Thank you everyone who has expressed your support of my voice on this ❤🙏 This is the first time I have ever publicly spoken out against another instructor/school/program and I really did grapple long and hard if it's something I should do and fully prepared to weather the blowback from speaking out. I am so deeply honored that my words resonated with you and hope this can be a start to us coming together from our different parts of the martial arts spectrum and collaborate and grow together. I'd like to speak a little more to the others who don't see why this is a big deal and think I'm just being a bully. I want to begin by saying that what didn't make the edit was my spending quite a long time in my original talk defending the trademarked programs like Tai Chi Easy, Tai Chi Chih, Tai Chi for Balance and these other programs that take aspects of Tai Chi and build specific programs around that have really helped a lot of people. These programs do not claim to be teaching Tai Chi and there are many of these certified instructors who are contributing great value. The thing is, 太极 and 太极拳 are an important part of my culture and has a meaning that has been defined a long time ago. I believe people who have never learned it authentically shouldn't be allowed to make up their own meanings for it and then trick people into thinking they have learned it and get to teach it. Let me offer some additional examples. We have a great need for more qualified doctors in our society. There are just not enough medical doctors to treat all the people who need medical help. It's REALLY hard to become a doctor. You have to get into medical school, you have to do your residency, it takes a lot of time and a lot of medical students drop out during the process and in the end, we just don't have enough qualified doctors. It would be so great if we could produce more. So imagine if some nurses decide that it's just not right to have to go through medical school to earn your MD. What if some nurses got together and issued a MD degrees? Then we can have more doctors, right? Would you support that? As a hiring organization, would you hire a nurse holding an MD degree from an organization not recognized by doctors who went to medical school? In my video I mentioned the difference between pizza and English muffin pizza. I realized there is a better food example and I made this comment in another reply thread here. The better example is BBQ. A lot of people don't know what BBQ is and don't know that there is actually a definition of BBQ. The term is used so generically. Anything you throw on a grill is referred to as BBQ. BBQ ribs is used for ribs cooked any which way with BBQ sauce brushed on top. But anyone who knows their BBQ will tell you that BBQ has a definition. If a BBQ pit master goes to another BBQ restaurant and orders BBQ ribs and they get served oven baked ribs with BBQ sauce on top, they would be pretty annoyed. They will tell you that BBQ needs to be smoked and the meat needs to develop a smoke ring. If it doesn't have that, it's no BBQ. Yes, there are many different varieties of BBQ but all pit masters will agree it can't be called BBQ if it's not smoked. So imagine a certification program that certifies pit masters but teaches them that BBQ is baking meat in an oven and putting BBQ sauce on top. To the general public, it's kind of the same thing. But that doesn't make it BBQ. You can use whatever example has meaning in your life. Something that has a definition that others in the general public may not know about. Now replace that with Tai Chi. Tai Chi to me is what and MD means to doctors and what BBQ means to pit masters. And that's why I made this video. Thank you for listening 🙏❤ PS: A really thoughtful comment asked me what is the source of my frustration? And I realized I haven't really articulated this point well. The source of my frustration is really over the proliferation of these fake Tai Chi certification programs in the U.S. and the growing ecosystem that has been legitimizing them. In the U.S. there is no recognized governing body over Tai Chi so TONS of certification programs have popped up and we've been ignoring them because we don't take them seriously. But have you looked at the landscape lately when it comes to how Tai Chi is presented to the general public? We've all been celebrating the positive articles about the successful scientific studies on Tai Chi for all sorts of ailments. But have you noticed that all the recent articles have been interviewing fitness trainers who are "certified" Tai Chi instructors as their experts? Since these people never learned it authentically, they can only talk about the physical movements and "mindfulness" and what we can just call "Tai Chi aerobics" and nothing more because that's all they know. But every time a big news outlet presents these "certified" Tai Chi instructor personal trainers as the experts, it legitimizes the fake certification programs and more of them pop up. Meanwhile it de-legitimizes instructors who teach it authentically. I've had instructor friends who are amazing practitioners get their credentials questioned and lose out on teaching jobs because they don't have a "certification". I've had teacher friends who teach authentically have to quit teaching to get other jobs in order to feed themselves. Meanwhile these bogus certification programs are hauling in huge profits. My master has trained me to speak up when you see injustice and call a spade a spade. I think this is injustice.

