The purpose of this page is to set the record straight with regard to some common misconceptions that crop up again and again.  

 

Here are a few examples of the enduring myths we come across:

 

 

 

WRONG   

 

Tai Chi is still a martial art and it's one of the most effective martial arts around for anyone with sufficient intelligence and patience to learn it properly.  It does, of course, provide gentle exercise, suitable for all age groups, but it can also provide rigorous training and develop useful fighting skills for those who wish to pursue this aspect.

 

HOWEVER

 

We can sympathise with people who have gained this impression since it looks slow and relaxing and there are so many teachers around who are not into the fighting side, either because the idea of self-protection offends them in some way or because they don't have sufficient interest or patience to learn it, and so offer it as a kind of watered down exercise system instead.  It's hard to imagine anyone doing the same thing with Karate or Brazilian Ju Jutsu, but it's a myth that Tai Chi practitioners have always had to put up with.

 

 

 

HOWEVER

 

It is not surprising in some ways, as there are some Tai Chi Teachers who are also Taoists, and some of the Tai Chi principles are derived from the philosophy underlying the Wu Chi and Tai Chi symbols, which are Taoist in origin.  On the other hand, many Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, Agnostics, Sikhs and people from virtually every belief system, culture and walk of life practice Tai Chi and and though some teachers may have an interest in Taoism, many have other religious beliefs or don't have a religion at all, like us.

 

Again, we sympathise with those who have got the wrong message since, for anyone unfamiliar with this martial art, it is difficult to differentiate between the real stuff and some decidedly dodgy stuff that goes on -  we do come across the occasional cult using the name of Tai Chi or Taoism to further its aims.  Since even governing bodies have been deceived by some of this stuff it makes it even harder to know what you are getting so perhaps some caution is justified.

 

On the other hand, groups of older people trying to keep fit are not likely to pose any kind of threat to established religions, unless we take into consideration the tendency for Tai Chi exercise to help people to calm down and think more rationally, which could make them less easily led.  If this causes anyone concern, then sadly we have no sympathy.

 

 

 

WRONG

 

It takes an average of ten years to become a competent Tai Chi instructor.  Some (who have a fair level of natural talent to begin with) have done it in less time but most take rather longer to assimilate all the skills and knowledge required.  In our school, the minimum standard of Tai Chi skill required is the equivalent of a black belt in Karate and includes hand forms, weapons and martial applications.  Our own instructors not only have advanced skills but they have also proved themselves to be capable of communicating these skills effectively and safely to others and have a portfolio of evidence to prove it.  Nobody would expect to acquire a Karate or Judo black belt, or a professional teaching qualification, in a couple of weekends yet people imagine this to be possible in Tai Chi.  As with any martial art, Tai Chi mastery requires dedication, intelligence and patient practice over a long period of time. In fact it normally takes at least twice as long to master Tai Chi than any other martial art because of its complexity and subtlety. In fact, it is the root that many other martial arts developed from in the first place.

 

HOWEVER

 

Again, members of the public can be excused for thinking otherwise since there are so many con-artists out there eager to take your money for their services.

 

It's sad that there are people who demean our profession in this way, but without greater public awareness of the reality, there seems to be little we can do to stop them.  For example, two people we know, with no previous experience, asked if we could teach them how to teach Tai Chi over a weekend.  When we declined, they thought we were being difficult and bought in someone else instead.  A couple of weeks later they proudly proclaimed themselves to be fully qualified Tai Chi instructors, which kind of makes a mockery of all the long years of hard work our own instructors have put in, and these were not what you might consider to be gullible people, they were senior medical practitioners in a hospital!

 

Another example is a College lecturer who went on a three hour "instructor training programme" one afternoon and came back convinced that she could now do and teach Tai Chi on her courses.  When asked what she had learned she replied that "it was easy, you just wave your arms around and activate your chakra centres"!

 

It's not even as if you get what you pay for, since some of these charlatans charge people thousands to learn to teach their bogus and often unsafe styles and systems, while we charge very little since we consider that a person's courage, hard work and discipline over many years should be rewarded and like to give something back to them by facilitating their development as teachers and helping them to become established.

 

Unfortunately our altruism may be counter-productive since we remain known only to the dwindling few who actually know what Tai Chi is, while blatant rip-off merchants merrily rake it in and thrive.

 

 

We may add to this list from time to time, but for now we hope that this will help to overcome some of the prejudice around and also help to prevent a few people from being ripped off.

 

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