Dear Tai Chi Chuan Winter 2004

Dear Tai Chi Chuan I think that the Bionsen campaign, which (we are informed) is aimed at persons "mostly female...with a high disposable income" who are "susceptible to new and unusual ideas" is cynical, demeaning to Traditional Chinese culture and damaging to the credibility of the martial art of Taijiquan. Furthermore, I am shocked that the executive committe is allowed to impose promotional offers of this nature on its instructors.
It may also interest some instructors to know that Bionsen products are not endorsed by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) as they do contain animal-tested ingredients. This fact only became known to me when I approached the company specifically as a TCUGB Instructor - they had ignored my enquiry when I approached them as a member of the general public. These products are tested at the Dermatological Clinic of the University of Siena - a visit to their website will make it quite clear what kinds of despicable things they get up to with mice and rats.
This kind of campaign can only damage Taiji's reputation. Taijiquan is neither "new" nor "unusual" and Taiji practice is not always "extremely gentle", at least not if you do it right. I think that it is high time that any supposed link between Taijiquan and "new-age" ideas or "alternative" therapies be axed once and for all.
Joanna Zorya

Dear Joanna,
Thanks for pointing out your concerns which will be deeply considered when we are asked to participate in future promotions. We also welcome the views of other members on Joanna's point regarding the link between 'Taijiquan & 'new age or 'alternative' therapies.
Editor

Dear Tai Chi Chuan
I thought I'd drop a line with my tuppence worth regarding the letters published in the last issue of the tai chi mag. I am really not sure how qualifications in taiji would work as a whole as there are as many variations on theme as there are reasons for people training. In my school we have been working on the problem of people not knowing where they are in the grand scheme of things and have been putting together our own'grading' system. It also serves as an aid to us as it helps maintain a structure in our teaching. Its not particularly complex and based mainly on the external and structural elements of form...... later delving into applications, push hands and weapons etc.
Ian Cameron's letter was very interesting... especially the bit about becoming good at bad taiji, my first thought was been there, done that. Also, with regards to the 'special course' element I've been on the end of that one too. This this is partly why qualifications in tai chi would be a hard one to implement.....exactly who is going to set the criteria?.....would we be inviting the Yang's and the Chen's etc to come and grade us or would their UK representatives be enough. The TCUGB has done a great job of unifying teachers and spreading the word, its just a great pity that the organisation still has no 'higher up' backing from the sports councils.... Peter Arnolds letter really struck a chord with me. Back in 2000, the local college were running 3 hour coaching workshops in association with Sport Scotland and Sportscoach UK. As Mr Arnold said "So, as far as tai chi is concerned, I believe that knowledge about how to take a class, how to vary the work to the level of the various participants, how to handle people effectively are all basic coaching skills which everybody should have first" I agree 100% with this.
Something else I also pay attention to is keeping my first aid certificate up to date along with keeping a medical sheet on all the students, just in case we have a problem, especially with so many students training due to some health problem or another. We know if any student is allergic to aspirin, or who the diabetics are and who carries a spray for angina etc.
Mandeigh Wells

You raise a number of points Mandeigh and we would welcome comments from other instructors and students with respect to what they feel is required in order to be able to teach our art.
Editor

Dear Tai Chi Chuan
I'm rather concerned that the magazine advertises weapons on the cover. Whilst accepting that weapons drills are an integral part of tai chi chuan I would like to display the magazine in my school library once I've read them. I don't feel I can do so as I might be accused of encouraging secondary school pupils to buy such weapons. It was very ironic that the issue carrying the advert also included an article on tai chi for children.
John Craddock.

Dear John,
Whilst we applaud your intention of promoting tai chi chuan to children in your school, and using our journal in this way we also appreciate your concern regarding weapons getting in to the hands of children. The advertisements we include in the magazine are relative to the needs of our readers and I've already been told that readers in areas where weapons are hard to come by are pleased our advertiser offers this service. This being the case you should note that at the bottom right of the advertisement they clearly state, "We do not sell weapons to under 18's." We hope that this rider makes it able for you to include the magazine in your school library.
Editor

Dear Tai Chi Chuan
I'm sure that most of your readers will be familiar with the tai chi clip which appears in between programmes on BBC, are the performers 'real' tai chi practitioners or actors and are they members of the TCUGB?
Jeff Walker

Dear Jeff The 30 second clip was coordinated by Ian Cameron of the Five Winds School in Edinburgh who used mainly his own students and one non tai chi player provided by the programme makers. It was filmed in Rannoch Moor, near Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. What we see is a stylised version of the Wudang form which was specially adapted for the clip. The scene is not all as it seems to be as the film makers wanted the right balance between the art and the stunning scenery. This necessitated the performance taking place on a limited space platform with a number of strategically placed polystyrene rocks nearby. Editor