I think that people confuse the ease of "learning forms" with learning to do them correctly and being able to use them as an actual martial art.

In her "Q&A About the Tai Chi Certification" video, she actually has the audacity to refer to herself as a Master. Her certification training, which only involves learning the 24 form, takes 3 to 4 months. After you receive her certification, you are "qualified to teach". It took me 3 years just to begin understanding the 24 form and that was training every day.

I have often been asked to join groups to learn tai chi, and I’ve not yet completed the 108. But when I ask them to explain a few martial application it becomes clear that they have no knowledge of the art. No basics in respects to kung fu, and are often not open to learning them.

Thank you for this video! The students of these types of instructors are unknowingly cheating themselves out of the benefits they could be receiving from practicing true Tai Chi. There was a old Master who once said that without learning the fundamentals, people are just waving their hands around and "directing traffic in the park."

“English Muffin Pizza”! I’ll never forget this term. And will commence using it…often! :). It seems to me that people don’t want to know/learn Tai Chi Chuan so much as they wish to be supported in saying that they know Tai Chi.

Tai Chi Chuan has become a wide river. The banks are shallow, ankle deep at most. But in the centre fairway, the river is still of fathomless depth and amazing powerful flow. Most people stay in the shallowness, some dare to swim. Praise to those few who are willing, able, courageous and skillful enough to explore the mysterious centre flow of the great river.

Lol! The same reaction when I saw someone posting a recipe for tiramisu with totally different ingredients. I said” you can call it what you want but not tiramisu!”

Thank you SO MUCH for making this video! I study and teach Taijiquan, and every time I see these ads - EVERY SINGLE TIME - my blood boils. Shared your video, hoping it goes viral...

As a Taoist Monk of 50 plus years..and a certified instructor.. by my Instructor of Tai Chi Chuan forms..I am truly and deeply saddened by this phenomenon. It took me over 20 years to get certified by my instructor...20 years. Not 20 minutes. I practiced 3 one hour sessions day..EVER DAY. I have absolutely no regrets. Greatest way to to spend your precious time and Life. My counsel..FIND A GOOD TEACHER.

As a tai chi practitioner for 15 years I have wondered a long time how to teach the art online or with dvd, but it's just impossible. The true art is transmitted via feeling and touch from the master. Without that Tai Chi is just a shell.

I agree with all of this. I've been studying and teaching Chinese arts of kung fu and tai chi for 35 years. There is a huge amount to learn - how to stand, move and breathe, how to root through your whole body, how to issue and receive force, the deep philosophy of Taoism and so on. These charlatans - or kung fu cowboys as my old Master used to describe them are like drawing a cartoon of the Mona Lisa then selling it as real. I don't know how we can collaborate as the Chinese arts and lineages are so divided but I think only through educating the public as to what the real arts look and feel like can we claim back this fabulous heritage.

Very well put. Thanks for posting this expose of fake tai chi. A very detailed analysis.

Thank you for your post. You make some very important and valid points.

I will just say thank you for posting this .I will not go into my experience that is not necessary now .I am just grateful to see someone calling out those that downgrade a wonderful Art and have lead to the situation that we now have.Truly believe me when I say I was so very pleased to come across your channel and happy to see your passion for this subject..Have a great day and keep doing what you are doing it is appreciated.

Thanks for taking time to expose the fake Tai Chi. As a martial arts instructor, the most challenging aspect of teaching is correcting bad habits taught by previous instructors. You have done a great service to your art. Well done.

So well said. Thank you for sharing your view so openly.

Very well said! It’s almost as if just because someone is louder, they are being heard more, whereas well studied humble martial artists keep to themselves. Jake mace Lololol ugh.

Needed saying - well done, and thankyou 🙏

This was so refreshing to listen to and I agree with everything you said. I have been fortunate to have learned tai chi from authentic masters from Chen Village. When I felt confident enough to teach at a local fitness center, I was told that the class would be on a “drop in” basis. Tai Chi is being promoted in so many articles and health books, yet so few people actually stick around long enough to really understand it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and putting into words what is so frustrating.

As a recent tai chi practitioner, I appreciate this video. One challenge I have had is that I live in a town with only one in-person tai chi school/teacher, the same one that Mr. Mace learned from. It has been great for an introduction, but I am now thinking that learning online, while not an idea will be better for now and perhaps I can meet up with instructors when I travel.

amazing video and well delivered truth my friend. I do my best to explain this to those crowds. Not I can just share your video, well done!

Thank you for calling the FAKE out! Your points are well articulated. I am laughing and getting angry at the same time watching the FAKES making easy money.

Totally agree with you, unfortunately people want many things in life without making any effort, and many people take advantage of this fact, particularly online. This has always been the case. I've been training in Tai Chi Chuan since 1983, with authentic, and well known Teachers, and I'm still learning. I've taught since 1993.

Wow, 16 modules! Where do I sign up? After 8 years I still feel like a beginner, I really need this programme.

Dang! I just looked at the videos you are responding to here! 😢 I’m so glad I didn’t stop at just their videos.

i saw your form demonstration, your skill is very impressive. i am glad to have found your site.

Thank you. Having done an American martial art variation of Tai Chi and having done a few classes with a Wudang monk I whole heartedly agree with what you are saying. Unfortunately, people look for it, wanting authentic Tai Chi but not knowing what to look for. What they find and learn is exactly as you are saying, but not because of how authentic Tai Chi is not accessible or digestible, but because there are no other options available.

It was very courageous of you to speak out. Thank you for keeping real Tai Chi alive.

I'm so glad you mentioned Fake Jake Mace. The bagua community really despises him. People like this are excellent marketers. These types are in all businesses. It only takes some research to figure out the truth. I have taught traditional Wu Family taijiquan for years. I have practiced for over 30 years, yet I still have so much to learn. My teacher's teacher, Ma Yue Liang, at age 96, told my teacher, "I'm better than I was last year!" I have students in their 20's and near 80. All are required to understand structure, the 8 energies, and what each move can be used for. I and they know that they will not use it for fighting, but knowing the purpose gives their form intention. And taiji is all about intention. Without it, it's just moving your arms around.

I truly agree with you. Thanks for verifying it clearly.

I'd love to see this McTaiji "instructor" stand in Jam Jong for an hour! Great video!

Yes you’re totally right. It’s a tragedy for the art that so many poorly trained “teachers” are doing this.

Thank you for this. I tend to be too polite to call out people like this. My main gripe is that there is a difference between fluidity of the body and fluidity through the body. I don't see much fluidity through the body anymore because Tai-chi has become flowery. Teachers will even say that the body has to remain completely erect (stiff). To me, the term "whole body movement" means that each joint is moving at all times in relation to all the other joints and that the movement within the body is then expressed by the body as a whole. I see to many dead sticks moving slowly and smoothly - but they are still dead sticks.

All kidding aside, I enjoyed your critique and it’s warranted! I’ve seen similar offers as this. I lucked out and got to train with legitimate great instructors but have also been fooled some by these charlatan Taiji teachers.

Thank You. I appreciate this video

Thank you for speaking up!! You are so right to the point on her movements. No root, no soft, no peng, yet each movements are not in details from start to finish. It was so shocking for me that she certifies for others. It is very sad to know someone spreading fake Tai-Chi. I’ve been learning and teaching Tai-Chi for 18 years, yet still learning and researching the true authentic art. I can still remember that in my first 3 years of learning Tai-Chi from a local “qualified Tai-Chi teacher” was a mess! I was having lower back pain and knees discomfort after the Tai-Chi training sessions with him. So, I finally decided to quit learning from the local teacher. Until I met my Tai-Chi Master from Shanghai, then to open my eyes what is meant by Ying, Yang, and constant changes movements in real Tai-Chi Chuan. Your voice is so important!! Support the authentic study of Tai-Chi 拳

Just sparked an interest in tai chi and know nothing about it, but came across this video. Thank you for this.. this act goes for a lot of things people are doing nowadays making fake versions of things. I appreciate this. Makes so much sense ♡ and you can also see how bad she's doing omg

Great Analysis! The availablity of Great Neijia Arts instructors are diminishing rapidly! People like her do the same appropriation tactics regarding Yoga.

