Listen, Don't Lecture in Tai Chi: Listening Energy Redefined

Given the chance, Tai Chi people love to flavour things with soy sauce. If they can find a Chinese word to substitute for a English one, they get really excited for it aids in the mysticism of the art. Mysticism provides two important benefits for Tai Chi people: 

1. Like religion, mysticism enables people to side-step questions about use or application by quoting a higher source. In this case - from Master Wu. (Replace with your Sifu's family heritage).
2. Mysticism sells better than sliced bread, austerity measures or Royal Weddings. For lost or wandering westerners, disillusioned with the shallowness of their own cultural landscape, what better rabbit hole to climb down, than that of another era and another culture. Better still if it requires another mode of dress. 

---

The Traditional Response: 

When Sifu Simon says:  say: "Ting Jing"…"Dong Jing”, "Hua Jing" and “Fajing", I say: 'You mean How to touch, feel and push? Should we not, be trying to translate these concepts into our own culture, to give them relevancy and life here, not just in 19th century feudal china. But Simon doesn't listen. I'm not sure he knows how.  
(I have decided to refer to Sifu Simon as plain Simon, not because I know this irritates him, but I have a habit of not recognising self-appointed titles. 

'Listening in Tai Chi', I continue, 'is first and foremost about paying attention to the needs, problems and difficulties of students. It’s about approaching teaching with an open mind, an open book and not repeating the same formulae year after year, the same answers, the same words. Listening should start way back, when a student first walks in to the class. And it should carry on, even - and this may be difficult for you, Simon to recognise - even after the monthly fee has been paid.'

Sifu Simon attempts to justify this by saying that some things cannot be translated into english, such as "listening energy". He then goes on to translate this energy as "Ting Jing"…"Dong Jing”, "Hua Jing" and “Fajing"  -  words that roughly equate with:

• How to develop sensitivity in the arms and hands.
• How to "sense" the strength, intention or energy of another person 
• How to "send" back energy to another person in an explosive fashion.

Simon loves Chinese food, Chinese words and Chinese uniforms

---

Simon Says...

Meet Sifu Simon in the Complete Tai Chi Course

'Thats was a bit below the belt' he says. 
'Below the Sifu Simon sash, I think you mean' I reply. playing with his self-appointed title once more.
Yes, listening is an ongoing practice, it requires an ongoing effort but the rewards are ongoing too. When students recognise that their teacher listens to them, rather than the sound of his/her own voice, Students develop the confidence to confide, to feedback honestly and  -  most importantly - do not feel obliged to stroke the teachers ego, or bounce backwards in demonstrations when receiving a “fajing” push, just do Sifu looks powerful and super-human.. Of course this means that Tai Chi may have to evolve.' But Sifu Simon is not keen on evolution. 

---

Imagine all the people...

---

Sifu Yin Yang Eyebrow (friend of Sifu Simon)

Sifu Simon says 'I cannot imagine teaching without an agenda.'
Well, try this, I say. Employ your imagination. Do your usual planning (if you must), but try not to memorise it. That's not good for it diverts the blood flow from your brain to your mouth. 
Bring in your class plan (if you must), but put it to one side. Start the class as always, but step back. Let your students get on with the warm ups, partner work or an early 'Form'. You just watch. Keep these things open: mind, eyes and ears. Close your mouth. Listen-up for breath, watch out for signs of stumbles and uncertainties, for expressions of caution or concern, and let your mind tell you what you need to work on next.

---

If this fails, hell, just ask them what they need to practice! But with humility. (Look up that word if you haven't seen it before).  You’ll learn other ways of teaching, they’ll bond with each other, and they are more likely to come back next week. Its a win win situation. Perhaps more importantly - Right now, the world needs to listen much more than it needs to talk. It needs to ask questions more than offer answers. 

Of course Sifu Simon says we shouldn't question these ancient concepts that have been handed down by the great masters, but then whatever Simon says, I try not to follow. 

---

Listening energy is just part of the program in the Complete Tai Chi Course presented by the teapotmonk. Also featuring guest appearances by Sifu Simon, and a range of other characters to highlight a 21st Century approach to learning this ancient art. 

---