How to Find a Good Taiji Teacher

One of the most oft-encountered questions among prospective Taiji students is “How can I find a good teacher? How do I even know what a good Taiji teacher IS?”

As “Taiji” becomes ever more popular in the United States and around the Western world, it is essential for a prospective student to understand how to select a truly qualified teacher. Without studying under a high-level teacher, you will gain only the most superficial results from your considerable investment of time, energy, and money.

The Chinese say, without an excellent teacher, you will get merely the “skin and hair” of the art, not the “bone and marrow.”  So if you want the “marrow” of the art, you must find a good teacher!

Before seeking a teacher,  you must do your own “self-inventory”

            Before seeking a teacher, it is important to ask yourself  WHY you really want to study Taiji.  Is it for health, for a gentle daily exercise, or for martial art ability?  What is your age and current level of physical fitness?  

            The answers to these questions are important, because with an idea of what you really want and expect, it will be much easier to find your proper resonance with a teacher who can really benefit you.

            Many people who want to study Taiji really don’t know what they want. Some just want to ”check it out”; some have heard about the health benefits and are seeking a form of daily exercise, while a relative minority have serious health problems and they have heard that Taiji might help. An even smaller minority want to learn Taijiquan as a martial art.

              Doing a written “inventory” of what your needs and wants really are will be invaluable as your search for a good teacher proceeds.  

 

Five Key Qualities of a Good  Taiji Teacher  

 

            Here are the Five Key Qualities of a good Taijiquan teacher:

1)                  A “Lineage”

    The very first qualification any good Taiji teacher must have is a lineage. That means that the teacher can demonstrate a line of succession that goes from him/her back to a recognized Style of Taiji Quan, and ultimately, to the founder of that Style.

   There are several common Styles of Taiji Quan practiced in the United States:

          The Yang Style, standardized by Yang Ch’eng Fu in the 1920’s,                   and the derivative “Yang Style Short Form” created by Cheng Man Ch’ing.  

    The Wu Jian Quan Style, standardized by Wu Jian Quan and Ma Yueh Liang.

The Chen Style, derived from Chen Zhang Xing, with several current lineage holders, among them Chen Xiao Wang and Feng Zhi Chiang.

    The Sun Style, established by Sun Lu Tang and standardized by him and his daughter Sun Jian Yun.

     And a few lesser known Styles, including the traditional Taoist Wu Dang Style and the Yang Mi Quan Style, as well as the newly-created “Twenty Four” and ”Forty Eight” Movement Styles, which were created by modern “Sports Committees” in China.

The purpose of this chapter is not to delve into the history of the various Taiji Quan Styles and families, since that would require an entire book to do it justice. Rather, it is simply to indicate that any teacher of quality can show that his/her art is genuine and derives from a recognized Style of the art. For a fascinating partial history of Taiji Quan’s development see Lost T’ai-chi Classics from the Late Qing Dynasty by Professor Douglas Wile. Also, note the excellent brief history written by Scott Rodell and available on his website at www.grtc.org

Finding a real teacher is absolutely critical in the current Taiji environment in the United States where there are a number of master-level teachers of very high achievement, but there are also numerous “teachers” who have taken only a few classes, or even just one seminar. Many “teachers” teach self-created movement awareness techniques and breathing exercises and call it “taiji.” Other teachers combine Yoga, Taiji, dance, and body awareness exercises and label that “taiji.”

Just be aware that in order to glean the genuine health and body-mind development benefits of Taiji Quan, you MUST learn the genuine art from a real teacher. As the Taiji Classic, “Song of the Substance and Function of the Thirteen Forms” says:  “If you do not seek carefully [study according to the principles of the Taiji Quan Classics] and examine thoroughly, your time and effort will be spent in vain, and you will have cause to sigh with regret.”  That also means that your teacher must be well versed in the Taiji Quan Classics and teach according to the principles in the Classics. That is the only true art of Taiji.

2)      A Sufficient Level of Experience

             It would seem obvious, but your teacher must have a suitable level of experience. I have been quite surprised to find numerous “teachers” of Taijiquan who have only attended a seminar, and at least one I  happened to hear about, learned Taiji from a video!  

Taijiquan is a profound art, and is considered by traditional Chinese as a “national treasure.”  A qualified teacher of the art would be equivalent to a PhD in the West.

