Eloquence With Substance

Whenever I attend a gathering of T’ai Chi Chih practitioners, I’m always curious what the lasting impression(s) might be. Will I get what I’m doing? Will I do what I’m getting? Will one word, or one person, or one momentary interface in the center of a labyrinth encapsulate what I bring home? The benefits and lessons learned accrue in the aftermath; the ‘event’ continues.

One recurring impression for me is Justin’s presence in every group, even when he’s physically not there. It surfaces in two ways. One, we reach for his books and reflect on an abundant life, a vibratory genius. The breadth of his intelligence is prolific, and it renders us humble and grateful. The other way is when we do TCC and another Justin emerges. Going back to the beginning, Justin’s body of commentary explaining the moves is measured, practical, and plain-spoken. He gives a brief description of the pattern. He may point out a salient principle about the move, or caution us how not to do it. Then he reminds us the best way to learn it is to practice, practice, practice.

To wit: Daughter in the Valley (DITV) is the complement to Daughter on the Mountaintop (DOTM). We are not ‘done’ until we do both. The hands begin high, palms forward. As we shift forward, they curve downward to the bottom, close to the body. We are still shifting forward as the hands rise upward from the bottom, close and parallel, full of polarity. When the hands reach the top of the arc and begin to separate, the weight shifts back, bringing us to the beginning of the next downward arc.

As it were, this movement was passed along incorrectly for a few years, but Justin’s teaching has never wavered. We are welcome to disagree with Justin’s take on this or any movement. We are not welcome, though, to still call that difference T’ai Chi Chih.

Justin’s advice to “practice, practice, practice” is not the least bit redundant. One is to practice TCC because therein lies the best Teacher. (While many great teachers can lead us to the Gates of Merging, regular practice opens the gates wider.) Another is to practice with those who have gleaned the most from Justin because, as often as we may think about TCC without Justin, we should be careful for future generations of trainers who will never have met or moved alongside Justin. It is vital we stay connected to the best teachers and listen to their direct transmission.

Lastly, we take our practice and put it into practice. The substance within the softness of the moves becomes more apparent in everything else we do. Acceptance and awe rule the day. We begin to bridge the difference, and the ‘event’ continues.