Few days ago I've joined your channel and I'me very happy. This video is so important and I've great appreciate it. I've started to practice martial arts at 17 (with JuJitsu and Aikido and now I'm 68) at 60 I've started to study Tai Chi Chuan (Yang style) with a direct disciple of Gran Master Doc Fae Wong and now Tai Chi is the most important part of my life. I 100% agree with you. Tai Chi is awesome and so difficult, but there are too many fake teachers around. Next week I will start my first course as teacher and I define it "introduction to Tai Chi Chuan" because I believe eight years of practice don't make me a really qualified instructor despite the opinion of my Sifu. Thank you Sifu 🙏🏻

Thanks for being vocal. Coach He Weiqi, a close friend to Aiping was my teacher. I've been vocal about fake taiji for decades, good marketers with no skill and bad form. I've been against people displaying "woo-woo" skills that would never work in the ring or cage even against a amateur wrestler or boxer, but only works on their mindless co-operative devout student. Of course I am seen as the bad person for saying thing publicly. Cheers

Good to see you telling like it is about the scammers teaching taichi, keep up the good work.

HI just watched your video and totally agree there is so much crap out there, all i can say is try not to get stressed with it, because when they eventually see the light and see what you are doing is different and the correct way to do Tai Chi they will eventually realise they have been wasting their time and money on rubbish. keep up the good work. Neil

I greatly appreciate you doing this video and stating what many of us think!!! All martial arts take a lifetime to master - they are a way of life.

Thank you for exposing this fake taiji... I 100% agree with you.. I've been teaching for 30 years and I see more and more of these cheap/fake "instructors"... thanks for your video!

Thank you Shifu ....

There is good reason to be upset as taiji becomes diluted. You will draw the type of students to you who recognize what you have and who wish to learn with you. The lineage will continue.

I so agree with this - I have studied Tai Chi since 1988 and became an instructor in 2000 - my Master insisted on at least 5 years experience in the art and an understanding of the basic principles and concepts before allowing you to teach - even then you taught under his supervision at the school for a while so he could give any advice etc. Tai Chi on line is impossible - during the pandemic i tried to give my students on line classes and even that was impossible because you just couldn't give the corrections needed. The unfortunate thing is this is not the only on line course available - it makes me sick to see how Tai Chi is becoming watered down and I have no hesitation in sharing this video - thank you.

ive dont capoeira for over a decade and ive literally seen the exact same thing happen. miss, thank you for making this video.

It is challenging to be an authentic teacher,let alone be qualified to teach an art that relies on a feeling that has to be directly experienced, properly transmitted,and subtly corrected by a teacher who knows how to avoid the pitfalls and keep a student from reinventing the wheel. Thanks for this video.

Very sad. These people produce 1000's of people who think they "know" Taiji.

This has been done in America for a long time with many disaplin. I think your application is fantastic! The people do it with Thai Qi, Yoga and other things. Anything they can do to make money! I love the way you teach on line and have started following you. As a senior. I can't come to your location, but love your approach.

