Can You learn Tai Chi from a Book, Video or Online Course?

CAN YOU LEARN TAI CHI FROM A BOOK?

Tai Chi is a movement practice, so it is very difficult to show how exercises or movements are done from static drawings or photos. Yet, books on Tai Chi have traditionally presented step-by-step instructions, often with complicated diagrams and arrows and numbered steps.
In the absence of a moving image, every stage of every posture has to be described and illustrated, which lends itself to books that describe floor angles, weight distributions and joint alignment. Details, are of course valuable, but not when the result is to overwhelm the student with data.
If you want to get a book on Tai Chi or Qigong, try to find one that conveys an essence of the art and not just the technical moves. Apart from being very dull, technical manuals vary according to style, school and teacher - so expect to find a wide range of rules as to what to do and how to do it.

WHAT BOOKS CAN TEACH ABOUT TAI CHI

I tell students that it is more important to read about the essence of the art, in order to discover why Tai Chi is of value and what it can offer, than to simply learn a technique. Techniques by themselves or of limited value and are easily picked up on YouTube. But ideas and flavour, reasons and insights are much harder to come by. Some people, however, prefer to learn from a book, so for those people, I did create a a home study course as a paperback (that is also backed up by an online short video course). Take a look at the 10 Step Tai Chi book and course here. Otherwise, for the readers amongst you, here is a popular list of best books on Tai Chi that will help you discover the essence of Tai Chi.

CAN YOU LEARN TAI CHI FROM A VIDEO?

Watching a Tai Chi demonstration in a crowd

If you have ever attended a Tai Chi class or workshop with more than a dozen people present, you will remember the difficulty in seeing close-up, the complex and intricate hand and foot postures, waist moves and coordinated weight shifting from foot to foot.
Even if you managed to see clearly from one angle, you may have missed them from another. Now imagine being in a workshop of 25 people, 50 people or more! What would you see? What could you reasonably learn? How often will the teacher demonstrate a move to everyones satisfaction? How confident will each person feel to speak up in a large class and ask: "Excuse me, but I didn't see a thing, couldn't hear a thing and I'd liKe my money back please."

ADVANTAGES TO LEARNING TAI CHI FROM A VIDEO

For these reasons, lessons online or by video have become more popular, as with video it is possible to view a move from all angles again and again (as often as you rewind the video clip). See these examples of Tai Chi moves that I use as part of my Online curriculum.

Videos enable you to zoom in for close details and not have to peer over the heads of the 10 people in front of you. Videos also enable you to move on to the next posture, or spend a month on a single move. The choice is yours. Finally, online learning means choosing the instructor of your choice from anywhere in the world.

As a teacher, most of our time in a class is spent showing moves, repeating moves, and correcting postures with very little time for anything else. Online classes, give us the opportunity to teach a much broader, more interesting and often much more profound level of study.

LEARNING THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE OF TAI CHI

cheng man ching and tai chi as a martial art

For instance, when I began to compile my 12 month Complete Online Course, the time I saved from repeating moves (as students can replay the videos as often as necessary), freed-up space to offer background studies on the history of the art, the culture, the myths and legends, the music, as well as how we apply the moves to our work, health and community.

DISADVANTAGES TO VIDEO TUITION

There are unquestionably some disadvantages to leaning online, as we saw there were disadvantages to learning in a local class. The first disadvantage with online learning is lack of feedback. Unless you teacher offers you the chance to submit video feedback, then you will never have anyone checking whether you are doing the moves correctly. Of course, many students use online learning to supplement an existing class - so they will be able to receive feedback from amongst those they study with. Others, may choose not to receive feedback for other personal reasons, some people just want to be left alone to pursue their own studies. But an offer should be there. This is why I always offer options for feedback, but never insist.

DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

Back in 2011, I wrote in a book that new students should always go and watch a class before enrolling in a school. Unfortunately, people rarely do this, choosing instead to sign up to the nearest class to their home or work. Technology, however, gives everyone the possibility to try a free session online. You can read testimonials from existing students - see a few examples of a testimonial below - look for these on social media and find out what people say about a teacher - and then, having tried a few classes, decide for yourself.

"Clear explanations, expressed with enthusiasm and a deep level understanding that is inspiring, particularly for a beginner like me." K.D

"I just loved this course! For me, Paul has touched the heart of Tai Chi, and inspired us to live it every day. Inspirational, definitely not stuffy, great videos and wonderful music!" - J.C

WHAT SORT OF TAI CHI CLASSES CAN I LEARN ONLINE?

You can choose between the different styles of Tai Chi, the different lengths of Tai Chi forms (from a dozen moves to over 200), Qigong and breathing courses, as well as weapons and weapon forms. I have students that are learning breathing, applied Tai Chi, the Tai Chi Form and the Tai Chi Sword. Some are complete beginners, others intermediate, and some are teachers making the most of training with individuals or schools from all over the world and using the online classes as supplementary training.

TECHNOLOGY AND TAI CHI

Technology and Tai Chi

A short while back I wrote 5 reasons why people today are leaning online. But I want now to add a 6th reason - and that is Technology. It is moving at a speed that leaves many of us behind, but those that have kept a finger on the pulse now offer 360 degree photography, slow motion video work with close-ups from all angles, ebook training workshop manuals, audio walk-throughs, and a range of services that didn’t exist a couple of years ago.
As many people today have access to a smart phone or a tablet, they can receive the lessons, download the files and play them back in their yard or spare room so that they can practice where they want, when they want and for how long they want. It’s a fascinating and changing world out there, and one in which an outward looking and modern Tai Chi has a bright and positive future.

CAN YOU LEARN TAI CHI FROM A BOOK OR VIDEO?

WHY USE A BOOK OR VIDEO TO LEARN TAI CHI?