Hi Everyone - something a little non Tai Chi related - in my other life I am also a bit of a musician playing with a local band called Hurricane. We specialise in Bob Dylan covers with a bit of Leonard Cohen, Elvis Presley and other well known artist.

I also like to try my hand at a bit of creative songwriting so if you would like to hear a sample go to my 'my space' site at www.myspace.com/taichidave1 and let me know what you think. You will find two versions of Bloody Tuesday on there - one is the original version with just me and the other is with Martin Newell who kindly came up with some good ideas and provided some great harmonies and harmonica playing.

I would love to have a bit of feedback.

cheers.

Just had Email from someone who noticed I hadn't placed anything on Blog since July - sorry, I really didn't think anyone read it!!!!

Just for now here is an article written for the Great Bentley Magazine December issue - i will try and keep you all more up to date in the future.

Tai Chi and Body Awareness

Hello everyone, apologies for absence for the last few issues but things have been rather hectic.

This month I would like to talk about people’s body awareness (or lack of). Many people when they begin Tai Chi say that their balance and coordination is bad and they seem to put this down to ‘clumsiness’ on their part but in fact this is far from the truth. The reality is that many people have absolutely no awareness of what their body is actually doing – what the brain tells them and what is actually happening are often two entirely different things. For instance, when we start our Chi Kung exercise I always say that the feet should be shoulder width apart and parallel - meaning feet pointing straight forward. The look of surprise when you say ‘look down at your feet’ the first thing most people will notice is that there feet are not straight at all, in fact they are pointing outwards. With Tai Chi we learn to be aware of our body position and shifting of weight and posture and this in turn leads to better balance and coordination and easier breathing.

So next time you take a walk pay close attention to the way your feet make contact with the ground and the way they feel when the weight shifts from one foot to the other. You will probably find that you have been taking the actual movement of walking for granted and become lazy in your actions. It is a good exercise which can also be used as a form of meditation because while you are concentrating on that all those other thoughts that wiz through our heads on a regular basis just don’t have the chance to materialise.

The next six or ten week beginner courses at the studio will begin in January (dates yet to be fixed but they will be on Monday mornings or Monday/Tuesday and Thursday evenings so if you would like more information please contact me on Mobile 07734-982438 or email me at thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk - details of new classes will also be posted on my website www.taichi4all.co.uk of course you can turn up at any of the lessons for a taste of what Tai Chi can do for you.

May I just take this chance to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Thank you Dave

Hi one and all - well, how about that snow last night. I was truly amazed that anyone actually turned up for a class last night - just goes to show eh!!! Thought I would just say a word about breathing today.

I remember when I started my Tai Chi journey many years ago that one of the students asked if there was any special breathing techniques that we should use while practising our Tai Chi. This seemed a very strange request to me because we were only a little way through the long form and was having enough trouble remembering the moves. However, this particular student insisted and our master said that there was a special technique we should use and that he would show us it at that very moment. This made the inquisitive student very happy and he watched as the master stood hands at his side breathing gently. The master continued this for about ten minutes and then stopped. 'There', he said. 'Use that method, very effective.' The precocious student seemed quite disgusted at this and said it wasn't a special technique at all and that the master was just breathing in and out. 'Quite correct', said the master, 'in and out is very good.' But the student said that this was not special to which the master replied 'Oh yes, very special technique, in and out; try not doing it for fifteen minutes and see how special it is!' Much laughter ensued from most of the students but we never saw Mr. Precocious again!!! 

I know I have said this many times before but to get really great results from Tai Chi you have to practice. It absolutely amazes me when people say 'but I don't have time' - time is something that is thrust upon us and it is up to us to govern it and not let it govern us - A well known saying says that if you want something done ask a busy man! When I say 'get up in the morning fifteen minutes earlier to have some practice' you would think I was sending them on the quest for the Holy Grail! Most people give up Tai Chi saying they have trouble remembering the moves what they should say is I'm giving up because I don't practice. This sounds like a real rant on my part but you can tell me what you want but please be honest with yourselves and understand the real reasons. It takes years of practice to understand the intricacies of Tai Chi - I never say it is easy - one of my acquaintances who runs a martial art school in Colchester has a sign on the wall that says 'A black belt is only a White belt that never gave up' - I think that about sums it up really.  Enjoy your Training!!!

Master John Ding came to the studio on Sunday, 18th October gave insight to twenty or so students on applying the principles and concepts of Tai Chi. The day was a great success and everyone left with a new sense of purpose about their Tai Chi training - although everyone was looking a little wilted by the end of the seminar - I'm sure we all slept like logs that night.

Thank you to all the students who attended the seminar and also bigs thanks to Leslie (the wife) who provided us with a much needed lunch half way through the day - also big thanks to Julie who provided the biggest chocolate cake imaginable.

Here is the group photo.