Training Tips
Greetings. I have been writing and sending these out since 2015, and for you who have just joined us, welcome to the Gilman Studio Training Tips. These Tips are a result of my desire to share my life’s study and teaching in the area of Internal Arts and human potential.
I have taught Tai Chi and Qigong since 1973 and shared with thousands of people, and yet feel limited, as I live in a small community in the northwest corner of Washington State. I wanted to reach a larger audience on a regular basis. Thus, the Training Tips was born.
Most books on Tai Chi are written by an instructor to share his or her form. They are meant to teach the movements. They also, usually include short chapters on history and philosophy, but that is usually limited. I have written two Tai Chi books and now these Training Tips, not as “how to” books, but as “why to” books. Most people who are attracted to Tai Chi seek relaxation, focus, balance, health improvement, and a very few, martial skills. What most people need to carry on with their studies is motivation. That is what these Tips are all about. I want to encourage students to continue to practice, and continue looking deeper into this marvelous art form, and that only comes from regular and continuous practice.
I hope you read through all of these and maybe one or more will stimulate you to stay with your initial interest and enthusiasm. You can bookmark the ones you like to go back to in the future. As you grow and change, the meaning of these Tips will change, and hopefully you will find you understand them in your body, mind and spirit. If you aren’t already receiving these in your mailbox, subscribe and it will come as regular as clockwork on Monday mornings. The Gilman Studio never shares your information.
I sincerely hope you enjoy these and share them with your friends. You will make me happy. Thank you for your interest in our beloved art.
Like a Spider – 2/26/24
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training tip #460 Wrapping- Like a Spider One of the skills of the internal artist is called wrapping. A perfect example of this is a spider as it wraps its live prey in a silk cocoon, or a snake that wraps its own body around the victim, both...
read moreUnderstanding Tai Chi Forms – 2/19/24
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip #459 Understanding Tai Chi Forms I try and convey the idea that the movements are only an expression of what one thinks and feels at a given moment. The other instructors I have trained don't, and shouldn't, do the moves...
read more5 Animals 2/5/24
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 457 5 Animals The earliest movements upon which Tai Chi Chuan is based is the Five Animals Frolic. The five animals are: tiger, bear, deer, monkey, and stork. Each of these animals has its own unique ways of working with and...
read moreThe Hands of Tai Chi Chuan – 1/29/2034
The Hands of Tai Chi Chuan I was checking on the progress of the redo of my web site, and went to the Featured Articles section. I haven't looked at this or the other articles for a while, and was impressed with how detailed and clear the article on Unique Hands of...
read moreMindful Bouncing 1/22/24
Bouncing in Tai Chi practice can be helpful for many reasons. When I refer to mindful bouncing I am focusing on the lower body – the upper legs and pelvis. This area is the main gather, storage, and release area of our body. We want to be able to deal with strong...
read moreExploring the Moves – 1/15/2024
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #454 Exploring the Moves One of the best exercises to increase your awareness of each movement in Tai Chi Chuan is to break it down, one movement at a time, and explore all possibilities for that one movement. Do it slow, do it...
read moreControl Tower – 1/8/2024
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 453 Control Tower Let's look at the spine, neck, and head. If we were to think of our body as an airport, the head would be the control tower. The tower is the highest point so it can observe the planes as they come and go. The...
read moreBreaking Free – 1/1/2024
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #452 Breaking Free From the first moment of our lives, we are given boundaries. When we cry, the boundary might appear in the form of a pacifier. The boundary says, “Stop crying”. If we crawl around too actively, maybe we are...
read moreVarious Tai Chi Practices – 12/25//23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 451 VariousTai Chi Practices What is now called Tai Chi Chuan has its roots in the WuTang mountain area of China in the T'ang Dynasty (A.D. 618-906). This system had evolved from the earlier martial art now known as Sholin Kung Fu...
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