An anonymous reader who has been writing to me about her Tai Chi experiences raised a concern in one of her emails recently. Her teacher asked her to start teaching a beginner's Tai Chi class, but she does not feel ready to do so yet. I want to share with you my response to her:

	Like it? Share it!
	Save on Del.icio.us

I want to point something out to you, though I am not suggesting that you do something that you do not want to, or feel ready to do:

Some people, with little understanding and worse form (they go to a different place every time they do a posture) think they are (or why else call themselves) masters and teach. Some people, like you, realize that it is a big field, and a deep one, and they have a lot to work on. Those people often make the best teachers, even as they doubt their preparedness to teach.

That, to me, is you. Your perceptions that, 'the faster I go, the behinder I get' is right on for a teacher. It is not that you are getting behind, it is that you are opening up and realizing the depths of what Tai Chi is. The better you get, the more you realize there is to learn and the farther you have to go, and that is a good thing. You do not have to "master" Tai Chi to teach it. If every one felt they did, there would be no one teaching, including me. You just have to have something to offer to the beginner or some one who knows less. I think of it like a giant chain link fence, where we extend a hand up to those who know more, while extending a hand down to those who know less.

At some point I think you will realize that, as little as you think you have, people with a lot less are busy calling themselves teachers and even masters, and running classes. That is what I hope will get you to see things differently.

There is an old saying, to which I added about 25%:

He who knows not,
and knows not that he knows not,
is a fool,
shun him.

He who knows not,
and knows that he knows not,
is a student,
teach him.

He who knows,
and knows not that he knows,
is asleep,
awaken him.

And he who knows,
and knows that he knows,
is wise,
follow him.

When you run into enough of the first type, a choice may arise before you. A decision will be a need to be made, to accept responsibility to spread the benefit of the Tai Chi that you have been taught. Or to pass on it. That you think of teaching as an honor is truly great. But think of it also as a blessing that you are able to bestow on people who do not know Tai Chi and its benefits.

So, when you are ready, take the word of a teacher, who might see you differently than you see yourself.

In Tai Chi,
Bill

Have a question for me? Ask it at Ask Sifu.

Do you like this week's question? Please pass it on to your friends!

William C. Phillips began his study of the martial arts in 1965. He currently holds a 7th degree black belt in Karate, and a 5th degree black belt in Ju Jitsu. He began his studies of Tai Chi in l967, studying with Prof. Cheng Man-Ch'ing from '70-'75. He became the most junior student ever to become a teacher in Cheng Man Ch'ing's New York school, the Shr Jung. Sifu Phillips became interested in the field of holistic health in the early 1970's, when a lifelong allergy problem was alleviated with Chinese herbal medicine. Since then, he has studied widely in that field as well. Sifu Phillips is available for seminars, lectures and demonstrations. He has produced two very successful Tai Chi DVDs, and is currently working on a book on Tai Chi form and a third DVD.For more information...

Did you know you could receive our QOTW every week in your email? For Free? You can!  Just sign up below. (We hate spam as much as you do. Your information will never be shared with anyone for any reason. Ever.) Email: Name:

Related Articles

·  How Do You Teach Tai Chi? ·  The Elusiveness of Traditional Chinese Teaching ·  Tai Chi's "Hidden" Secrets ·  5 Quick Tips for Tai Chi Teachers