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Exercise Science Department
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97301
(503) 370-6420
(503) 370-6379 fax
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[ACTIVITY COURSES]
[POLICIES & REGULATIONS]
[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]
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[ABS]
[FENCING]
[FITNESS]
[GOLF]
[KARATE]
[SCUBA]
[SKI]
[STEP]
[TAI CHI]
[WEIGHTS]
[YOGA]
Tai Chi Chuan
[GENERAL]
[FAQ]
[LEVELS]
[TRAINING]
[PRINCIPLES]
[GUIDELINES]
[CHI KUNG]
[INSTRUCTOR]
EXSA 084X | Joseph A. Laronge
The Seven Levels to Mastery of Tai Chi
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
Level One in Temple Style is geared toward creating a strong, yet fluid foundation. In the beginning of the system, during the first year, your Tai Chi must be carefully and patiently practiced. You must allow enough time between learning new forms for your body to change, structurally. Many new Tai Chi students have no idea how frozen and immobile their hips, knees, ankles and other joints actually are. The Foundation Fundamentals appear simple and easy while watching, but take much practice to perform correctly. Beginning Tai Chi students should spend enough time on each form and not be concerned with getting to the next form. Your body will make the necessary adjustments and you will successfully move through the system by concentrating on The Foundation Fundamentals.
Level One is not restricted to only Foundation Fundamentals. After creating a foundation to build upon, you will soon begin to learn new material at a faster, yet appropriate rate. Level One contains all the forms up to and including the construction of The First Section, right and left sides. The Two Person Practices are also taught from the very beginning and will be emphasized throughout your Tai Chi training.
Temple Style encourages learning all the forms on both sides. This feature is and will become even more important in your Tai Chi future. By the time you complete Level One in Temple Style, your body should have changed considerably. Your joints will function more smoothly and securely. Your posture will be corrected considerably. You will be breathing more fully in a coordinated fashion, and you will develop a new way to move using your whole body and become firmly rooted to the ground.
This first part of Temple Style training should not be skimmed over. You must realize that your Tai Chi future is based largely on your first year. Be patient and careful not to skip a single detail during your first year. The first year is also your hardest. If you neglect anything in your first year, it will reappear to haunt you until you have successfully repaired it.
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