| Recently American awareness of Tai Chi has | | | | have for them. They should also be capable of |
| been growing by leaps and bounds. Many people | | | | giving specific answers. As you evaluate the |
| have heard about how it can have enormous | | | | answers teachers give you, be aware that their |
| health benefits and how it can also be a powerful | | | | answers may vary. Some teachers may have |
| martial art. However, there are many different | | | | educated opinions which are legitimately different |
| Tai Chi organizations, styles, schools and methods. | | | | from those of other instructors. However, |
| America has not yet developed a way of | | | | although answers may not always be the same, |
| certifying Tai Chi instructors in the same way that | | | | teachers should be aware of the basic vocabulary |
| it certifies medical doctors or accountants. How | | | | of Tai Chi practice. In western medicine, one good |
| can a student decide on a teacher? In this article, | | | | doctor may disagree with the opinion of another, |
| I'm going to give you some basic knowledge and | | | | but both doctors will have a grasp of basic |
| attitudes to look for in a good Tai Chi instructor. | | | | anatomy and physiology terms. In the same way, |
| In the next two I'm going to delve more deeply | | | | instructors should know and be able to use the |
| into the background a good Tai Chi instructor | | | | vocabulary of the discipline. They should be aware |
| should have. | | | | of terms such as Chi, Jing, Sung, Yi and Shen. In |
| When selecting a Tai Chi instructor, it is important | | | | the next two articles, we'll discuss more |
| to do your homework. Visit a number of different | | | | specifically the concepts instructors should be |
| schools and teachers. Many teachers and/or | | | | aware of. |
| facilities offer open houses or sample classes. Go | | | | Instructors should of course know specific forms. |
| to these. If the website or flyer you see doesn't | | | | A beginning teacher should know at least 24 |
| specifically offer a trial, you might call or briefly | | | | specific forms. In addition, instructors should also |
| visit the class to check on when or where these | | | | know combat applications of the forms. You may |
| classes might occur. When you a visiting the | | | | be going to a class only for the health benefits. |
| school, look for endorsements by Tai Chi | | | | However, instructors with sufficient knowledge |
| organizations. Talk the students there. Find out | | | | should know not only the forms and the health |
| about the benefits that they have gained from | | | | benefits of the discipline but also its martial arts |
| studying with the teacher. | | | | applications. A good teacher will know at least 9 |
| One of the most important things you can do is | | | | or 10 different martial arts applications for each |
| to ask potential instructors specific questions. | | | | form. Since Tai Chi began as a martial art, any |
| Good teachers should be open with you. They | | | | teacher with real depth will have knowledge of |
| should be willing to answer the questions that you | | | | this aspect of the discipline. |