Test your might.

[davywavy]

Standing in an uncomfortable kung-fu posture at Tai Chi last night, I realised that I've now been studying it for more than six years which is the longest I've spent on any martial art. Then I realised something else, perhaps even more pertinent. My Goodness, I thought. I'm bored out of my tiny mind.
Not the most efficatious frame of mind for learning an ancient meditative martial art, perhaps, but once you're in that frame of mind it's difficult to get out of it. Admittedly I seemed to spend a lot of yesterday feeling particularly sorry for myself for no apparent reason so it probably wasn't just the Tai Chi that was to blame, but it did strike me that I don't feel like I've learned anything new in months. As I ran through Pung-Liu-Ji-An with an air of almost physical contempt I realised that I know those moves so well and I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing that I wasn't even trying any more and given that trying to be perfect every time is rather the point of Tai Chi, that's not really good, is it?
Part of the problem is that the class I go to is run in a popular gym, and so we get a lot of beginners coming and going which means we tend to go over the same basic stuff again and again and again with only about ten or twenty minutes of more advanced stuff at the end - which doesn't tend to be enough to really learn all that much. I wouldn't say I'm that good at Tai Chi - it's done wonders for my balance and posture, and made me a much better dancer*, but I'm not exactly Jet Li - but I'm thinking that I'm not going to get much better the way I'm going. I either need to change what I'm doing in order to learn more, realise I'm not going to improve and carry on solely due to the exercise benefits, or do something else entirely.

What do you think?


[Poll #1077180]

^{*I think so, anyway.}

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

One word: Capoeira. It is your destiny.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

You just want to laugh at me as I pantingly try and fail to stand on my hands.

Have you seen Warrior King yet?

[(Anonymous)]

Yes & no, in that order. Is it good?

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Wrong way round. Warrior King has a risible - I say risible - plot, but one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen (a four minute single-take fight sequence).

[(Anonymous)]

Was that the plot with the stolen elephant? I thought it was completely plausible and emotionally satisfying.

H

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Yes. I particularly liked the way that the bad guys not only knew that he was looking for his elephant - despite never having seen him before - but also they knew which of the stolen elephants was his.

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

All but the last two... push on through, but try and stretch yourself (no pun intended).

AND take up something new.

[(Anonymous)]

Turn to the dark side. You get mad 1337 superpowers.

[(Anonymous)]

Although your rendition of the national anthem will be mocked.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I don't really have time to take up anything new as well as tai chi - with kickboxing, wieghts, running and tai chi I'm training 3-5 nights a week as it is.

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

I've worked hard every night and day
So I can plan to make my way
Mind and body are a perfect team
Now's my chance to live my dream

I'm taking hold of every moment
Getting strength by the breath of life
I'm gonna stake my claim
I fight to survive

Kumite, Kumite, Kumite...

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. The only answer is to train harder, not smarter.

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

No the answer is to fly to hong kong to take part in an illegal full contact kumite.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

That's your answer to everything.

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

if it aint broke dont fix it. Works every time for me. Your ideas always involve fish paste, genitals and a hungry octopus.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

My kung fu teacher always says, "if you think you're doing it right, you're almost certainly wrong." You could try to get more interested by attempting to be more mindful of your moves.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Easier said than done when the major reason I'm bored to distraction is because I've spent the last six years being mindful of the same damn moves, week in, week out.

[zenicurean.livejournal.com]

Forsake any and all martial arts that do not involve magic powers or alchemical pills that confer immortality and a funny hat.

Possibly become Jedi Master.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Are there any other classes you could join? Some that only have advanced students? All the Tai Chi practitioners I've spoken to said that it's something you never stop improving because there's always another level, even after 10 or 20 years but you need someone to show you how or at least guide you.
Talk to Ninja Master.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Don't get me wrong - ninja master is really very very good. Far better than I'm likely to be. The thing is, I'm bored. We do the same old crap every week and it's just tiresome and repetitive.

[thefon.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Tai Chi Jian (with a sword)?

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Done a small amount with Wang Hai Jung, but he only runs classes once every six weeks on Sundays which isn't as convenient as I might like.