Tai Chi Finder

Having joined the Tai Chi Union For Great Britain as an Associate Member in 2009, I 
decided to take the plunge and apply for Instructor membership. It wasn't I 
particularly want to be an instructor (A sceptic might point out there are already far to 
many Chiefs and not enough Indians) it was my own changing circumstances.

My main Instructor was retiring, my wife insisted I need to get out of the house more 
and suddenly I discovered a requirement to get some insurance (I'd taken up the 
sword and it was getting increasingly nerve racking waving a double edged blade 
around a class of over sixties). My wife suggested I put up barrier tape, but that 
ruined the ambiance.

Having applied for Instructor membership I received back a very polite letter 
telling me they couldn't count the opinions of people I had named as my instructors 
as they were not registered with the Tai Chi Union (Damn that chicken and egg). 
So.. I could either find a current Instructor to back me with a signature, take an 
assessment or SEND IN A DVD. I say SEND IN A DVD!

Now, I'm not a mixer so finding a current instructor in the 103 hand form to do me a 
favour seemed a bit wet. Regarding the sending in of a DVD, in your dreams!

Having filmed myself once I discovered far from the elegant swan I assumed myself 
to be, I looked like some old bloke stomping about in the snow (I accept wearing 
the flat cap was a mistake).

There for, the assessment option seemed the only option. I've been around the block
long enough to know If somebody asked me to do an assessment on another persons
ability I'd be a bit mystified. How do you do that then? Fortunately for me, a chap did step
up a few days later. That chap being 5th Dan / Tai Chi Union Instructor Robert Agar-Hutton
who set a date for the assessment in December.

From that point on I practiced like a mad man, even madder than usual. Having 
Googled Robert he had a very similar background and was a Hard stylist who had 
also embraced Tai Chi. Definitely an all rounder compared to my one trick pony 
background. We had previously spoken on the phone and he seemed a genuine 
chap. For a month I hit the mats, sit up, press ups, jogging, applications, the full 
hard / soft works. Then I went shopping with the wife and kids and detached my 
retina.

Man Down! Four days later I was in the operating theatre with clear instructions not 
to move without warning the surgeon, so..get this.. he could remove the surgical instruments 
from my eye! I didn't move, I was too busy praying. Following that I was wheeled to a 
hospital bed and told "Don't move" for seven days.

I asked the consultant to clarify what he meant by "Don't move?

"Well," he said "If you value your sight, don't move your eyes because your other eye 
will probably go the same way..and keep your cheek to the pillow at all times."

"So what about going to the toilet?" I enquired.

"Do your best." he said.

So I stopped eating and didn't move. My wife came in and I said two things to her. 
"Don't leave me." and "Cancel the assessment."

Seven days is a long time to spend not moving. I discovered with my back to a full 
ward I could break wind continually with no guilt at all. But I hadn't realised how full it 
was until on the eighth day I finally sat up. At least I hadn't been a screamer.

So fast forward to January, I re-contacted Robert and we met for the assessment. 
No press ups, no sit ups, no break falls. Just straight Tai Chi. We covered Chi Gung, 
The Form, Applications, history, swapped stories and had a coffee. He has a terrific 
set up at home (with a purpose built training area in the garden) and you will struggle 
to find a more committed martial artist. Robert cuts his own path based on his own 
experiences and backs up his knowledge with personal ability. He's also a very nice 
bloke who if you are anywhere near Buxton you'd do well to visit. He offers personal 
tuition and class work. He's also a published author.

Highly recommended. You can contact Robert at Buxton Tai Chi Club.

His Book is How To Deal with Verbal Aggression

Neil Bradley's website is:
http://ripley-tai-chi-club.co.uk

Note: I had no idea applying for instructor membership could me so traumatic! - David