Robert Martinez, L.Ac., MSTOM, is a taiji instructor and certified acupuncturist working in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. In this article, he talks about why he became a taiji instructor and shares tips if you are interested in starting taiji!
Q: Why did you start practicing taiji (t'ai chi)?
A: I was an anthropology major at City College so I always had an interest in studying other people and cultures. While at school, I noticed there was a club for an African-Brazilian martial art (capoeira). I was going to join the club, but my friend thought I should practice taiji instead because of my laid back personality and easy-going nature. Generally, people who are quiet and calm in their personalities tend to be more interested in taiji. Sometimes, taiji can be helpful in calming high-energy people because of its slow movements and breathing.
I started studying taiji in 1989, 22 years ago, with my first teacher, Lawrence Galante. I fell in love with it. It was unlike any type of movement or martial art I had ever studied and it became my introduction to Eastern thought and Chinese medicine.
Q: What suggestions do you have for others who want to practice taiji?
A: The hardest part of any kind of fitness program is starting it, but I would encourage people to try taiji. Once you're doing it, you find it's not so bad and you feel much better. Shop around for a good teacher especially if you have never done taiji before. The teacher should have clear and simple instructions, make sense when explaining, and be able to show you the proper taiji form as well as the power behind the positions. There's a lot of power in taiji even though it has a soft appearance because it is a martial art; its name actually means "supreme ultimate fist."
If you find someone that you think is a really good teacher, then the most important advice is to practice taiji every day. As it says in a book about Chinese martial arts, "Practice one day, and you'll reap the benefit of one day. Skip practice one day, and you lose ten days." Taiji and martial arts are more than hobbies, they're life paths. Consistent practice is necessary to develop the internal energy (qi) and to build correct body-movement habits. The less you practice, the harder that is to do.
Practicing every day is, of course, very difficult. For this reason, many of the traditional styles have been shortened, so that they can be practiced in as little as ten minutes. If you have more time, you can repeat the form. At the very least, some type of standing meditation can help keep the qi moving, and build the correct habits.
If you're looking for more information on Chinese medicine, Rob recommends the beginner's book by Ted Kaptchuk called The Web That Has No Weaver. For taiji, he recommends Lawrence Galante's T'ai Chi: The Supreme Ultimate. Also, YouTube is a good resource for both with videos of acupuncture and taiji all regularly posted there.
