Comments on: Taking private lessons http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/ Thank you for reading Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:40:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Marques Mosteller http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-13413 Marques Mosteller Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:23:05 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-13413 This one makes sence "One's first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything." This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”

]]> By: Shang Lee http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Shang Lee Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:44:05 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-172 Thanks for all the wonderful comments. It's actually after listening to you guys I have made my decision to go down this route. :D wish me luck! Thanks for all the wonderful comments. It’s actually after listening to you guys I have made my decision to go down this route. :D wish me luck!

]]> By: moongster http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-170 moongster Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:37:20 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-170 Well, I don't do Taiji, although am fascinated by the philosophy aspect of it, hehe. I suppose you need to ask yourself what are you trying to achieve or the reason for doing so? Is this most important to you at this point in time? For wujimon, his son is most important to him at this point in time. The decision is based more on your principles in life. Time is beyond anyone's control, the decision, though is well-within our control. I only fully appreciate this recently although I have known this for a few years...I'm a slow learner, hehe. Well, I don’t do Taiji, although am fascinated by the philosophy aspect of it, hehe. I suppose you need to ask yourself what are you trying to achieve or the reason for doing so? Is this most important to you at this point in time? For wujimon, his son is most important to him at this point in time. The decision is based more on your principles in life.

Time is beyond anyone’s control, the decision, though is well-within our control. I only fully appreciate this recently although I have known this for a few years…I’m a slow learner, hehe.

]]> By: wujimon http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-169 wujimon Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:16:23 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-169 I agree with Dave, in that during my privates, I got A LOT of corrections that I probably wouldn't have gotten in the group class. For instance, in 1 hr, we went over detailed corrections for 3 movements! Talk about the intense pain of being strong enough to hold the posture to get the corrections, then after the corrections, I tended to feel MORE PAIN, which was due to the qi not being locked up in my hip and went straight into my thigh! Very painful, but quite good at the same time. I don't regret the privates and I actually miss them, however I feel that I've gotten enough out of the privates that I have quite a bit of material to work on until I can potentially start attending regular classes again. However, unlike Dave, I've never intended to open up my own school. I mainly do taiji for myself and at times I will occasionally assist others a long the path to give them a taste, but ultimately recommend them to my instructors or other teachers for further exploration. Like you, taiji is the glue that ties all other things together and gives me perspective. I agree with Dave, in that during my privates, I got A LOT of corrections that I probably wouldn’t have gotten in the group class. For instance, in 1 hr, we went over detailed corrections for 3 movements! Talk about the intense pain of being strong enough to hold the posture to get the corrections, then after the corrections, I tended to feel MORE PAIN, which was due to the qi not being locked up in my hip and went straight into my thigh! Very painful, but quite good at the same time.

I don’t regret the privates and I actually miss them, however I feel that I’ve gotten enough out of the privates that I have quite a bit of material to work on until I can potentially start attending regular classes again.

However, unlike Dave, I’ve never intended to open up my own school. I mainly do taiji for myself and at times I will occasionally assist others a long the path to give them a taste, but ultimately recommend them to my instructors or other teachers for further exploration.

Like you, taiji is the glue that ties all other things together and gives me perspective.

]]> By: Shang Lee http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Shang Lee Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:52:54 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-164 wujimon - u definitely should post that photo of your son doing single whip ;) Dave - thanks for your comments. I now understand, from both wujimon and yourself, that it does ultimately boil down to what you think is important to you. I'm not sure if i'm going to open a school, but I know tai ji balances my other activities - be it life, work, family, friends etc. It also exhibits a certain "beauty" when I am trying to discover and understand it. Good luck to your school! From how you articulate your thoughts, I think it's going to be a good school. maybe I'll just go to your school one day. :) wujimon – u definitely should post that photo of your son doing single whip ;)

Dave – thanks for your comments. I now understand, from both wujimon and yourself, that it does ultimately boil down to what you think is important to you. I’m not sure if i’m going to open a school, but I know tai ji balances my other activities – be it life, work, family, friends etc. It also exhibits a certain “beauty” when I am trying to discover and understand it. Good luck to your school! From how you articulate your thoughts, I think it’s going to be a good school. maybe I’ll just go to your school one day. :)

]]> By: Dave C. http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Dave C. Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:22:31 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-163 First, you get better by two things: practice and correction. That's it. With those two things, you will improve. So, yes, higher levels are attainable. Second, you must know the teacher well in order to get privates I think. Don't ask too soon or before your and the teacher know and trust one another. Also don't ask before you know the quality of his material. Third, the fees can be high but you must look at your goals. This is my future career. I know that now so I'm willing to pay what it takes to get the best. Fourth, I do this BECAUSE I'm accountable to others. I don't really have 10 tens to try to pick this up in group class, knowing that that won't happen anyway. Privates get me quality teaching that will improve me so that I can open my own school sooner. From that perspective, it's worth it. Maybe it will be for you, too. Take care. First, you get better by two things: practice and correction. That’s it. With those two things, you will improve. So, yes, higher levels are attainable.
Second, you must know the teacher well in order to get privates I think. Don’t ask too soon or before your and the teacher know and trust one another. Also don’t ask before you know the quality of his material.
Third, the fees can be high but you must look at your goals. This is my future career. I know that now so I’m willing to pay what it takes to get the best.
Fourth, I do this BECAUSE I’m accountable to others. I don’t really have 10 tens to try to pick this up in group class, knowing that that won’t happen anyway. Privates get me quality teaching that will improve me so that I can open my own school sooner. From that perspective, it’s worth it. Maybe it will be for you, too. Take care.

]]> By: wujimon http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-162 wujimon Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:10:07 +0000 http://shanglee.com/blog/2006/06/12/taking-private-lessons/#comment-162 I have often debated this same exact subject matter and for a while, I did private lessons every other week. In money, it costs me $50/hr but usually ran over an extra half an hr without charge. However, in time, it costs me 3-4 hrs round trip! This was really the kicker but now, like yourself, I am accountable for more than just myself. For me, just a matter or priorities and I have other things I'd rather spend the time and money on at this point in my life. Nothing like seeing my 19 month old son try to mimic my single whip to bring a smile to my face :) I have often debated this same exact subject matter and for a while, I did private lessons every other week. In money, it costs me $50/hr but usually ran over an extra half an hr without charge. However, in time, it costs me 3-4 hrs round trip! This was really the kicker but now, like yourself, I am accountable for more than just myself. For me, just a matter or priorities and I have other things I’d rather spend the time and money on at this point in my life. Nothing like seeing my 19 month old son try to mimic my single whip to bring a smile to my face :)

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