Men & TCC: What’s The Problem?

At this year’s conference, I was sitting at a table with a group of male T’ai Chi Chih teachers when the question was raised (as it often is with us guys), “Why are there so few of us?”

During the presentation on How to Reach and Teach Diverse Audiences the question of language arose. When I heard this, a light went off. Men and women often have different perspectives and approaches to issues, many of which have been molded by societal attitudes. Although changing, many men still see some activities as more masculine than others. Unfortunately the language used to describe an activity can be quite misleading. Do you think most men would choose “Joy Through Movement” or a discipline based on the principles of ancient martial arts?

The majority of men in my classes are accompanied by a wife or female friend. They appear somewhat reluctant to engage in TCC. I always address them directly to give them a different perspective, using different language. Having a background in sports and karate, I will ask about their interest in sports. Whether their interest lies in golf, tennis, football or baseball, I draw parallels between moving the Chi from the yang leg to the yin fingertips using the same principles in throwing a baseball or football, or hitting a golf or tennis ball. I will demonstrate the identical movement, transferring Chi in a karate movement and a TCC movement. I often identify male golfers because of the way they bend the knee on their yin leg on a side-to-side weight shift, which is good form in driving a golf ball. The difference is to use the transfer of Chi (energy) outside our bodies in sports but inside while practicing TCC. An explanation like this demonstrates that rather than being a “soft” activity, TCC is a very powerful one.

I reference similarities during classes just as I do with students who may be chair-bound or have other physical limitations. It is our job as teachers to include all our students by using language that they can integrate into their own experiences.