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Won often says, "Don't do something, then try to relax. Relaxation is
the movement."
I enjoy Tai Chi as an activity which emphasizes relaxation. Students
are every day confronted with situations which are stressful, but more
than that, students are almost encouraged to put more stress on
themselves. In Tai Chi, on the other hand, one must be relaxed to be
effective. Both the form and the martial application of Tai Chi apply
directly to this principle.
From a more practical point of view, Tai Chi is improving my
posture, and I am much more aware of how I carry myself. I notice now
how ways I habitually lay, sit, stand, and walk can cause aches and
pains, things I never noticed before. Tai Chi has also helped my
flexibility. When working, I try to apply Won's words about
relaxation: Don't work harder, then try not to be stressed.
Instead, target working with less stress, which is more effective. I
can't claim to be very successful at this -- it's a long road -- but I
think I am improving.
I also participate in a meditation class. I find Tai Chi to be a
nearly perfect complement to this class. They espouse similar principles
on relaxation: both are aiming toward a deep relaxation of body and mind.
Tai Chi focuses more on the body (in the beginning at least), while
meditation focuses more on the mind.
Kevin Huffenberger
khuffenb AT princeton DOT edu
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The first day of class Won kept saying, "just relax," and as the classes
went on, through Won's teaching, I slowly started to come to an
understanding of what "relax" means. The philosophical discussions
combined with helpful pointers on how to relax, such as the idea of
feeling gravity on each part of your body, have helped me in this. Before
taking this Tai Chi class, I had taken both Yoga and meditation classes,
both of which had a central focus on relaxation. However, Tai Chi taught
me a different way toview relaxation. Before Tai Chi, I thought of
relaxation as an activity. For example, I would set aside time in the
afternoon to practice yoga, deep breathing and meditation to relax my mind
and body after a long day of work. After Tai Chi, I realize that
relaxation doesn't just have to be an activity that is practiced for a
short part of the day, but rather can be a state of being that can be
maintained during the long day of work as well. I now understand
relaxation is a state in which I only require energy for the task at
hand. A state where I don't work against my own body when I try to move,
or work against my own mind when I try to think. I realize that by being
in this relaxed state all of the time, I can accomplish more with greater
ease. Tai Chi class gives the time to both practise this state of being
and to come to a deeper understanding of what it means to relax.
Adam Berman
Physics Graduate Student
asberman [AT] princeton.edu
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Before taking this class, I learned Taichi in China. After taking four
sessions of Won's Taichi class, I realized my previous understanding about
Taichi was superficial. His class greatly helped me to understand the
depth of Taichi and the philosophy behind it. By applying such philosophy
to everyday life, I find myself benefiting in many ways, such as fitness,
stress reduction, and even in my study.
The Taichi philosophy is mostly based on Taoism. Tao essentially means
"the way it is", that is, reality. A similar idea is "being here and now"
in Zen. Both emphasize that by distinguishing between reality and
imaginations/illusions, one can be free from unnecessary worries, fears
and regrets and achieve a peaceful state of mind. This then leads to deep
relaxation and optimal action. Meditation is one way to cultivate the
calmness and serenity of the mind. However, I used to find it very hard
to convince myself to stay "here and now" and not to be overtaken by
worries and fears when facing difficult situations. In this Taichi class,
for the first time I experienced that being "here and now" leads to
effective action. For example, as a small sized woman, I can still escape
from a disadvantaged joint-lock position if I am more relaxed and more
aware of "what is".
Another useful thing Won teaches in the class is how to relax while in
action. By connecting with the basic yet fundamental facts of mechanics,
anatomy, and psychology, he guides us to discover the way our body works
and to experience how "doing less", aka recognizing and complying with the
way it is, instead of "doing more" can lead to not only comfort but also
stability, suppleness, strength, and speed.
