We all understand the need to practice the Art of Tai Chi that Master Moy taught us. We try our best to practice, learn and teach the movements and exercises. However, Master Moy also left us a brilliant model of how to teach this Art, and it is an integral part of his teachings. It is just as important as what we teach.
Qualities of a Good Instructor
When someone asked Master Moy what we should look for in selecting people to become instructors, he said they need a good heart and good form. This is a great starting point for understanding what it takes to be an instructor. Having a good heart encompasses many qualities:
- The willingness to help and care for others without any expectations of personal reward.
- The humility to know that our own understanding is limited.
Having good form in Tai Chi comes from dedicated practice and learning.
Master Moy’s Teaching Example
For those of us who had the fortune of learning from Master Moy, he taught us at many levels. Of course, at the time we did not have full awareness of all the lessons that were being taught. (There are other blog articles that are worth reading that help paint a picture of Master Moy as a teacher: Master Moy – a Special Teacher – Master Moy’s Tai Chi and “How do you Feel?” – Master Moy’s Tai Chi.)
Here are some of the approaches that Master Moy used in classes and workshops:
- His instructions to the group were very simple.
- He most often delegated instruction to certain individuals that he was training.
- He encouraged students to spend a significant portion of the session to practice the moves. This allowed students to exercise the body, relax and focus the mind.
- He was always paying attention to the whole class, and seemingly aware of each person.
- He would provide individual corrections, either personally or delegate someone to deliver the correction for him.
- He would pick out someone to help/correct in front of the group. Once the individual was able to perform the changes, he would ask them “How do you feel?” and “Do you understand?”. He would ask the person to explain how they felt to the whole group and often would ask them to show the movement and have the whole group practice it together.
- He asked people with medical knowledge to explain the physiological aspects and health benefits of Tai Chi and encouraged us to learn more.
- Master Moy remembered his corrections to his students, and their progress over many years. This showed that he cared very much about his students.
- Master Moy provided different instructions for movements and exercises depending on the group or individual he was working with. He was able to judge what was necessary to help different people at different times in order to improve their health.
The 3-3-3 Method
Master Moy asked us to use the “3-3-3 method” to teach the movements, particularly to beginners. This is a) demonstrate the moves 3 times, b) practice the moves with the class 3 times and c) observe them perform the moves on their own 3 times. It can be more than 3 times, and the process can be repeated as often as necessary. Notice in this method, there is no reference to talking! From Master Moy’s example, he kept his instructions very simple but also profoundly important, e.g. push hands, turn, sit, stand, drop elbows.
This method encompasses much of his approach to teaching and includes deeper meanings. Each of the three parts is important:
- Demonstrate: As mentioned above, this reminds us to keep the instruction simple and not to use a lot of verbiage. Words are processed by our brains. We want to encourage the students to focus on the physical experience of the moves.
- Practice: This allows the group to copy the instructor and follow their timing.
- Observe: This may be the most important of the three steps. The students need to repeat the moves several times to build their “muscle memory”. The instructor needs to watch to determine if additional demonstration and instructions are needed. Observation skills are very important for instructors!
How can Instructors use these examples to improve?
Master Moy not only taught us the Tai Chi itself, but through his example, has given us the model of how we should approach teaching. This is also a part of Master Moy’s Art. Some of the features that we can incorporate in how we teach should include:
- Keep up our own practice.
- Remain open to learning, with the mind of a beginner. Master Moy said that we learn from our teachers, our peers and our students.
- Teach only what we know and can do ourselves. This requires humility and awareness of our own body and mind.
- Teach at the level that is appropriate for the class or individual, with the primary goal of helping them improve their understanding and health.
- Keep instructions simple and few. (Note that instructions for the class to practice are different from describing the physiological benefits of the practice.)
- Be patient. Allow time for peoples’ bodies and minds to change.
- Use a significant portion of the class for practice so that students can feel the benefits.
- Observe people as they practice and consider what instructions may help them further.
- Encourage students to become aware of what they are experiencing, so that they can improve their ability to answer the question, “How do you feel?”.
Together we make a good Instructor
Master Moy did not expect any one person to be able to absorb all his skill and knowledge. Instead of appointing a successor, he asked us to work together much like the faculty of a university. The more we work and learn together, the more we will be able to maintain and preserve Master Moy’s Art for future generations.
Thank you, Master Moy, for sharing your knowledge and skills with us!
Translation by Jordi Awarita, Cathy Filion