From the tai chi perspective, the traditional tai chi associations on the one hand and the associations affiliated with the Wushu International on the other can be said to be two faces of the same coin. But just because their the same coin, their core differences which emanates from divergence in purposes are neither unified nor harmonized.
The main purpose of the traditionalist is by definition, to preserve the original meaning and intentions of tai chi. On the other hand, the main purpose of Wushu is to have China’s Jewel of Chinese Heritage – Wushu – in the International Olympics. Japan has Karate and Judo, while Korea has Taekwondo. For the country that has the biggest population in the world, oldest existing civilization and the fasted growing economy at this time, to have no Chinese sports in the Olympics is truly preposterous.
The Cons & Pros of Wushu Tai Chi:
Wushu with its popularly practiced tai chi must simply be in the Olympics. But, to crash into this exclusive Olympic club, Wushu Tai Chi should fall into the western concept of sports. And unfortunately, skewing the profundity of the Chinese internal art of Tai Chi to suit this requirement simply puts tai chi into the same idea as gymnastics or figure skating. Tai Chi’s subtlety and profoundness is very difficult to be evaluated by mere professional judges – there are far too many important nuances that can only be sensed by a true expert in the art. This is one of the problems why Wushu gets to be controversial – the outcome of judging gets to be essentially based on aesthetics because it takes a very long, long time to have the proficiency to be an authentic judge. And time is the rarest element among the resources available to the Wushu thrust at this time.
“Yes it was beautiful and elegant”, but did it follow the principles of tai chi such that all the form training that one put in it actually improved one’s push hands? Or did the form actually reinforce wrong habits of movement? Sadly, this is the usual negative result.
Can this be corrected? In the long run, maybe – but only if a constant aim is directed toward doing this correction. But, right now, this is not Wushu’s problem; it has many real hurdles to the evasive Olympic dream. This is, right now, just a distracting divergence from their focus.
Of course, there are many good points to this international propagation of Wushu:
- In terms of propagation, it was not only broad and intense; it was also fast and systematic. Not surprising though, considering the budget and the organizational support at its disposal.
- Also, it gave Tai chi a very “handsome and pretty face”. With the good image comes the good name – superficially at least. “Far too many people never go beyond superficial any way.” But, antithetically, being superficial is not one of the things that tai chi is about.
- Honest to goodness kung fu training is the traditional aspect of Wushu that we witness first hand. A program that squeezes the kung fu spirit out of every cell in one’s body.
- International level of efficiency in organization and system. They think of everything and rethink often.
Honestly, I really doubt if there was any group of organizations then that could have given tai chi this much in such a short period of time. However, the good cannot justify the dilution of the internal art into a mere external sport.
By and large, these are the cons and pros in Wushu tai chi.
The Pros and Cons of Traditional Tai Chi:
Traditional Tai Chi, on the other hand, I believe, needed this “kick in the butt” from Wushu as a catalyst for awakening from complacency. In fact, it seemed that Wushu has more stuff to show in terms of people who can “showcase” what they learned. While it was not consciously de-emphasizing the essential elements of tai chi for expediency like Wushu Tai chi, the traditionalists have not really given us what we really needed of the internal stuff for us to digest. Was it because these are secret stuff just for the family and if you are worthy enough to be taught the “secret” you would be sworn to secrecy-to-the-grave?
Of course, there are many good points to the traditionalists preserving the art for the future generation. Because without them, we would be more lost than we already are.
TCUP: Searching the Harmonious Balance:
Using the tai chi concept of finding the center to balance and harmonize, this illusive harmony is deemed within the realm of the possible. The only problem is to eventually develop the tai chi skills accomplish this feat.
The Tai Chi Union of the Philippines (TCUP), like the spine of a growing fetus has been continuously forming to be this center - to bring out the best from the limitations of yin and yang, and to express the “grand ultimate” from the harmony between the Wushu and the Traditionalists. Through this center, the differences between Wushu and Traditional need not be issues, “Viva la difference”. The differences can be respected while recognizing that there are common grounds for unity and cooperation. TCUP is an expression of this working mode, “Modus Vivendi – Live and let live!”
How do we do this? Very carefully? With lots of patience and a little bit of self-sacrifice - no, martyrdom is excessive. In six months, a year, year by year, decade by decade, we will reap the fruit of harmony and “no thousand pounds of force can stop our four ounces of gentle touch on the true heart of everyone”. Who knows, the world may be waiting for us to give it the cue. And the world can change as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment