My original teacher introduced the martial application of Tai-Chi by mentioning potential applications while learning forms. He then began a tai-chi boxing class, and I did not enjoy wearing boxing gloves. Instead, I ended up continuing my exploration of one-ness through Tango. I have not been able to deepen my understanding of the martial aspect of Tai-Chi. Thus, I am not qualified to teach it. However, I am clear on how that path may be taken, and have developed practices which I am inviting others to take me up on.

There are three levels of Tai-Chi which correspond somewhat to the principles of other physical and paired work: focus on the individual poise, the individual movement, and the movement arising from a pair of people, their motion and emotion and intention. These correlate to Meditation, Dance/Dynamic and Martial Art forms of Tai-Chi.

Like most of my lessons, I do not possess names of things, moves and so on. The level of Tai-Chi is therefore rudimentary, not sophisticated. It is based on developing an internal sense to the motion. In terms of Martial Tai-Chi, the effect is to be relaxed yet alert mentally and physically. The ideal is convert a conflict into a misunderstanding, to respond to conflict as an invitation to dance. That someone wishes to do harm is a misunderstanding on their part, and the contest is to bring that misunderstanding to light through a conversation of action.

Three lessons provide a means of progressing Tai-Chi into a martial application, each lesson will contain an element of the following:

• practice that does not tend to speed or strength
• fully improvised free-hand push-hands to a rhythm
• not conflict but invitation, apologies for winning

This is for people who have experienced Tai-Chi and seek a way of applying it at battle-speed and in situ. The strategy for developing the correct mentality without collapsing to greater strength or faster response times. This is an invitation.

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