Ying Lu
yinglu [AT] princeton.edu
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When I first started this class, I had been looking for several months for a
martial art to practise, and had considered numerous possibilities. As the
saying goes, "when the student is ready, the teacher appears". Chen style
tai chi caught my interest as it offers the greatest scope of skills:
relaxation/health benefits, self defense, and a philosophy for everyday
living, without the aggressive aspects of other martial arts. I believe that
this class benefited me greatly in regard to a chronic medical condition that
I have had for a number of years. This class is real tai chi chuan, not the
California aerobic-style or geriatric tai chi taught at health clubs. The
Princeton Tai Chi Club atmosphere is very collegial and supportive for
learning.
Bill Gowen
wgowen [AT] princeton.edu
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I was a confirmed yogi (with 7 years of experience) before I got into Tai Chi. A
couple of years ago, I severely injured my neck and became terrified of any
asana (posture) that even vaguely resembled an inversion. I have been
practising Tai Chi for one year now, and have found that it offers much gentler,
safer, and, in my mind, deeper ways into relaxation.
There's no 'regimented' way into Tai Chi. It involves fundamental things,
like gravity, mass, mental and bodily freedom. That is to say, if you don't
relax, it simply doesn't happen.
Through regular practice, I have acquired a much subtler awareness of how and
where I hold tension, and have found ways to establish a more balanced
relationship between my mind and body. The wonderful thing about Tai Chi is that
the awareness it promotes in your life isn't simply relegated to the
practice-room. It has helped me confront daily stresses (e.g. spending long
hours at a computer; feeling stuck in nebulous arguments) without half as much
of the jaw-clenching and shoulder-tightening as I use to feel. I'm also
convinced that Tai Chi helps you get down those devilishly icy double-diamond
slopes.
Won is a thoughtful, attentive and inspiring teacher. He's most likely the
least anxious and most graceful academic you'll ever meet. His class is worth
taking just for those reasons.
Catherine A. Witt
Department of French and Italian
cawitt [AT] princeton.edu
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Tai-Chi martial art, which is very different from other kinds of martial arts, is an
art of relaxation. The more relaxed one is, the more powerful one is. But the problem
is, what is true relaxation and how to relax? Before one can relax oneself deeply
(relaxation has no end) and feel true relaxation, one can never answer the questions
above. So I think the most important condition to study Tai-Chi is to have a good
teacher.
I learned some Tai-Chi when I was in China and I thought I could relax myself and was
on the right way. However, after I attended Won's Tai-Chi class I changed my mind.
When I met him the first time, he pointed out that my chest is not relaxed and too
tight, which I haven't realized for years. Now I am trying to relax my chest under his
instruction and I feel better. In his class, there are opportunities to feel powerful
movement by oneself. After that one can believe relaxation IS power. One can also
learn instructions on ones everyday life. These instructions are based on Tai-Chi
principles. By following the advice one will relax more and feel more comfortable. For
example, I was taught to relax my spine area in my daily life such as sitting and
walking. When I read something, if I sit straight with my spine area relaxed, I feel
peace and more concentrated.
Relaxation is the essence of Tai-Chi while self-defense movements are only its
applications. I would say that Tai-Chi is one kind of life method, and it is a way to
comfortable, healthy and efficient life.
Haifeng Huang
Frick 101G
hhuang [AT] princeton.edu
609-258-6662
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I started taking the Tai Chi class with Won in Winter 2003, just a
semester ago. I've enjoyed and learned many useful things from it, and
plan to continue taking the class until I leave Princeton. In the very
first class, Won asked us about which aspects of Tai Chi interested us the
most: health exercise, philosophy, or martial arts. I primarily came for
the first two, partly because of some doubt on how relaxation could be
applied as powerful martial arts. I have done some meditation and learned
that relaxation certainly helps with health and peaceful mind, but martial
arts? Well, now I've seen at least one practice, Tai Chi, that
potentially gets you all three.
I'm truly a beginner of Tai Chi, especially the martial arts part.
