Staying Clear

T’ai Chi Chih means Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate. T’ai Chi Ch’uan means Supreme Ultimate of Boxing. By knowing these two simple statements we can be very clear on what we are doing as we teach T’ai Chi Chih. We are not trying to take our students outside of themselves, or to teach them to defend themselves. We are doing a very simple but crucial thing: we are giving them a way to come to know themselves from the inside out. It is important that we explain this special difference to our students at the beginning of their learning.

We are not teaching them a partial system or a part of T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Justin did not take the T’ai Chi Ch’uan movements and modify them and give us a watered down or shortened version of the movements. The movements are not ancient. They are a new, original and beautiful creation of movements that came out of Justin. This new art form is dynamic because it is based on the most fundamental principles of the universe: yin and yang. These principles are ancient; they are the very building blocks of life.

Because of the original nature of the movements and because of the principles on which they are based, what we are offering our students is priceless. As we recognize this, so will our students. This spark will light the way to finding the pearl of great price: our true nature.

(Used with permission from The New Mexico T’ai Chi Chih News)