Well said teacher. I have been a student for 40 years but it is only in the last 13 under the tutelage of a True Teacher. Only recently did I begin to comprehend the 5 Elements, Intention, and Peng. Most people will not invest in failure long enough to learn the external much less the internal. I heard you on Karen Hunter’s show. I was the caller who recommended that she have a Tai Chi practitioner on her show. I told her my understanding is very limited compared to my teacher. He says the same of his teacher. We are all students at different points on the Way. It’s funny, I see people who criticize Grandmaster Ma Yueh Liang’s form and question his ability because it does not look martial enough for their liking or it does not look like performance Chen Style. Little do they know. This is a life long journey. Good luck on yours

This is my second year in a Tai chi school , and i understand how impossible is to learn just online. My respect to this ancient and beautiful art. Thanks Sifu 🙏🏻☯️

You tell ‘um Shirley! Taichi can’t be learned online. Perhaps with AR or VR in the future it may be possible, but the online certification you mention here is a sham. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for pointing out the stuff

No gong fa, no peng jin. Thank you for calling this out 🙏

Thank you for the post. Seeing videos like this is not surprising. I assisted George Xu over 35 years ago in teaching many of his students Taiji (and Kung Fu). Interesting enough, I saw some advertisement flyers from some of those students within the same week of the lessons teaching "Tai Chi Secrets". While it's true that there are no oversight authorities for Taiji, the risk is that there's plenty who would want to promote themselves without the proper knowledge and experience. There's also the challenge of the "ego" with some of those who want only to be the teacher with no room for learning the actual principles which have been well-handed down in Asia.

A very late reaction but you're so right, however it is difficult to find a good teacher (at least here in The Netherlands). Appearantly I went to the wrong teacher, after one year of lessons I told my teacher "well, at least now I know the direction to look, perhaps one day I'll learn how tai chi works" I should have followed Dianne's course, certified and all in a few months :D :D. In my opinion it's impossible to learn without teacher and practice and it's NOT easy at all. But then if you watch somebody who mastered his/her trade everything looks easy until you try it yourself without knowledge. I discovered your channel a few weeks ago and thank you for your content, it's very educational.

Unfortunately when you are exploring any sort of breathing/body/mind/health practices you have to sift through the garbage to find the gold. I learned that the hard way when first exploring on my own while going through a difficult time in my life with health issues. I'm very grateful slowly but surely stumbled upon some gold over the years and some of the videos sometimes had no more than 100 views that were the ones that taught me the most in an authentic way. Thank you for being one of those sources!

Thank you for speaking out against fake Tai Chi and articulating your points well. Agree with your issues in this video.

OMG her "tai chi" rotation!... 🤣 if someone open a window she falls!

Agree with you, it's like someone that has no understanding of dancing hula, and teaches hula with even knowing the culture. It goes deeper than just moves and dancing. It hurts the teacher that learned from their predecessor. I just started this art 3 years ago, and so so so much to learn.

My Sifu once told me, “If authentic people keep quiet when the non-authentic people are super-loud about their cons, then the non-authentic becomes authentic, and you cannot stop it”. Thank you for this video, Sifu Shirley. I will share this within my Taijiquan community.

Thank you, I called them out many times, they berated and insulted me as some one who has practiced and studied with Chinese masters for over 50 years....they are so insulting....

I love your videos!

Finally I found a serious and professional person who found this Fake Taichi web site.....it's totally obvious as soon you see these movement. You don't need to be an expert to notice that. The disturbing here is how they are using names of the companies that they are are not in any way to Taichi or QiGoing. Thank you for your opinion and point of view.

I learned the long form back in my 30s. I dropped off practicing after I moved to an area without an instructor. Now that I'm older and have a few physical problems I decided to start practicing again because it would help. Since I can't find a group less than an hour away, I've been considering just focusing on Qigong. In your words, where do you recommend I go to fill my void? (You provide great content BTW)

For every grift, there is a sucker.

excellent video. my teacher says at LEAST ten years of study before you can even BEGIN to think of teaching, and the amount I've learned in 5 years has shown me how much more I need to learn. fake taiji is a scourge, which is why the ancient masters kept it so secret. on the upside, the masses' misunderstanding makes my combat techniques more deadly, since no one knows the real stuff, much less how to defend against it. but the downside is that the mass misunderstanding doesn't let me take pride in my accomplishments - there is no mass reverence for the art. we're in such a weird era in martial arts with the advent of the internet - we can see true masters and their footage dating back to the earliest days of the camera, and we can also be bombarded by the fakers and opportunists. cheers for making such a strong statement against the fake.