  Here the standards are looser, but it is crucial for you to find a teacher who has studied for a long enough period of time to really understand the art.

          There is a pithy “martial arts proverb” which sums this up quite well…

                    “One hundred days, small accomplishment

                      One thousand days, middling accomplishment

                       Ten thousand days, great accomplishment.”

That means at the very least that your teacher should have about three years (1000 days) of formal training and daily study before teaching. And this is the absolute minimum requirement. At the other extreme, your teacher may have almost 28 years (10,000 days)  of training, which would be excellent.

There is one final point which concerns the age of your teacher: It is a Chinese tradition that a “teacher should not be too young or too old.”  Too young means their art and experience of life is still immature; too old means that they may be unable to fully demonstrate the techniques.  In general, the best masters are said to be between 45 and 75 years old.  But there are exceptions. Some teachers are remarkably proficient and mature even at a young age, while others can be in advanced years and still in excellent condition to demonstrate the entire art of Taiji. So just find out the lineage and experience level of a teacher before beginning to study.

  3)       Knowledge of the Taiji System

                  Of the entire “universe” of Taiji Quan teachers in the United States, only a small fraction know the entire Taiji System. When most Americans think of Taiji, what they imagine is the slow-moving Solo Form. They do not realize that Taiji is a multi-faceted art, which includes numerous elements for a complete and all-encompassing method of mind-body training.

The important point when selecting a teacher is that a teacher at least be aware that there IS a Taiji System. If your prospective teacher thinks the Solo Form is the entirety of Taiji, look elsewhere. It is not necessary for your teacher to actively know or be proficient in every facet of the Taiji System, but s/he should at least understand the rudiments of two-person work  (Push Hands and defensive Applications), and preferably know one or more weapons forms (Saber and Sword are most commonly practiced).

If the teacher you are interviewing has “no clue” about Taiji defensive Applications and weapons, their teaching will lack any depth and real understanding.

Your own aspiration in Taiji will determine the level of  teacher with whom you should study. If you simply want basic physical fitness and relaxation, a low level teacher may suffice. But if you want to truly experience the deeply rejuvenating effects of Taiji or want to learn Taiji Quan as a martial art, a high level teacher is absolutely essential.  While Taiji is widely renowned as a profoundly effective healing art, its truly remarkable health benefits can only be achieved if it is taught and studied correctly.

Of the recent generation of grandmasters, Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing cured himself of tuberculosis by Taiji Quan; T.T. Liang was deathly ill in his early forties, began serious practice of Taiji, and lived to be 102;  Master Jou Tsung Hua had a heart ailment in his late forties and totally cured himself, becoming “younger” and more vigorous each year until his untimely death in a car accident in his early eighties. Taiji Quan is truly an art of deep physical rejuvenation and "immortality."  But to get these benefits, you must study seriously with a high level teacher.           

 

4)    Effective Teaching Methods

Needless to say, teaching methods differ widely.  You should find a teacher whose methods accord with your own temperament and willingness to learn.  It is helpful if the teacher is at least somewhat conversant in your native language .

The traditional Chinese way of instructing was simply for the student to following the teacher ‘s directives unquestioningly. If a student did ask a question, the teacher would often respond by saying, “Don’t ask, just practice.”

                This idea went back to the Confucian dictum, “When I instruct, I give my students but one corner; if they cannot find the other three, I do not repeat my lesson.”  (Analects)  

            This way of teaching put the students into a mode of  self-discovery, wherein they had to embody the teaching and make it their own. Although there are some advantages to this instructional style, my experience is that it does not work well with the majority of American students at a beginner’s level. (At a more advanced level, it can be very helpful).  Most American students need to know the reasons “why” and know “how” to do something before they can assimilate the learning successfully

            So finding a teacher who has a relatively good command of your own native language is essential.

            Another crucial matter of instructional skill is a teacher’s ability to address the needs of a wide range of students with varying degrees of physical ability. In old China, when Taijiquan was taught primarily as martial art, it was assumed that anyone seeking Taiji instruction already had a background in martial arts. For the relatively few special students who lacked such a background, it was implicit that they would take the time to become properly conditioned before beginning Taiji study.

            In America, most teachers of Taiji encounter a wide assortment of people who may be elderly or very much out of good physical condition. Having a range of teaching skills and an understanding of just how to apply them is very important.

