Tai Chi Masters Chee Soo - Howard Gibbon

 
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Resistance Is Futile

As a student and teacher of Tai Chi for the past 38 years one of the greatest benefits to my general health and well being has been to learn that resistance is futile in the sense of trying to overcome a force greater than yourself, physically or mentally, because it inevitable leads to injury, physically and or mentally.

When something or somebody resists you, the wise yield, others resist/fight.

The resistance you are encountering is not for you, it is a condition suffered by the other person or thing blocking your present path. The fact that you are in its path is just a coincidence. It is just something passing through, a temporary situation or state. Do not take it personally. See it as it is, something outside of you.

Don’t let it in, if you do it will infiltrate and destroy, eat away at your inner being, consume your mind. Keep it where it belongs outside, separate.

See it as you would see the rainy day when you wished to go walking or play tennis or some other outdoor activity.

Distinguish it as merely an irritation that can be dealt with by taking control of your mind and then finding another exciting indoor activity to do instead.

You have this power within you. You are the controller of your destiny, but only if you believe it, and only if you use it

Henry Ford who brought the motor car to the working man and women, and who amongst us is not grateful for that, once said,

“Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right”.

Life is often like a storm arriving, an unfathomable natural condition of forces beyond your control. Let it pass. If you resist it will build in power and cause much damage, if you can let it pass through the disturbance will be minimal. And when harmony returns you will be unscathed and able to move on towards your dreams and goals.

The story of King Canute is usually misrepresented as an example of the King’s arrogance. The truth is King Canute set his throne by the sea shore and commanded the tide to halt and not wet his feet and robes. The King wanted to show his people that even though he was a King, he was powerless before nature and God.

The King continued to command the tide to halt. However, the tide continued to rise and washed over his feet and legs without respect to his royalty.

Then the king moved backwards, turning to the watching crowd and said: "Let all men know, empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws." He then hung his gold crown on a crucifix, and never wore it again "to the honour of God the almighty King", the ruler of all nature. It is a shame that his actions have been distorted for the true story imparts much wisdom.

If you fight the storm when it enters your life you will probably sustain mid to severe damage or worse as a result. And when the disturbance passes, waste much time returning your life to its position before the calamity hit.

Day to day minor and occasionally major aggravations infiltrate our lives at work, within our families and through our own beliefs systems.

How we react to those disturbances affects the quality of life we experience.

by Howard Gibbon

 

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© Copyright 2012 Howard Gibbon - all rights reserved  

Howard F Gibbon, EzineArticles Basic PLUS Author

Testimonials

 

Just a note to say hi,

I have been taking my time with each move.  I'm up to move 21, yeah!!!!!  Your instructions are excellent.

First I watch you do the move.  Then, I try the move, while watching you. Then, practice until it feels right.  Then add it to the moves learned so far...practice and practice some more.

Truly enjoy watching you and Gisela; and your UTUBE video (with the group). Watching you doing the first 50 moves, on the DVD, helps to get the timing down for individual moves, flow from move to move, timing between the upper and lower body movements, when to shift your weight, etc.

Taking it slow gives me time to see/study the subtle moves, such as the feet.  The hand movements are easier to see, but the slight foot movements, take a little longer to get right.

Would love to travel to Scarborough, to take part in your classes. Maybe once I have the first 50 moves down. Hopefully, I will be retired in a year or two... Then, my husband and I hope to travel a bit. All the best to you and yours.

Regards, Irene Jones - Canada

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Howard is a superb teacher. I have learnt the short form from his excellent and painstakingly produced DVD. Being unable to find a style I enjoyed which was taught at a reasonable hour for me his DVD has been a godsend. I am only sorry that I cannot attend his classes in person. I thank him sincerely for his thoughtful and precise work.  

Paul Hillman 

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Hi Howard,

Can I say that it was nice to meet you in person for the first time when you came up to Edinburgh in November this year, and as Denise (my own instructor) said I would, I certainly enjoyed all of your classes that I attended. I met some really nice people and I went away from each one having a had a great time, but also realizing that I have a lot to learn; a challenge which I will (hopefully) over the future years meets. I look forward to seeing you again when you are next back in Scotland.

Best Regards,

Jim. Anderson - Edinburgh

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Dear Howard,

At the age of 21 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and have taken medication ever since (I am much older now!). A friend of mine, introduced me to Tai Chi and like so many people, I struggled at the beginning because there seemed to be so much to learn! However, I was confident enough to attend a day course. I was both excited and nervous - after all I was going to meet 'The Master'! You were not only helpful and encouraging but inspirational - I was hooked and began to take Tai Chi far more seriously. The results of my revised approach was that later in the year my blood pressure had reduced so much that I was taken off one tablet. My blood pressure has continued to reduce, in fact last Monday, I was taken off yet another tablet.

I appreciate that many factors may influence blood pressure however, I am convinced that the improvement in my blood pressure correlated directly with my involvement in T'ai Chi.

Thank you for being you and helping me and others like me to raise our horizons for personal achievement and enjoyment.

Kindest regards.

Barbara Lawes

 

 

 

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Testimonials

Howard,

Many thanks for your prompt response - I received the new DVD yesterday. As I have been struggling with "The Stork is Aroused" and "The Double Whip" sequences at my local Tai Chi classes for the last three weeks, I am pleased to say that I have now cracked it by following your crystal clear instructions on the DVD.

Thanks again,

Mr. Joseph William Taylor

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Subject: 

Just to say thank you for your very prompt response to my order for the DVD.  It arrived within 48hrs. It's a gift for my sister in law who has recently joined a Tai Chi class and is enjoying it as relief from a stressful job. I can't wait to see the results of using the DVD!!

Wishing you all the best for a peaceful Christmas and new year.

Julia Lee

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Many thanks Howard,  

The Silk DVD is wonderful and I have already printed out the manual. Hope it isn't as cold with you as it is here. 

Regards from Helen

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Thank you, Howard, for speedy delivery of DVD, which arrived yesterday and have also printed your eBook. 

I have practiced with your DVD and find it easy to understand and great for learning.

It is daunting when you first start to learn Tai Chi when you see all the moves you have to remember for feet, hands, arms & legs all at once, but you have broken it down into 'bite size' chunks which makes it much more managable. 

The eBook is very helpful & informative. 

Many thanks. 

Caroline Boom 

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I would also like to say that I recently received one of your DVDs - T'ai Chi Dance Vol 1 - as a gift (my partner bought it for my birthday, at my suggestion) anyway, what I wanted to say was how delighted I am with it, and how I am struck, pretty much every time I use it, by the thought that the people who made this DVD clearly cared about the quality of the experience that would be had by those using the DVD as an aid to learning. So, thanks for that; I'm sure I am very far from alone in appreciating it.
Best wishes.

David Littlewood

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