Bravo! You are absolutely right!

This is the day and age. People also think they can fully understand fitness and rehab exercises online. It's not the same like learning years and decades together with people in the same room, see, touch, correct, talk.

Having said that, I enjoy a number of your videos. The coming-to-standing meditation pose is one of the best I have experienced. As an older guy, the improving spine stability video is very helpful. I'm working on it. Good content hopefully increases views and helps folks! We all start with limitations, biases, and scattered information. In general, I think it's better to talk to each other rather than about each other. This KZfaq format is better suited for the latter. On the other hand, there are wonderful discussions, debates between folks with different ideas on KZfaq as well. Perhaps that is a fruitful direction regarding the increasing challenges to the growth and interest in tai chi and qigong. This parallels so many current charged areas: what is the real yoga, the real sushi, the real jazz. On and on. Unfortunately, we are caught in this negative spiral: if we can talk about it, we can fight about it, and then establish tribal camps. Like children throwing words around like in the telephone game. The boundaries between our real and virtual worlds are dissolved. So here we are.

I studied Yang style T'ai Chi Chuan in the early 1970s from Master Marshal Ho of Los Angeles. This was not in LA, but at the Aspen Academy of Martial Arts outside Aspen, Colorado. Our classes were 4 hours per day and 5 days per week. The 4 hours in the morning were the advanced class, and the 4 hours in the afternoon was the beginner class. We usually were there all day, watching the other class and attending our own. We also gathered around 5:30 to 6:00 PM in a park in Aspen for additional practice and informal instruction by senior students and assistant instructors. I learned more about push hands, including the beginning of combat form, in that park. I could not count the times I heard, "keep elbows down!" as my face hit the grass. On weekends we would go for hikes in the mountains, often beginning and/or ending our day with forms practice. It was a reasonably immersive experience. One of the people that had attended both in LA and in Aspen, said the level we were at after this condensed two month program was about the same as the 3-day per week LA students after 1.5 years. Sadly, life took me elsewhere after only two summers. Over the years, I bought video instructions, first VHS tapes and later DVD, and a number of books, but without a one-on-one initial grounding in T'ai Chi Chuan, they would have done almost no good... little as they did. If you want to really learn ANY martial art, especially one with the subtleties of T'ai Chi Chuan, find as good an instructor as possible.

Hallelujah . You are saying in this video exactly what I've been saying for so long. Taiji without Internal intent, understanding and movement is not Taiji. Yes, this is perhaps a good moving yoga but that movement is empty, with out any real internal body. Thank you for putting this video out there. Oh, and because of teachers who give people what they think is Taichi, the real teachers don't get recognized .😢

🙏🙏🙏🙏 Thank you!

I completely agree with your defense of this most amazing art. I have dedicated years to study and practice of Taijiquan, taught to me in its trzditionre, including the cultural significance. Deep bows of respect to you. Rag

I laud Aiping Tai Chi for being forthright, Sifu's two goals: 1). teaching classical principles of tai chi chuan (as my associate in the arts, Master Watson among a myriad of masters in the art I've encountered for over 50 years continue to do) and 2). finding harmony within tai chi instructor's "fractured community" who, regardless, continue to teach students at all levels of development. Harmony among students and teachers that truly endures and ripples out into the wider world comes from "wudi" or ethical integrity, meaning we who instruct others are there for giving, not for getting. I'm afraid this CT. business person is in it forgetting and is eminently forgettable Unlike the immortals at Aiping Tai Chi.

Well thought out and well articulated. I agree there is a market for legitimate teachers but that is not the way to form them. An experienced martial artist can easily see her lack of balance, poor focus, and jerky mivements. However, your teacher is amazing and so are you! I look forward to watching and learning from your videos. I will check out how I might be able to learn from you both online and in person. Dr Randy “Doc” p.s. a real docor.

