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.
Enlightenment – 03/25/19
Enlightenment Greetings. To the park this morning. Worked on the 216. Not easy, but, oh so interesting. We have been experiencing record high heat in the last week – the warmest days of winter ever. Positive (nice warm sun) and negative (always fears of drought during...
read moreApplication Principles of Tai Chi Chuan – 03/18/19
Application Principles for Tai Chi Chuan Intention is the Master Key to Tai Chi. Applications create intention - deciding what to do, when to do it, and how to get it done in the simplest fashion. Intention (through understanding applications) creates energetic...
read moreCorrect Stances/New Class – 03/04/19
Correct Stances 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 result in loss of strength, speed, clarity of...
read moreProblems Stimulate Growth/No First Saturday/New Class
Problems Stimulate Growth Greetings. This is my 201st Monday Morning Training Tip post. This has encouraged me to dive ever deeper into Tai Chi. It gives me so much satisfaction to share this with all of you. Don't forget that all the previous 200 are archived up at...
read moreProblems Stimulate Growth Greetings. This is my 201st Monday Morning Training Tip post. This has encouraged me to dive ever deeper into Tai Chi. It gives me so much satisfaction to share this with all of you. Don't forget that all the previous 200 are archived up at...
read moreHokusai Speaks About Tai Chi – 2/18/19
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 appreciate it. In this time, I have...
read moreThe 216 Yang Form/Snowed Out – 02/11/19
The 216 Form In this day and age of shorter and shorter Tai Chi forms ( as short as 8 moves), I have designed a form of 216 movements. It is my belief and experience that longer forms encourage the player to concentrate and focus to a deeper level. Since most of my...
read moreLining Up the Body – 2/4/19
Lining up the body Make sure you line up the body so you can push and pull with the legs and trunk of your body, not just the arms. Any angle or bend in the arms and legs results in a loss of energy and effectiveness. It is especially important that the angle of the...
read moreHelping the Instructor Demonstrate – 1/28/19
Helping the Instructor Demonstrate Being chosen as a helping partner to demonstrate an application for a movement in a Tai Chi class is an honor. This means that the instructor trusts you to help him or her explain the dynamics of the move. It is so important that the...
read moreTai Chi Breathing/New Classes/Weapons Update – 1/21/19
Breathing the Tai Chi Way The average person breathes about 700,000 cubic inches of air each day. In order to this efficiently, many teachers of the internal arts, including me, stress normal abdominal breathing when doing forms. This is breath in and out through the...
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