In response to the last post Union Instructor Glennis Rogerson sent news on gaining her her Black sash. After I asked for a bit more detail Glenis sent details of her Tai Chi story:
Hi, I was ill for 50 years and found out the cause in 1992 and tested in 1994 by hospitals and it was coeliac disease. For 14 years before that I could not walk at all. It was dairy products yup, milk, poisoning the body.
In 1986 I went to Woodlands Day Centre in Colchester, they taught me many things including woodwork and I made a double bed...started off with a screwdriver rack. I digress, Tai chi to try and make us feel looser in the body and mentally less stressed. I was hooked.
In 1994 we moved to Skegness and I found a person at Ulceby to teach me. Could not find a club. By now demoralised cos of disability I was told by my GP that I was too allergic for the NHS. My diet had been over-hauled. No wheat, rye, barley, yeast, sugar, dairy foods, herbs, spices, or alcohol. I was sent to complementary medicine.
Cutting a long story shorter I carried on with Tai chi and went off on holidays to Palm Springs in California and found many Tai chi classes and each holiday I went higher up the sash chain and I also Brisbane to learn Aromatherapy [some of this was completed by post]. and learnt more Tai chi there.
The International Budo Association and East Coast Martial Arts accepted my Purple sash and I then had to gain the Brown and eventually the Black. For both I had to learn many forms and also to make up new ones for the Brown and Black; the fans, rulers and ribbons were the weapons and I had to produce a form for each and write it all down explain the martial arts side, the acupoints and also the muscles used etc. The projects I did was one on Kinesiology and which 'places on the body were acupoints and also used for dim-mak and nutrition as well as welfare and treatment'. For the Black I completed a project on Biomechanics. I was told around 10,000 words but did 1751 pages. I loved the subject. I do teach Chinese Medicine by the way and have written a distance learning course see www.healers2006.co.uk
Yes I am totally disabled with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia plus my diet problems. I can have no painkillers cos of allergies. But I love Tai chi and yes, some movements are made 'easier' though I still have to know the proper way to do the form.
My club started in 2002 and now has 29 members, I am 69 and many members are 60+.. We all have chairs and sit and stand when we wish to. Thus catering for anyone who wants to learn. I also include in the 90 minutes 15 minutes of games like throwing bean bags, balls and frisbees. I teach the Baduanjin in 18 parts, a Wu form, Shaolin and other short forms made up by me or the members.
Yes I have a black sash and yes I am disabled. In doing Tai chi I have kept myself away from being dependent on a wheelchair as I was told in 1995 I would be in one for life. None of us in my club do kick forms or any fighting or push hands. We could not do it. I substitute other things like Tai chi walks and meditation.
It is not easier. Just different. I love Tai chi and know it helps me to keep out of pain, though saying that I cannot take one step without being in pain and cannot sleep at night cos of pain, often needing to make tea at night. I also need help with dressing and cooking the food, stair climbing is also very painful but thanks to my husband we work together.
So I have a Black sash. At the Palms Tai chi Club we have a syllabus for learning, all take sashes and advance in their learning and it is all outlined in books that they buy for 60p. The club was £1 a week and from this week is £2 for 90 minutes.
Adam Beniston the Master at East Coast Martial Arts is also the World, European and British champion for kickboxing and has numerous medals and cups. He is teaching me to use a Bo-staff and Sword. I have a graphite 'bo' so it is not heavy and a light wooden sword; I sit on my walker and do the same as the rest do. My second Dan I will complete these two weapon forms and also make up a new form for the Ruler.
Hope you can make something of this. By the way I am 69.
Glennis
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Sent in by Union Instructor Terence Barnes