I like to see one of those certified student and ask : Show me! Then they will realise what had happened to them!

Shirley, thank you for calling out the BS and promoting REAL Taiji. The world needs more people like you.

Especially those who even give out certificate after a 2 to 3 months course (1 day a week of training). Quite embarrassing even to have such a certificate. Just the basic 24 form takes me more than 2 years, still I am not graceful enough with my movements, still got a long way to perfection

New to your channel. Love your content. I do Wu Style(Shanghai Wu). You have a really good gift of articulating your points very well I am a fan! Subbing!

Duai'!! Zhe ge shi bu hao le'!!! In my 50yrs. of study and training, once in a while I'll have a 'new' student ask me if I have a six-weeks certification course? hahahaa' ... waaaa' :( I keep learning and evolving and it is IMPOSSIBLE to do what that lady claims!! :/ ... she has NO body connection either'... her movement comes from the collar-bone/shoulder connection lol'. I'm ABC Chinese-Scottish born raised in a Cantonese speaking home, went to two different Chinese schools, learned Mandarin, character writing, I studied Chinese Opera in NYC in the early 80s', in 'my' opinion you CANNOT or Should Not dissect Chinese culture from Tai-Ji as a historical art alone!! She is selling 'McDonald's Tai-Chi'!! uhg'... yikes' she has NO concept of her 'yin' hand when she is pretending thru' martial applications!! ... on and on'...so many things wrong and incomplete!

Hello to have an optimal results in our practice should we do only the Tai Chi Fundamentals: Rooting & Balance exercices for one year before we go to the next chapter of your program Parting Wild Horse's Mane & Repulsing the Monkey ?

OMG hahaha ill share this ok, thanks

Sadly many Americans are impatient and want the quick fix. Many compare tai chi with most of the current yoga schools and commercial (by your belt ) MA schools and we know that any one can be certified for yoga. Any one can by a black belt at any age. Tai chi Chuan is an art form and an affective martial art. As such students need to understand from the first class that it is an investment for your good health. And for that to happen it must be done properly. You wouldn't have an online certification to become a licensed plumber or electrician. Seriously who would hire you? Even in my line of work as a sculptor, who would hire me if I didn't have proper understanding it what I was doing or show some experience? Your idea of collaborating with other masters in Tai Chi is a good one, maybe start in CT and work out from state to state. Perhaps eventually building an official tai chi organization that can be there for the public that can direct people to the proper instructors in certain areas of the USA. Very nicely said.

A friend of mine introduced me to some of Jake Mace's KZfaq clips..... we both haven't laughed so hard!

The main issue i see here is the requirements to encourage others to learn TC for health as well as the mental benefits which they can apply to their own well being. In order to teach/instruct others in these forms, one has to have some approval/certification in order to pass on the ways of the past. Being certified by an organization allows me to instruct at various gyms/fitness centers with regards to these facilities operating insurance policies. But the issue is, do instructors just follow what i call a "basic" requirement for legal purposes, or do they look to advance their knowledge of the "Masters" practices and skill to their requirements. I personally follow a few of the Masters and their practices and add them to my basic instruction. I appreciate your videos which you allow the public to view, as it adds another (feather in my hat, so to say) definition to each move and practice to my study and instruction. Many thanks to you for your presentations and views as well as "passing the torch" to the next generation of practioners. May you continue to carry on your masters/family studies...

Please help us finding on YouTub good Tai Chi instructions for practice at home. I am taking class with o great instructor of Tai chi, but need to practice at home.

so. i'm 49 years old and my body is full of aches and pains. can tai chi help me to get fit and healthy again? and where can i learn from scratch? i'm in staffordshire, england.

Bravo Sister!👏👏👏👏👏👏 There is no secret sauce. It doesn’t exist. Taiji is a deep and complicated art that takes time. Only one way to do it right.

