Learning From Justin’s Lessons

At an April teacher practice in Albuquerque, we were fortunate to have Justin and Antonia present. Justin was sharing his corrections, which was wonderful. My intention is always to do TCC the way Justin does it, but it’s amazing how incorrect moves can creep into my practice.

Justin was clarifying how the fingertips come into the chest during Push Pull. (See page 55 of the textbook, Push Pull on the right side.) The hands are not way out at the shoulders. He also talked about how the hand that is palm down during the four “Taffy” movements is the yang hand, and that it stays close to the body after the taffy is pulled.

Justin has always stood up between the movements. In other words, he does not stay with his knees bent (in the closed position) continually between the movements.

Justin also says that a confirmatory sign that the Chi is flowing is when your fingers flutter (which is an involuntary movement). Stopping the fingers from moving would be stopping the flow of Chi. When one has been practicing TCC for awhile, the fingers will begin to move.

As a teacher I realize there is a responsibility to try to teach the movements the way Justin does them. Before every class I teach, I read my notes on the movements, I read the textbook and I look at the photos of Justin doing each movement. I then watch Justin’s DVD, doing the movements with him, while watching myself in the mirror. I became a teacher in 2002, and I still do this before every class. I also listen to the CD “Justin Stone Speaks On Tai Chi Chih” on my way to my class. My intention is to be aware of how Justin moves and how he talks about TCC, so I can pass it on to my students.

Justin has always said T’ai Chi Chih is a service to humanity. There are so many tremendous benefits from this wonderful practice, so I really strive to do and teach the movements the way Justin does them. I would also like to share something that Justin said at the end of that community practice: “If one tries to commercialize T’ai Chi Chih, it will die very quickly.” I know TCC is alive and well when our intention is to do the movements correctly and knowing TCC is a service to humanity. Thanks Justin for this wonderful gift.