 | 
December 27th, 2007, 12:09 AM
|  | Super Moderator   | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Koko Style(s): Wrestling, primarily Year(s): 30
Posts: 9,869
Rep Power: 100 | | | A journey of ...blah, blah, blah...
Can anyone recall their first day of instruction or very first real exposure to taijiquan and what that experience was like?
__________________
Wolfgang says:  I could think of a million better things to do in Japan for a month besides jumping off of picnic tables. - x893
|
December 27th, 2007, 02:34 AM
|  | Venerable Student | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: La Mesa, Ca. USA Style(s): CLF Kung Fu/ Yang Tai Chi Year(s): 4+/ 3+
Posts: 2,309
Rep Power: 82 | | | “ | Originally
Posted By: Unkotare 
Can anyone recall their first day of instruction or very first real exposure to taijiquan and what that experience was like? | ” | |
My first real exposure was the first tournament I went to at my school. I had only joined less than two months before and decided to just watch the first one.
I was sitting with my sister and watching Push hands tournaments. I was unlike anything I ever imagined MA to be like. My sister was asking me what that was about, and I knew nothing except it was tai-chi sparring. It was a total mystery to me, it made no sense, it was really really weird, I could not figure out what the heck was going on and yet it absolutely completely intrigued and fascinated me.
Of all the many things I love to do in MA, I would have to say that Push hands is my very favorite thing. It still completely fascinates me, and I can't even tell you why.
-aaradia
__________________
I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me & through me.& when it has gone I will turn to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remain.F.Herbert
|
December 27th, 2007, 08:54 AM
|  | Advisor  | | Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 6,029
Rep Power: 100 | | | At least Taijiquan-esque. It was "uhm ... you ! <hands talk> do <hands explanation> <head shaking if wrong, nod if good>". No journey, no sheet of smack, but at 9 I smacked someone unconscious with jin.
__________________
"Fawning, but proud!" - (at least sometimes, in rare cases)
"Killing them all didn't make it any better..." - "Are you a freak or something ???" - Max Payne
"Theft is a crime, even in Iraq." - Me.
Last edited by Nik; December 27th, 2007 at 08:56 AM.
|
December 27th, 2007, 11:17 AM
|  | GM of Chunky Cheese KF | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Style(s): Striking & Grappling Year(s): too few
Posts: 1,439
Rep Power: 39 | | | I remember it being a lot tougher than what I was used to seeing at Tai Chi Dance classes. Lot's of leg and core strengthening and stretching. I was the youngest in the class so my Sifu would always push me the hardest ( plus I was pretty unfit so it was for my own good ).
I remember hardly believing I had been working for only an hour. It felt like forever. Hahahah and that was the beginner class. And the way she taught, if you progressed to the intermediate you still come to beginner class but when the beginners leave you stay another hour for more advanced, so if you in advanced you would do 3 hours session. I got up to intermediate 2 hour sessions which was really intense for me. It is a weird thing to see a 70 year old Lady with better attributes than yourself. Makes you want to work harder.
She gave me a true appreciation for the tough side of Taijiquan where it is all about hard work and building strong attributes while at the same time learning to peel back that layered-onion of tension most of us carry.  |
December 27th, 2007, 01:02 PM
|  | Moderator  | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston Style(s): Wah Lum/Yang Tai Chi Year(s): passing by
Posts: 6,159
Rep Power: 149 | | | My first exposure to taijiquan was -- don't laugh -- a Star Trek episode. I watch that ep now and just go "WTF, that is the worst rendition of grasp the swallow's tail that I've ever seen," but the first time I saw it I was all "wooowwww, cool."
My first taiji class was pretty low-key, I just followed along during the warmups & then spent 45 minutes "learning to stand." By the end of it my legs were shaking with fatigue but at the same time I had tremendous energy and was totally jazzed. Was hooked from that point forward.
__________________ "Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san
"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes... |
December 29th, 2007, 05:37 AM
|  | Super Moderator    | | Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Z.O.D. Style(s): Hardcore
Posts: 21,269
Rep Power: 100 | | I signed up with a local "world champ"
and although the dude was great at his forms
he totally sucked at his knowledge of application and chi...
he even told me that taijiquan was not a fighting art, but for health only... 
__________________ | “ | Question Authority. Question Society. Question Reality. Question Yourself. Question your conclusions, your judgments, your answers. Question this. If you question everything thoroughly enough, the truth will eventually hit you upside the head and you will know. But here’s a warning: It won’t be what you imagined. It won’t be even close. | ” | |
all hail Martyr Fakka  |
December 29th, 2007, 06:02 PM
|  | Fear is the Mind Killer | | Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Style(s): Long Men Jia Quan Year(s): 27
Posts: 4,952
Rep Power: 81 | | | pain, pain and more leg shaking wierd alignment posture N weight focused pain.
__________________
One hit, see blood.
It's not enough to just not get hit | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | | | Thread Tools | | | | Rate This Thread | | | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26 AM.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0
|