            In this regard, it is also very important that a teacher respect the student’s reasons for wanting to learn Taiji. There is little purpose served in trying to teach a “little old schoolteacher” a panoply of martial applications, when all she wants is a healthy, gentle exercise.

            Conversely, if a teacher has vigorous, young students who are interested in learning at least some rudiments of martial skill, teaching them only a soft, “wimpy” style is not appropriate. Flexibility is the key—but the teacher must have a wide enough range of skills and abilities to serve a diverse body of students.

The Matter of “Style”

            Each “Style” of Taijiquan mentioned above, has certain advantages and disadvantages. They were created by talented martial artists of different body types and varying abilities. Each of them was designed to meet certain requirements for development of physical conditioning and combat skills.

            All in all, I don’t believe there is one “better” style, as long as it is a style with a lineage. However, you may occasionally meet a teacher who insists his/her style is the “only real” style or the “best” style. If a prospective teacher insists you follow every Form s/he teaches like a robot, or claims that their version of the “Form” is the one and only genuine Taiji, I would respectfully depart and look elsewhere.

In the beginning, students need to get a sound foundation and structure and that temporarily entails following (or mimicking) every detail of the teacher’s Form.  But once a student has mastered the basics, the student must evolve to discovering their own optimal “flavor” of the Form, which fully suits their particular physical abilities and temperament, and reasons for learning. Much like playing music and following a musical score, the student will practice the genuine “Form,” but their “flavor” or personal interpretation depends upon their age, body type, temperament, etc.

So at first, a new student’s Form must be acquired by closely imitating the teacher, but as progress comes, the student must find his/her own way.

One other matter concerning teaching methods is important.  Taiji is the art of YIN and YANG. That means, Taiji should seek to create the perfect BALANCE in the student’s body and personality.  Many American teachers teach only to “relax, relax, relax!”  I believe this is not always beneficial to the student. Although some of the legendary older masters in China (Yang Ch’eng Fu as an example) are said to have taught by admonishing students to “relax,” one must remember that often students of these well-known masters had had years or even decades of previous martial art training. They had a firm structure, a “root,” and could project tremendous power.

So the teacher’s job was to show them how to internalize that power and use it more efficiently.  That is—the student was to go from an overly Yang state to a slightly more Yin state to create overall balance.

But in America today the vast majority of Taiji students are already much too Yin. They lack structure, “root,” and often lack energy. Yet they are taught to “relax!” In this case, the teacher should give them rooting and structural exercises to begin to develop their internal strength and create a base of Yang energy. Look for a teacher who is versatile and knowledgeable enough to adopt, Yin OR Yang teaching methods to meet a student’s needs. And at best, find a teacher who knows how much information to teach at an appropriate level to the students’ development.

 

5)     Good References

You should always visit a class or school you are considering. When scouting out a prospective Taiji teacher, always request to visit a class. There are a very few teachers who may refuse such a request, but if they do, Caveat Emptor! When you do go to observe a class, the atmosphere should be serious, focused, yet devoid of tension or stress.  The students and teacher should appear happy and in good spirit.

  After you have visited a class, discreetly ask some of the students their opinions and experiences with that teacher. Also, you might check well-known listings of Taiji teachers at  http://scheele.org/lee/tcclinks.html. Or seek advice from the editors at Tai Chi magazine. Often experienced martial artists of other traditions can also offer a valuable critique of your prospective Taiji teacher.  

                    Finally…………  

When a teacher feels that the student has really assimilated all of his/her knowledge, the teacher must be able to “let go,” and allow the student to go on to another teacher. And the teacher should welcome a student’s exploration of other teachers and styles. While it is necessary to be devoted to just one teacher and Style until your base is firmly established, at some point you will want to explore other areas and flavors of study. A good teacher will encourage this; lesser teachers will be offended or upset.

One of  Master T.T.Liang’s wonderful qualities was that he would encourage students to explore other teachers and styles, then when they came back, Liang would take the new forms or information and “make it Taiji’s way.” 

                    Good Luck!

The exploration for and finding a good Taiji teacher can be an exciting experience in itself. It will broaden your horizons and knowledge base, and hopefully connect you with the perfect teacher to teach you the beautiful art of Taiji, “to retard old age and make Spring eternal.