East Winds
2nd Black Belt
I am always interested when I hear people talk about teaching “Tai Chi for Health”. Many students come to my classes looking for “Tai Chi for Health”. I usually say, I don’t know how to teach Tai Chi for Health, I only know how to teach Taijiquan. I tell them that what I teach in ALL my classes is Taijiquan. As a result of learning Taijiquan they will get good health benefits. I tell them they do not need to practice martial applications, but they certainly need to know what they are. Otherwise how do they know how to put hands, arms and legs in the correct position? What I teach to my “elder students” is exactly what I teach to my “martial” students. The difference is my “martial” students learn and practice applications, push hands, grappling and Chin Na. I contend that there should be no difference between teaching for health and teaching for martial purposes. Often the people who talk about only teaching for health do so because they do not know the martial side of the art. I would be interested in the views of others.