Tai Chi Practice Tips from David Parry-Jones

Thanks to PJ for these great ideas about practice. Read more about practice from Matthias Schossig.  Let me know if you'd like to contribute! --Catherine

Practice - Am I doing it wrong?
Practice at home is like practice at the studio when Shifu is working with someone else, or not watching you :) You are working towards a visual/mental ideal you have formed based on your instruction. You know that you are not quite achieving the goal, but you are trying and getting closer all the time. You can achieve that goal sooner if you augment your class learning with home practice.

Practice
To me the term practice means doing an activity to achieve an improvement. Therefore practicing Tai Chi is slightly different from doing Tai Chi - although you obviously learn each time you "do" Tai Chi - practicing implies a specific focus on certain areas to achieve technical or mental "perfection."

My practice thoughts:

• Practice daily, if possible, and at a time where you can be mentally and physically focused. Privacy is good also.
• Have a specific practice goal for that day/time: complete a specific part of the form you have just been shown; improve execution of a move/form; achieve an even flow of  movements; breathing, relaxation, etc.
• Make sure you are relaxed: do some Qi Gong to enhance your focus and relaxation.
• Practice the fundamental "drills" frequently in your practice - slow them way-down, looking for  fluid movements and a gradual weight shift.
• Break difficult moves down into smaller parts:
• Go over the starting and ending positions and the sequence of events between the two. Reviewing/understanding the elements of the move (block, strike etc) will help you "find" the interim positions
• Section 3 example: practice bending down and gathering and shifting weight to one foot utwitho performing the kick.
• Just do waist and arm movements without steps until you feel comfortable.
• Focus on the weight shift for a move without the arm movements (like the Tai Chi walk) - feel your center and weight shifting as you "ground" yourself.
•  Practice some strength building exercises: Qi Gong, Horse stance, Ba Gua
• Have fun - create your own "drills" piecing together some parts of the form that you enjoy or that challenge you - maybe that's all of the form :)
• Take the time to do some Tai Chi separate from practice. Complete the whole form or select something you have learned, and know quite well, and perform that the best way you can - closest to your ideal.
• Recognize the effort you have made and recognize your successes.