The Pros of Practicing with a Group or Partner

T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) is a meditative form that holds hidden mysteries of the Chi. Students can discover those mysteries during group practices when they are working with each other. Practicing with a group or partner guarantees that you will develop new awareness of TCC movements faster than you would if you practice alone. Keen observation and feedback are the key.

Throughout history, both humans and animals have relied on learning by copying what others are doing. We all are beginners, no matter what age, with the goal of always improving. Our teachers and classmates help us improve. As a Special Education teacher for three decades, I had countless opportunities to watch how disabled and other students learn. The teacher is always the role model; classmates provide the feedback when exploring a skill in class. This interactive process, called “partner practice,” is used at all levels of education, from kindergarten through college.

Exploring skills with a peer is often easier, less scary, and much more fun. We see that process unfolding all the time in classrooms, where the teacher is the model, and classmates provide interactive feedback during group practice time. This interchange with peers stimulates and deepens the learning process on many levels.

The benefits of partner practice are many. Everyone enjoys being socially engaged while learning. We thrive on interaction as a necessary ingredient of learning. Students like the process of sharing ideas, rather than just being corrected or left to practice the form incorrectly.

TCC skills (like mental focus and flowing from center) and all movements can be explored during one-to-one partner practice. When partners explore a movement together, talking and sharing observations, learning speeds up, vocabulary improves, understanding deepens, and confidence expands. Partner practice builds skills and confidence.

In my opinion, partner practice should be a standard part of every TCC class session from beginner to advanced. It is a jewel gained through deep exploration, questioning and checking for accuracy, and the desire to improve.

Justin Stone referred to this quotation from his friend Paul Reps many times: “If it isn’t fun, it is better left undone.” We could say the same about learning. We learn faster, deeper, better when we are relaxed, relating socially, and exploring a skill together. Improving a TCC movement is something that all learners want, whether they are 5 or 75 years old. Why not give all students a chance to become skilled in observation and demonstration through regular partner practice? Your students may surprise you and want to become a TCC teacher one day.