10/11/2012

Tai Chi Detective

Last night I stopped by Lee's White Leopard Kung Fu to check out the Tai Chi Class. Their website spoke of the many levels of Tai Chi to work on and the soundness of the lineage. They teach the “Wu” style of Tai Chi and break it down to varying number of steps in the form, starting with 17 I think and up to 108. Plus there is a “Saber” form where the Tai Chi person makes the moves with a sword in one hand.

The first half of the hour class is a standing meditation where everybody holds their hand out from the waist and very slowly moves their fingers. Master Lee sat by me as they did it and explained how each finger is connected to different body parts and body functions. So that slowly moving them increases circulation and Chi flow. He was quite adamant about Chi's relationship to a healthy body.

He also teaches at least two types of Kung Fu and commented on how fortunate he was to have such great teachers.

After the standing meditation he lead the class in a short form of a set of moves, after which people broke into groups to work on whatever they were focusing on. Some die the 42 steps,others the 17 and then some brought out the swords.

I am pretty sure it is all totally legit and it was very interesting and I am glad I went. BUT, there were a number of things that just didn't pull me in, although most of them were by no means disqualifying (well maybe one).

1. This may be the most superficial, but it just didn't look pretty or graceful.

It could be I don't have the eye to judge it but, whereas some people might think (incorrectly I believe) that Aikido might not “work” in a fight, I don't think any open minded person could watch even an average Aikido class and not think it was beautiful. You can see moving from their center, and you can see when they don't, but you get the idea of the way it is supposed to be.

It looked like people were all concentrating on just moving their arms. Not completely, but that is the feel I got from it

2. When they were doing the standing meditation even I could see the many of the people were slouching or leaning forward or backward. When I used to go the Zen center, while you were sitting a monitor or teacher would sometimes walk the room quietly correctly posture for a more effective session. It just seems strange that something that obvious was not addressed.

Of course I am the newbie and may not know what the plan is

3. When they got the sword from the rack, they were rusty on the flat of the swords.
It wouldn't affect the movements at all but it just caught my eye

4. As I was reading the brochure for the place there was a comment about you couldn't be released from your responsibility unless you were moving or had an illness. I thought it strange since all you would have to do was stop paying for the class. I thought.

5. Then when I left I was told I could try two lessons for $20, and when I asked what the fee was after that I found out you have to sign a one year contract and pay 3 months up front which I think figured around $100 to $110 a month. Then I remembered noting there were no prices on the website or the brochure.

None of the things would have prompted me to discount the place immediately, except maybe the contract, but all added together I was less enthused when I left than when I first came in. I even could have stomached a contract, if that is how these things are done, IF I saw something that totally grabbed me and made me feel like I HAD to get into it.

In comparison, the Toaist Tai Chi I went to on Tuesday and participated in still strikes me as graceful and I think I get a sense of its purpose.

Next week I continue with the DFWToaist Tai Chi class and plan to check out J K Wong Kung Fu Tai Chi in Richardson, which  I notice has a FAQ on their website that says the do not have a contract to sign.




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