these types of spiritual martial art practices. Whether solo or group these types martial, spiritual and meditative systems are simply good exercise. They improve mental and physical flexibility, strength of muscles and bones, stamina, general movement and grace and more. Often what you want to get out of the practice and what you may be coming out of this practice with differ which is just as good, if not better than getting what you want. Many players that learn the form or move on to pushing hands stop going to classes focusing on the failures rather than the process. Others are truly motivated and do well on their own but mostly they lose interest and motivation and stop altogether. Group practice keeps a player going in solo practice, some do it because they do not like practicing alone, and still, others to keep them in the right company and I am certain there are many other reasons. Below are just a few.

Reasons For Group Practice 1. Friendly Competition 2. Encouragement 3. Company 4. Positive Atmosphere 5. Guidance through example and corrections.

Reasons For Solo Practice 1. Builds fortitude 2. Self-reliance 3. Determination 4. Character 5. Relaxing 6. Meditative 7. Private, strive for excellence without distraction.

Again, the decision to group or solo practice is purely a personal one though it is my opinion that they compliment each other and should not be separated if possible. I move to those that move into two-person Tai Chi either for martial arts or meditation. The checklist will be a very good tool for these individuals in particular. Those that are looking to expand themselves through competition style pushing hands will find it has many good things and some possible set backs as does any type of competition art.

Training Competitively 1. Builds character, self-esteem and intensity. 2. It lends attention to detail in everything. 3. Strives to excel and grow. 4. It impresses the importance of following rules and good sportsmanship.

These are just a few of the many other good things. From differences in upbringing, cultural bias etc and personality distortions negative things may emerge.

1. Rage 2. Jealousy 3. Unnatural desire to overpower, conquer and control. 4. Inflexibility in mind and spirit. 5. Missing opportunities for other possible attacks and defenses outgoing and incoming. 6. Over-commitment to and using grossly large counters and attacks.

Looking at traditional Chinese medicine we find the following, 1. Regular anger, frustration stimulates the wood element (liver/gallbladder meridians). If left unchecked, excess or a deficiency through over use or lack of activities or attitudes that nourish the entire system bring about excess or deficient condition. 2. Desire to excel and disappointment affects the fire element (heart/small intestine and also the triple warmer/pericardium). 3. Nervousness causes water element (bladder/kidney) stimulation and over stimulation is possible. 4. Inability to let go affects the metal element (lung/large intestine).

Everyone wants to do well but often forget the laws of nature, however, excess emotions adversely affect the organs. Persistence is really the greatest requirement. Everything excellent comes through an investment of time and practice. Those that do not adhere to these rules are, more often than not, mutations that either benefit surroundings or have an adverse effect. Though beautiful they may or may not be. The statement “True skill comes without effort” means much to me. It means fun combined with much time, much work and many failures.

Non-Competitive Training A tiger or bear playfully mauling its less sensitive and responsive recipient, Master Kauz assumes nothing is solid and finds the easiest path to the center of balance without offering a pushing or a striking surface. Through continued work with Herman Kauz we hope to understand that it is not enough to simply push or be pushed, it is equally important to notice possible eight posture attacks. Competitive focuses on pushing and often the player forgets that the other player has free hands and though a player may not be able to be pushed or pushed, they may be susceptible to a variety of strikes particularly, when attempting to find the target and/or powering up for a strong push and nurtures such commitment that missing the target or making intentions known early allowing for a counter of some sort may occur. Focusing on safety and addressing possibilities that might occur on the streets, against an aggressor with some degree of talent or skill in adapting who does not know rules but seeks only to find deficiencies and strike with hand or cutlery may very well be a more practical approach which means studying techniques that would disqualify one in competition.

When training in this forum, 1. It is important to focus equally on the evasion of incoming through the four-ounce theory (never invest or allow more than four ounces of pressure on the body) and simultaneous attacks. 2. Stay on the center (body) and find the off-balancing point. 3. Use (and do not allow yourself to be used through) tense arms. Bypass or use tense arms as a steering wheel. Four ounce theory applying. 4. Control or mislead the arms defending and control the lead hand/arm while entering to make contact on the body with your other hand. 5. Remember that inflexibility leaves room for being cornered and failure to stick and control is rewarded with a friendly soft pat indicating that you have left yourself open and did not recognize, adapt or evade in time. Done playfully and without malice, this helps both players adapt to changing situations. 6. Learn to make space by turning, folding using up and down and side-to-side appropriately. 7. Tensing up is considered a move and is taken advantaged of. If an attack is tense, telegraphed or holds more than four-ounces from the onset, strike immediately or evade first causing a miss and attack accordingly with push, palm, chop, fist etc without malice or destroying power. 8. It is important to not miss the target and your job is to use as little effort when controlling while causing your partner to miss. 9. Stay light through the four-ounce theory. This lightness affords adept changes and adaptation. 10. Practice Stationary regularly. Though many complain that stationary is limited, it promotes flexibility in mind and body and puts persons in situations that promote finding the strongest and safest position, timely adaptation and evasiveness addressing deficiencies. The player that agrees to play defense puts their rear leg six inches away from a wall, if one is available. This helps teach a player to create time through space and motion and notice and disturb things as they develop.

ATTITUDE THAT MAY HELP 1. A relaxed and playful attitude is best. 2. Take note of your partner’s strengths and weaknesses and correct them in first yourself and then your partner if appropriate and well received. 3. Seek not to overdo. Large and gross movements. This is a distortion. Work smart not hard. 4. Don’t be overanxious. This is the same as tensing up. 5. Take advantage of what is overdone. 6. Focus on offering no resistance by being sensitive to any touch and not allowing more than four ounces of pressure to land on the body even if you must give up you position to do it. 7. Focus on being evasive and flexible misleading your partner. 8. Seek to use as little power as possible exchanging power for precision. 9. Seek to adapt your positioning to ever changing situations. 10. Remember that your partner is not really pushing you. You are allowing yourself to be pushed. 11. Remain balanced. 12. Lead by following. 11. Remember that there will always be someone with greater skill so practice, win and lose correctly and for the benefits that will come with time. 12. Remember that in the absence of many hours per day or talent improvement generally comes in five-year increments. So settle in. 13. Show appreciation. v Remember that your partner is affording you a great opportunity to learn on a level that is difficult to attain with solo practice alone. v Do not injure or dishonor your partner unnecessarily. v Follow the rules. How you lose is as important as how you win. Keep to the to the principles.

Henry Oliveras is full-time Zen Shiatsu Neuromuscular Therapist, a private & group Chen Style and Cheng Manching’s Yang Style Tai Chi & Medical Qigong instructor on faculty at the New England School of Acupuncture and, formerly, the Director of Internal Arts at the Charles River School of Shiatsu servicing Massachusetts.