However, in daily life, it already helps me deal with things more
effectively. Don't do anything unnecessary, for instance, is among
important messages often heard in class. To me, it's a challenging game,
or even art, to identify what is unnecessary in daily life. Being
inspired by the fact that it's easier to throw someone on the ground if
you relax (i.e., don't use unnecessary muscles), I have tried to identify
them. I found that, in the past, I used to worry and pressure myself quite
a bit when I worked, or just walked, or sometimes even when I played
soccer, which supposedly should help me relax. Once I let go of these
unnecessaries, I found myself getting about the same amount of work done
with less frustration and more comfort. As a result, I have more energy
left, both mental and physical, to do other things. And of course, there
are still many, and I mean many, other unnecessaries, more fine and vague,
that I carry around and that should be relaxed away.
Another thing that I particularly like about the class: Won is a
physicist. Occasionally, he gives scientific explanation of Tai Chi
relaxation, which fits my appetite (I'm not really a scientist, but I like
science). A good portion of my Tai Chi classmates seems to appreciate
this as well.
That's it. That's my opinion and relatively short experience with Tai
Chi. It is, of course, just my interpretation, not the interpretation. I
think that to deeply understand Tai Chi relaxation would take quite a
while, but hey, I'm in no hurry, so I'm just gonna relax my way through
and see what happens.
Rachata Muneepeerakul (Chot)
rmuneepe [AT] princeton.edu
Princeton, April 2004
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When I signed up for the Tai Chi class I knew practically nothing
about this martial art. My prior martial arts experience was almost zero
- two months of Karate about twelve years ago. The first thing I want to
mention is the atmosphere in the class. It is not at all like other
martial arts practice sessions I have seen. The formality and all the
rituals are totally missing. Also missing is the usual counting that
everyone has to strictly follow - no "O-o-o-ne, two-o-o-o..., thre-e-e,
fou-u-u-ur" - everyone follows but is free to change the pace a bit
according to what he feels is right for him. I liked this very much.
And this leads me to the first class. It boiled down to: you should
be relaxed and feel Earth's gravity with your whole body, and some hand
waving. I thought, "Well I can see how being relaxed may help, but so
what?" - well I simply did not get it the first time. After hearing,
"Relax, relax, relax," hundreds of times more during the classes,
together with actually trying to relax (surprisingly it turns out it is
quite hard to really relax), and Won explaining (in many different ways)
that being relaxed means that you use minimum effort in your movements
and that gives you power - I started to understand. The practice
sessions from the Tai Chi club helped a lot in this respect too - the
martial arts applications that we practiced there really demonstrated
the point.
After a whole semester of Tai Chi, two things happened to me. I really
started to like it and to understand how practical and logical it is and
how it teaches you the really important - fundamental - things, but I
also understood that I have barely skimmed the surface. But even the
little that I learned I could immediately apply. At the same time that I
signed up for Tai Chi I signed up for an Aikido class, which was was a
"typical" martial arts setting: the formalities, the bowing... but I
only went to four classes - by that time I realized that all the hand
locking that they do is simply pointless if I apply what I learned from
Tai Chi; even the teacher had trouble applying some of the locks to me.
So I dropped the class. There were some less "spectacular" applications
of what I learned - for example, knowing some Tai Chi helps a lot with
vacuum cleaning :-) Another effect it had on me... The class was on
Wednesday evening, maybe the worst time one could think of; I would go
to the class directly from work frustrated from sitting in front of the
computer all day, but by the end of the session I normally felt fresh
and light - literally light - as if thirty pounds of my weight were
gone.
So after this semester I like Tai Chi so much that I will sign up for
the next one, and the next one, and the next one... The only thing that
worries me is that I am getting the impression it is the kind of "art"
that you can dive into for twenty years and never reach the bottom. But I
think the journey will be worth it - no matter how far I actually get.
Peter Ruevski
ruevs [AT] hotmail.com
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