The “Tai Chi Hotel” and the “Keys” to Tai Chi Forms and Styles
Sunil Samant
Jou, Tsung Hwa’s The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation (Tai Chi):
“The forms and styles [of Tai-Chi] are analogous to rooms in the same
hotel. Each room has a key whose superficial appearance differentiates
it from all others, and provides the guest with access to that room,
and to no other. Problems arise when guests begin thinking their room
is best, and the particular bumps and valleys, notches and grooves,
straight or contoured edges in their key are essential, and should
appear in everyone’s key. As the external differences are given
greater significance, ‘Tai-Chi Hotel’ turns into ‘Chuan
Condominiums.’
“All the guests try their keys in one another’s doors and say, ‘Your
room is no good, because my key doesn’t open your door, and I know my
key works.’ This is happening among some Tai-Chi players today.
Adherents of various styles become involved in describing individual
differences as if they were fundamental.”
Al Simon - Director of ChiFusion.com has expressed this quote in his
blogs. It's worth reading and understanding.
Many times, The Instructor's, Masters, Sifus give more emphasize on
form & style than core values of practising and following Tai Chi
principles and philosophy for personal harmony. So don't fear to ask
your teachers about those principles & philosophy before you start to
learn Tai Chi in any form & style.