Stress – 7/10/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 427 Stress      Stress is not always a negative thing. All exercise causes stress to the body. The result of our body’s response to this stress is generally what we are seeking by doing exercise. Exercise is an intelligent...

Preface to Second Book – 7/3/2023

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 426 Preface to “101 Reflections On Tai Chi Chuan”      These few paragraphs come from the preface of my second Tai Chi book, 101 Reflections on Tai Chi Chuan, published in 2000. I hope they strike a chord with you. It...

Advice for Teachers and Students of Tai Chi Chuan – 6/26/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 425 This is one of those Tips that should be reviewed now and then. Different ones will usually have new meaning from time to time. Bookmark this or print it up. You’ll be happy you did. Advice for Teachers and Students of...

Study Tai Chi/New Classes – 6/5/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #422 Invest in Loss – No Way Invest in loss is an often quoted idea in Tai Chi literature and teaching. It refers to the philosophy that one can learn from one’s mistakes, so as not to repeat them. But think about this...

Playing Tai Chi/Saber Class Canceled – 6/19/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #424 Playing Tai Chi The more one plays with Tai Chi, the more one’s mind sees Tai Chi in everything. Someone was talking about a jazz instructor who had put his philosophy for learning to play jazz up on a blackboard. When I...

Desires and Goals – 6/12/2023

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #423 Desires and Goals      The difference between goals and desires isn’t very clear, yet it seems important to me in my Tai Chi practice. Desires are a craving, longing, or a wish for something. This strong feeling is...

The End – 5/29/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #421 Preparing for the End      We are steadily moving towards the longest day and shortest night of the year. This got me thinking of life and death. Plus, there have been a number of people connected to the Gilman Studio who have...

Rockets – 5/22/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #420 Rockets When the space rocket designed by Elon Musk’s company (the biggest ever) blew up shortly after take off, it got me thinking about rockets and brought to mind Donald Trump calling the leader of North Korea...

Enlightenment, Humor, Push Hands – 5/15/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #419 Enlightenment, Humor, Push Hands Enlightenment is not boring. It is not just a holy, solitaire monk meditating in a cave. I guess it can be, but none of the masters I came to know were anything but human. Wholly human....

Clearing Vision – 5/8/23

Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip – #418 Clearing Vision I went to the wharf early this morning and it was one of those perfect days here in Port Townsend. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the water in the bay like a lake, the mountains in all directions...