“The old masters began with their village style, perfected their practice then went on to acquire more information and expand their skills... As they moved and learned; their students followed and began to use family and village names to label and distinguish one “flavor” from another. Today, a single lifetime is not sufficient to encompass the entire range of the art. But in the end, it remains TaiJi.”
—Master Pikshan Ko
Portland, OR
Advertising changes (some say “Pollutes!”) everything it touches.
In ages past, TaiJi was a well known art which reflected the individual style, touch, taste and family history of every practitioner. With sufficient exposure, one could tell the family style, teacher, line, region and focus of a player. They were all different, but all part of the family.
But as the great wide world extended and expanded, advertising found its way into the art. Artificial distinctions and “Associations” became the order of the day. Now, it's not just Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan or TaiJi; it's “The Most Popular Form of TaiJi!” Perhaps it's “TaiJi from the Original Wudang Temple.” Maybe it's “Taoist Tai Chi!” “Robert Alexander’s Original Tai Chi Chuan at the Main Street Temple.” (“Robert Alexander” is in this case an artificial name to make a literary point. Any resemblance to a real person, living or dead, is purely co-incidental...) Of course, “Beijing TaiJi” would have a powerful claim to center stage, if not for the fact that the Party frowns on Chi...
Can “Gold Star TaiJi” be far behind? Red Stripe? Black Robe?
Oh, and let's separate out Chi Gong, Tao Gong, Boxing and Weapons. All separate, branded, artificially distinct products to be shrink-wrapped, advertised and sold.
One of the classic strategies of advertising is the invention or isolation of distinct features, then claiming them first in public! As in “Quaker Puffed Rice: Shot from Guns!” All puffed rice is “shot from guns!” But because David Ogilvy’s agency claimed it first for Quaker -- it was true! “First to Claim, owns the Name!” So be prepared for increasingly shrill claims to have originated Peng Energy, Unique High Frequency Chi, Resonant Chi, Fah Jing Retreats and Condensing Breathing. “You heard it here first!”
As in all things, beware of the advertisement!
To find your genuine teacher, ask around, Google it, then make a list and prepare to visit schools -- many of them!
Happiness with your school depends on four things:
* Time: Can they be there when you want to study?
* Place: Can you be happy in this place? The look, sound and feel of the school have a profound effect on your attitude, and sense of safety.
* Teacher: You have to respect, trust and be willing to accept instruction from this person. They will guide your study, provide an example, demonstrate the skills and push you to excel. They have to be more than a mere mortal, and someone to whom you can entrust your future.
* Style: There are so many flavors, and so much to choose from: You have to like the style in all its quirky ancient uniqueness.
Suggestion: Disregard all the advertising and promotion. Stick with 1-4 above and you'll find a good place. Consider that TaiJi takes a lifetime -- at least, so it's not going to give up all its secrets in six weeks. Now put aside all your gwai-lo criticality, settle in for a while and let it grow on you!
