New York Seminar 1/29/2011- My thoughts

I have trained several times with Master Chen over the years now and have long accepted that he possesses a skill that is frankly light years beyond my understanding. So you would think by now I would be used to that feeling. But over weekend of Jan 29th,  I found myself dumbstruck and utterly flabergasted time and time again. I left humbled, my brain spinning trying to make sense of what I saw and experienced. Where before some ten years ago when I was completely new to Tai Chi and knew nothing about it, I thought mistakenly that I could just learn the forms, do some basic exercises and after a number of years of practice -Viola! I would get some proficiently. This weekend shattered that delusion completely to dust!  Even though I think I have made some minor progress in my ability, compared to Master Chen I haven’t even scratched the surface! Now, I am not merely solely focusing on Master Chen’s ability, it was in the manner in which he “transmitted the secrets”.  The instructions were extremely simple in some cases such as keeping certain body parts still while others were engaged. Simple in description but maddeningly difficult to execute. There were a few times when I completed a technique, my opponent went flying and I did not know what I did! To me I could only explain it by accusing my practice partner of faking it. I am still having trouble accepting the fact that all I was doing was only what Master Chen instructed us to do. Nothing more and nothing less.  When I intentionally attempted to reproduce the effects I failed because I did something outside of the instructions. In spite of the fact that I will probably never gain the ability to do everything taught, I must count myself  blessed to have had the opportunity to train with and learn from Master Chen. If I do what he says maybe I’ll get somewhere. I am so looking forward towards his next visit. Thank You! Master Chen for everything you taught and Michael Calandra for inviting him to NYC.