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.
Time and Space – 5/30/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 370 Time and Space It is interesting how we mark time and space. In Tai Chi, we have a form composed of movements (from 34 to 108) that appear as one as they flow from one move to the next. In our school, the Traditional Yang...
read moreMeditate on Simplicity – 5/23/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 369 Meditate on Simplicity The higher the skill, the simpler it is. This seems to contradict all we have ever learned, but think about this in relation to internal energy. Don't we want the thought and action to be one? In martial...
read moreHokusai Speaks About Tai Chi – 5/16/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 368 Hokusai Speaks about (Tai Chi) in your Life Greetings. I have been posting these Training Tips every Monday since the end of 2015. I enjoy doing it, and am inspired to keep it up because of the positive feed-back I receive. I...
read moreStructural Relaxation/New Class Reminder – 5/9/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 367 Structural Relaxation It takes strength to overcome structure, and that is where technique plays a part. If you set your body structure correctly, you will force your opponent to use strength against you. It is this use of...
read moreRituals/New Tai Chi Class – 5/2/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 366 Rituals Rituals evolve from need. If a farmer needs water, and he does something that results in water, the chances are good that he will repeat the same actions again. If baseball player is on a streak, many times he will do...
read moreMarvelous Hands/New Long Form Class – 4/25/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 365 Marvelous Hands The hands are the fine tools of the internal arts practitioner. They have to be able to sense and convey to the brain the most subtle messages, as well as, when needed, being able to concentrate and emit a most...
read moreWorking With Energy – 4/18/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 364 Working with Energy Compression, torsion, and rebounding are three of the main ways that we work with energy in Tai Chi, to produce seemingly effortless results. All of these actions are used in every day movements, yet...
read moreComfortable Stance/Still the Same – 4/11/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 363 Comfortable Stance The only stance that is correct in Tai Chi, as well as other internal arts, is a natural, comfortable stance. If it is not natural and comfortable, you will lose relaxation, causing tension, which will...
read moreNatural Balance/Patience – 4/4/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 362 Duai La - Natural Balance There is a term in the Chinese Internal Arts – Duai La – which means counter balance of energy. Every effective force issued from our body is met with an equal and opposite force. If we want to push...
read moreTeaching – 3/28/22
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 361 Teaching There will come a time, and I hope not too far in the future, when a person will be judged not by what he has, but what he gives! There needs to be a shift in thinking about what is valued and important. In our...
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