orientation
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​In Chen Style Tai Chi, effort alone is not enough. Without correct orientation, practitioners often train hard while reinforcing the wrong habits.
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Understanding direction, and continually re-orienting, can mean the difference between steady development and years of confusion.
Avoiding Detours: The Importance of Correct Orientation
​Chen style Tai Chi is difficult. I think that goes without saying.
​Not because it’s mystical, but because the path is unclear and there is no reliable map. As they say in Chen Village: there are no shortcuts, but there are countless detours.
​It’s easy to waste months, years, or even decades chasing the wrong feeling, imprinting the wrong habits, or misunderstanding a subtle instruction. Much of this isn’t the student’s fault. Most practitioners today learn from teachers who are sincere but not highly skilled; and even if you’re fortunate enough to learn from a master, the transmission can sometimes feel opaque, or the contact time is very limited.
​I’ve been very fortunate to study directly under Master Wang Hai Jun for almost two decades. His skill is without question, and his teaching methodology is proven. My own development has come entirely through his guidance. I aim to pass on this methodology in the same spirit, helping serious practitioners navigate the path more effectively.
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The work I offer, whether online diagnostic, in-person immersion, or informally within the community, is oriented around helping practitioners avoid these detours and learn to recognize the correct internal signals earlier in their training.​​
