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Tai Chi Course Regulations
(Cheng Man Ch'ing 37 Steps)
Lesson Plan
Each lesson comprises 30 minutes of warming
up exercises, breathing exercise and meditation, followed by the Form
practice.
Students are strongly urged to practise and
memorize the Form, so as to enable the course instructor to monitor the
progress of the class and plan the lessons accordingly.
Beginner's Level
Stage I: 20 sessions
-
Warming up exercises (foundation
techniques)
-
Breathing exercise (relaxation
method)
-
Meditation (relaxation method)
-
Learning the Form from the beginning
up to "crossed hands" (shi zi shou)
Stage II: 12 sessions
Learning the Form from
"embrace tiger and return to mountain" (bao hu gui shan)
up to "single whip" (dan bian)
Stage III: 10 sessions
Learning the Form up to
"fair lady works at the shuttles" (yu nü chuan suo)
Stage IV: 10 sessions
Learning the Form up to
"snake creeps down" (she shen xia shi) and "step
forward to seven starts" (shang bu qi xing) to
ending
Grading System
Beginner Level
Candidates are required to attend a
minimum of 70 hours of lessons to be eligible for the grading. A score
of 5 points or above is needed for promotion to the next
(intermediate) level.
| a |
Form:
memorize all 37 steps |
5
points |
| b |
Body
movements: continuous flowing movements |
1
point |
| c |
Hands
movements: pliable, loose and soft; no force |
1
point |
| d |
Body
stance: the body as one unit; holding the head and spine
upright; lowering body by loosening the kua |
1
point |
| e |
Legs
movements: steady pace, slow, even and light |
1
point |
| f |
Focus,
generating yi and chi |
1
point |
| |
Total |
10
points |
Intermediate Level
Candidates are required to be familiar
with all 37 steps. Concentrate on continuous body movement and focus
on relaxation
| a |
Form:
familiarity with all 37 steps |
5
points |
| b |
Body
movements: continuous flowing movements, slow but not
sluggish, unhurried yet not hesitant |
1
point |
| c |
Hands
movements: smooth and gentle technique, take care of
fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder movements, use yi and not li
(force) |
1
point |
| d |
Body
strength: the body as one coherent unit, entire body light
and limber, "if there is no motion, you will remain still;
if there is even a slight change, you have already moved" |
1
point |
| e |
Legs
movements: steady pace, slow, even and light, coordinating
the substantial and insubstantial |
1
point |
| f |
Focus
and have no distraction, fully relax, generating internal energy
towards the fingers, chi sink to the dan tian, the
combin ation of yi, xin (mind) and chi
condensed towards the centre of the body. |
1
point |
| |
Total |
10
points |
Advanced Level (Stage I)
| a |
Form:
familiarity with all 37 steps, while using your mind to exercise
your internal energy |
5
points |
| b |
Free
exchange of mind and internal energy, changing from negative to
positive smoothly and dynamically |
1
point |
| c |
The
root is at the feet, force is generated from the legs, mastered
by the waist and manifested from the fingers |
1
point |
| d |
Contain
the chest, arch the back, loosen the waist |
1
point |
| e |
Comprehend
the Form, seek calmness in movements |
1
point |
| f |
Oral/written
test: understanding the historical background, theory and
philosophy of Tai Chi |
1
point |
| |
Total |
10
points |
Advanced Level (Stage II: Push Hands)
| a |
Form:
increase the power of postures and stances |
| b |
Advance
in push hands techniques |
| c |
Advance
in jin application |
| d |
Be
calm, avoid butting and losing contact or adherence with your
opponent, once attachment and connection have been initiated |
| e |
Advance
in loosening techniques |
| f |
Contact
your opponent with light force, then you can be agile |
| g |
Follow without resisting: do not
resist or lose adherence and connect by retreating |
Tai Chi Course Regulations ©
2006 Rennie Chong
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