Shirley, Truth be told, I got away from TCC for this very reason. In this country (USA) I can cou8nt on one hand how many people actually have real Tai Chi skill. I'm not talking about moving through a form correctly, but understand the ins and outs of force manipulation based on the principles and concepts that are written in the classics. After listening to your talk, I was wondering if you would host a workshop for me to come up and offer an approach that may help make teaching TCC easier and more transmittable to students.. I am a disciple of Grandmaster Sam FS Chin and the Philadelphia Group learder/instructor.

I completely agree with everything in this video.. The missing element is this is not news.. If you look at Dr Yang Jwing Mings book Tai Chi Chuan Martial Power read his preface from 1986. That will help you see this is nothing new and happens also inthe external styles. It is said there are only 2 things you should never become upset about. One, things you cannot control. Two, things you can control. Real issue, people who think they can improve Tai Chi Chuan.

Classic video, very true and funny too. Subscribed to support truth on Tai Chi Chuan. I have seen so many awful TCC classes or teachers. It is deeply sad. Competitions/ Competition forms and the clear issues with competition rules affecting real push hands training I feel is also an issue because it still bastardises Tai Chi Sport arts have to change to fit the rules so whilst it is fun they still need to focus on the real training more so Tai Chi is such a great art, deep and a wonderful personal journey.

When I got certified to teach "Taichi for balance" not one other learning knew any Taichi and the instructor and creator of the state certification program only knew form. At least they labeled it "for balance". I took the opportunity to teach elderly some real Taiji foundation during the study and found it's actually easier to teach elderly than youth. I need to go back because it may be easier to produce elderly students who can express jin because their Peng surpasses their strength faster than the young.

😂 wow .. reminds me of my Caribbean and Yoruba cultures being severely culturally appropriated. Her STIFFNESS kills me tho😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thank you for this video. I agree with you, particularly about the one school you highlighted -- the contrast between the fake teacher and your master is phenomenal. For me you've opened up many, many questions. Even as far back as the 1960s when Cheng Man-Ching opened his school in New York he created quite a stir with older Chinese people not wanting him to teach Taiji to foreigners at all. He was criticized for his "watered-down" version of Taiji. Yoga is going through a lot of similar controversies also. I remember back in the 1970s when Hatha Yoga was first introduced separate from the Hindu cultural background and the controversies arose, again with the main criticism that it was a "watered-down" version of true Yoga. As a Zen practitioner, we run into the same thing with questions of "watered-down" Zen and cultural appropriation. How do we incorporate Taiji or Qigong or Chan (Zen) into our day-to-day lives with the deepest respect possible, yet as an American? Americans are not Chinese. You have showed us one way -- to be wary of fake Taiji teachers. I'm headed to China soon for a several month stay, unfortunately there I have even less skills in determining who is a real and who is a fake Taiji teacher and I have no doubt there are many fake taiji "instructors" in China who teach old people in the parks and who would love to take a foreigner's money. Maybe it's just trusting my gut feeling. While I can't articulate the differences between Cheng Aiping and the "fake instructor," I just know who is real and who is fake, the difference is palpable. When I saw your video on the tribute to Michelle Yeoh, I could see the depth of your practice, the inner calm and strength.

I started doing Tai chi since 1976 yang style 1 hour set. After learning the set I join the marines so I did have a teacher.I was happy just doing Tai chi . during that time I kind of got bored.so I started doing my own water down qi gong from the ma bu stance I didn't know if I was doing correctly but I sure felt good for my body.When i turned 45 I started taoist Tai chi so I had at least 10 teachers.I learned that it's better to do movement it right one time then wrong 10 times.I would get adjustments like turning my hand 1 inch or my stance by moving the waist .I remember they would never say your wrong they say try it this way. A small adjustment and you can feel the sensation through the whole body.Now I do a lot qi gong from utube . Now I can adjust my water down qi gong.

I can only teach Baguazhang to people nearly half my age for about 30 minutes. They cant physically or mentally train any longer than that. There is difficulty on the Way. People need to challenge themselves. I don't believe everyone needs a Sifu, most just need a guide. Coupled with desire, attention, and persistence, the foundational elements of any Internal TCMA can be made available to anyone. That doesn't make it easy. Far from it.