Yes, its a chameleon moment once more when the teapotmonk says goodbye to one format and embraces another. Follow the new adventures of the mOnk over at the all new www.teapotmonk.com and subscribe to the all new podcast on itunes and stitcher

The Way of the Weapon: Why Learn Sword Tai Chi?

Feb 17th, 2015 7m 5s

This week we are going to focus on weapons, because if one element appears anachronistic to a 21st century urban warrior, then it surely is the training in sword that Tai Chi practitioners still love to promote.And the Tai Chi martial agenda

What Makes Tai Chi a Martial Art?

Jan 12th, 2015 12m 30s

Do you practice full contact sparring for self defense or as part of a calorie controlled diet?Do you wear steel capped Dr Martins for aesthetics or for devastating rib attacks?And are exponents of health tai chi perverting the fundamentals o

Three Reasons to Take Your Tai Chi out of the Classroom

Dec 11th, 2014 10m 19s

It's easy to remain content when you do not have to adapt and evolve, so every now and then, it's a good idea to step outside the temple and see what's happening in the world. The teapomonk presents 3 good reasons to step outside and let things

How Long Does it Take to Learn Tai Chi? Episode 16

Sep 28th, 2014 11m 7s

How long does it take to learn the form? Why are there different length forms and what does the elusive notion of time tell us about supermarket shopping, radioactive apples and the legacy of Steve Jobs?Sometimes, when I'm in the supermarket

The Form: How to Learn the Tai Chi Form

Aug 11th, 2014 7m 54s

IN the last episode we looked at the structure of the form, it's roots, it's history and the way it is taught. IN this episode, I want to focus on something else...and that is one of my favorite themes: Teaching and Learning, because its all we

Ways of Learning: The Illusion of Certainty

Jun 17th, 2014 54m 24s

How can I teach what I need to teach more effectively? How can I learn what I need to learn more efficiently? Ways of Learning is the book that will show you how, and in this sample audio chapter, you will hear the author speak on "The Illusion

The Form: Ice Dissolving Into water - Episode 13

May 28th, 2014 9m 47s

Why do Forms differ from style to style, class to class and even instructor to instructor. And is it the postures or the spaces between them that define the tai chi form? This most symbolic and synonymous representation of tai chi. And what d

What Do we Mean by Authenticity in Tai Chi? Episode 12

Apr 29th, 2014 8m 29s

What do we mean by authentic Tai Chi? What does traditional Tai Chi mean? And why are Tai Chi practitioners so obsessed in claiming exclusive access to these very elusive terms?Many people say: "Hey Teapotmonk, answer me this, if you're real

It's All About Style: Part 2

Apr 10th, 2014 8m 27s

Why do some teachers teach a hybrid form of Tai Chi? Does this amount to sacrilege or is this the way of the world given the origins of the art and how it's developed over the years?And what should a student look for in a class, if not purity

It's All About Style: Part 1

Feb 27th, 2014 10m 33s

What should you look for when considering which style of Tai Chi to learn?Are there major differences between the different schools or do they share more than they would like to admit? And does your school offer a range of learning techniques

The History of Tai Chi: Part 3 (Episode 9)

Jan 30th, 2014 10m 49s

What caused tai chi to go west, and was it - like an exotic fruit - starting to decay upon arrival? What role played the American Secret Services in opening up the practice to American audiences and what legacy has the innovators of the 1960

The History of Tai Chi Part 2

Jan 9th, 2014 8m 43s

In the previous episode, we started the history of Tai Chi, recognizing that little was in fact, factual, and that there was little point in attempting to substantiate the insubstantial, as history tends to lean heavily towards the partial and

The History of Tai Chi Episode 7

Oct 28th, 2013 12m 35s

Where did TC begin and why? What were the reasons behind the splits in styles and techniques and why, after centuries of evolution do such squabbles between stylists still enrage even the most placid of practitioners.Find out in this weeks epi

A Lack of Uniformity

Oct 10th, 2013 9m 21s

In Karate and Judo, In aikido and Hapkido, in kendo and taekwondo there are uniforms, belts and gradings. You know where you are with a Japanese or Korean Art. But in Tai Chi, there is nothing. No costumes, no headscarfs, no ninja styled finger

What Does Tai Chi Really Mean? Episode 5

Sep 23rd, 2013 13m 30s

What does TC Mean? Why is it spelt in different ways? Why is it sometimes referred to as Tai Chi and others as TCC? And why, even after explaining all this do most people say afterwards, I'm no more clearer than before? Literally it means th

What is rooting? Episode 4

Sep 2nd, 2013 7m 43s

*What do we mean by learning to root?*Can Tai chi claim to offering better rooting skills or training than other disciplines?*And What practical use is Rooting outside a text book glossary? All this and more in this weeks episode of Talking

Yielding and Sticking: Episode 3

Aug 11th, 2013 9m 29s

Last episode we spoke about what happens in a TC class and today we are going to explore the crucial concepts of 'Yielding', ' and Sticking . I'm going to try and keep the topics broad and hopefully applicable to all the different styles and

What Happens in a Tai Chi Class?

Jul 4th, 2013 37m 50s

Welcome to this weeks episode where we ask the simple, but surprisingly complex question...Q2. What happens in a Tai Chi Class?A. Well, The short answer is that in a class of Tai Chi, you learn tai chi. The content of that learning experi

What is Tai Chi?

Jun 24th, 2013 8m 43s

Hi welcome to Talking Tai Chi with the teapotmonk.Today we begin out journey and start our exploration of what is Tai Chi.But instead of defining it - a rather meaningless task given the enormous cultural and linguistic issues involved, I'm

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