#scottmrodel

No matter how challenging the Push Hands, you can always smile.

William C.C. Chen makes his point during a Taijiquan Sanshou Seminar at Great River Taoist Center.

Taijiquan, yes, it is a martial art. Application of Brush Knee and Strike. Doesn’t STRIKE in the name of the movement make that obvious? 

Willow Bends, one of our Basic Core Exercises in Chinese Swordsmanship (Jianfa) In this exercise, one student has his or her sword while the other does not. This helps students to quickly get a sense of distance and timing, as well as learning to stay calm in the face of incoming cuts. 

Criticism and Critiques

Many years ago, a classmate said to me, “It must be hard for you, it seems like Master Wang doesn’t like you.” We had just come out of a private meeting with our fellow disciple classmates. Somewhat surprised, I responded, “What do you mean?” He said Laoshi is always correcting you, criticizing you.” I said, that is because he cares about me and wants me to learn and improve. I pointed out that another classmate who had quit practicing, and quite literally achieve nothing, had simply been told, “It’s good you are back. You have your notes to work from.” 

At another International event in Europe, where we were training outdoors, some students took a break, walked away from the group, sat down and smoked cigarettes. Wang Laoshi walked by and chatted friendly with them. He didn’t ask them what the hell was wrong with them? We had few opportunities to all work together and they were wasting time smoking of all things. No, he didn’t bother. I was teaching one group at the time. Master Wang turned saw me, observed the technique I was teaching and came over to critique what I was doing. I guess he liked the smokers better than me. 

In all my years with Wang Yen-nien, he never complemented my technique or achievements in any way. Thankfully, he always told me what I was doing wrong and how to improve. I never needed to know what I was doing right, just what I could do better. And he clearly expected me to do better. He took the time to let me know that by being straight forward in his instructions to me. Thankfully he “didn’t like me” and criticized me all the time. Thanks to him, I am where I am now.

~ Scott M. Rodell

Working on Thanksgiving...