I just signed up for a Tai Chi class

[bif]

It starts next week. once a week for six weeks. The on-line YouTube vids were a nice introduction. I'm looking forward to full one-hour sessions.

[SheltieLover]

1. Awesome!

Let us know what you think & how you feel afterwards pls?

[Alpeduez21]

2. I did Tai Chi

at the YMCA gym. At the time we had a baby gate to section the kitchen off. Before the class I would lurch over the gate. After, I was able to lift one foot over put it down and smoothly shift my weight over the gate lifting my trailing foot. I felt like a dancer it was so smooth.

Anyway that's one example of how tai chi had a positive effect on my life. There was a calming effect on my psyche most likely due to concentrating on the movement and letting go of distractions for an hour.

[mitch96]

3. Neat. What style? Long form or short form. I did Chen for years but since I've moved

there are no Chen practicers near me... I did it for health not the marshal aspect.
My teacher from China said "The tai chi that works for you is the best tai chi" Neat old guy.
m

[bif]

4. Not sure what style

I didn't know there were different ones. I'll let you know next week.

[mitch96]

5. I believe Chen was the original style that all others came from.

I think after that it was Yang, Sun and Wu.. They are all basically the same.. Like a chevy and a ford are different but they are both cars and do the same thing... Some practioners make up their own style with is a mish mash of different parts of different forms.. All good the thing is to do it.. it's great for geezers like me..
m

[bif]

6. It's both

The instructor asked us what we wanted to do and we opted for a combination of the two.

[mitch96]

7. Which two? Chen and Yang? they are the most popular... Story has it that in Chen village

only Chen family members could learn this martial art with health giving properties..A servant would sneak and watch the form being practiced and took that knowledge and developed Yang style.
Nice story... There always has to be a story..Sun style and Wu style came from Yang so they are all "cousins".
m

[bif]

8. We're doing Qigong and Tai Chi

The Tai Chi is a slowed down version of martial arts. I'm not sure what that style is called. Our instructor basically has her own method/styles.

[mitch96]

9. My Chen instructor had an "in" with the instructors in Chen Village. He had his teacher come

here to the states to lecture and evaluate our progress. At the end of the lectures he said that the tai chi you do is the correct tai chi for you.
Nobody is perfect and you are always learning..The important thing is to DO IT..

Here is one of my teachers from years ago. For a time there we had a pipeline of Chen masters come to the US..
This is Chen Long form. Many movements are repeated. Short form leaves out the repetitive
movements... It's all good..
m