Using Justin’s Writings In Class

For many years, I have been using Spiritual Odyssey in my teachings, especially with continuing students. Coming back from a retreat and soon starting a new class, I thought about how to talk about T’ai Chi Chih when we all sit and share comments. I didn’t want to speak so much, and I thought that having Justin doing the work for me would be a plus. I went back and read his T’ai Chi Chih, Joy Thru Movement once again, and I realized that everything you need to know about TCC is in this photo text manual. Instead of making copies (which we are not supposed do for copyright violation reasons), I included the book in the price of the class.

The book is such a great tool, providing students with a resource to check on the movements they have learned that week. It goes through the history of the form, the philosophy behind it, the important points on how to move and the origination of the six healing sounds. From the first to the last class, I use the book for homework assignments and to reinforce important points of movement for each position. During the final class, I quiz the students orally, asking them if they remember the purpose of TCC as well as its principles. Together, we write the answers in the book.

My students love having the book. Why was I ever afraid to make it mandatory for taking the class? One of the students said, “By giving the textbook, it standardizes what is being taught and makes this form into something real.” It ties us to the originator and to his words. For me, it is giving back.

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