Insights from Veteran T’ai Chi Chih Teachers

Q&A with Senior Teachers
Last year, Lynne Roberts (page 8) suggested collecting stories from the more experienced teachers in the community. With this issue, it’s begun bearing fruit. Twenty-six teachers accredited between 1977 and 1986 were invited to answer any number of 10 questions put to them about their journey – in the hopes that the story of T’ai Chi Chih’s early days could be captured. Questions posited:
• When and where were you accredited? By Justin? Paint a picture of the experience.
• How did you learn originally about TCC? Why did you become accredited?
• Tell a first-person story about Justin.
• How has teaching changed you?
• How has your teaching changed over the years?
• How do you incorporate instruction/lessons learned from Justin?
• Relate a teaching experience you had that made you laugh at yourself.
• Share an “aha” moment from your teaching.
• Share an innovative teaching method that you have developed or learned from another teacher.
• What lasting lesson(s) have you learned from Justin and his teachings?

After Editing Each Issue
When an issue boomerangs back for proofing from the designer, I get a chance to assess it from 10,000 feet rather than as a mass of granular grammar edits or thematic couplings. I am always more impressed by the experiences and reach of TCC than when the editing began for that issue.

Dispatch from … Your Area
Teachers: Organize a few submissions about what’s happening in your community. It can double as a promotion, and you can put it on your teacher listing pages.
Students: Talk to fellow practitioners about something you are discovering and working on with your teacher in class; share it with us.
All by yourself? Write about how connected (or not) you feel to the community-at-large.