TEACHING QUALITIES ~ By the Legacy Holders, 2016 (May 2018)

TCF MISSION

The Tai Chi Foundation’s mission is to promote and spread the study and teaching of tai chi chuan in order to bring health and consciousness to humanity. Patrick Watson founded our School on the idea that we learn by teaching. Whenever we teach, we are working towards a deeper embodiment of the art for ourselves and our students for the benefit of all.

THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR TEACHING
As teachers, we aspire to live inside the awareness of what tai chi is and to express that fully.
We teach from the dantian, from a state of awakened presence.
 

WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO:

• Relax deeply and attain a more internal state of awareness
• Become aware of, focused in, and move from the dantian
• Be tai chi more than do tai chi.
• Extend this awareness into the rest of their everyday lives.
   

TEACHING TOOLS

1. Embodiment and showing our best form
Our own embodiment of form and principle is as important as the accurate verbalization of memorized instructions. When we teach, we show the highest level of embodiment and principle we have.  Even at beginning level we do the form with as much relaxation/sung as we can.

2. Indications
Our ‘common language’.  

Knowing the scripted words well means we can stay relaxed and confident about passing the material, while maintaining our focus in the dantian and guiding the energy of the whole class.

3. Demo’s
We want to be at ease with demonstrating and speaking at the same time.

We do this by describing our own (well-positioned) body rather than reciting memorized words.

4. Dantian focus is the key
Step into position from the Dantian.
Dantian timing: the dantian is what governs all steps, turns and shifts and arriving in position. It is the dantian and our level of relaxation that determine what we can manifest.  The place where we arrive is soft and flexible and will, over time, move towards the goal as described in the indications.

5. Hands-on adjustments

We adjust body to body and give a direct experience of what a position or move is about and can feel like. We do this from our own expression of what tai chi is, coming from the dantian and from our awakened presence. From our own relaxed bodies we convey relaxation with our touch.

6. TYB
TYB is an excellent way to both introduce and reinforce some basic concepts of tai chi.
See below for more specifics.  

OUR ATTITUDE IN TEACHING AND TEAMWORK
 

1. Emotional qualities in teachers
Being relaxed in our emotions as well as in our bodies is part of “being tai chi”. Our own joy, warmth and humor can make classes more enjoyable and effective. Encouragement will help students when facing challenges. If we are attractive and grounded, it encourages our students to follow suit. Patience and non-judgmental acceptance of students are crucial. If we are inspired, then our students will be inspired.

2. Respecting limits
A simultaneous balanced awareness of the goal, the principles and respect for one’s limits is needed. Sung is the key. We move to where we can without losing principle and then relax a bit more. This will lead to gradual and lasting change better than reaching and striving.

3. Team-teaching and humility

Everybody in the classroom is more at ease when we, as teachers, stay supportive and respectful of each other, build on what each other says, and avoid contradicting each other. Humility means that we take on the function of letting the teachings flow through us in service to others (rather than for our own glorification).
 

UNDERSTANDING AND CREATIVITY

• The TCF/STCC levels in the curriculum
  We need to understand which level we are teaching with its specific emphasis/aspect.

• Creative teaching
  Experienced apprentices can make conscious choices from indications, play with exercises and vary the presentation of material over class hours. More “music and melody” can be created on the baseline of the scripted words.
   

And last but not least: keeping the students and each other aware of the importance of:
                – Daily practice
                – Meditation/contemplation, karma processing, and healthy lifestyle choices
                – Continuing education at summer and winter trainings