Tai Chi Caledonia 2009
28 07 09 - 22:55 Tai Chi Caledonia: An Overview of the 14th event by the organiser For 14 years now we’ve continued to create a reason, for a sizeable quantity of people, to join us in Scotland, to share in the common interest of Chinese Internal arts. From July 9th – 16th 2009 folks travelled from Italy, Croatia, Holland, France, Norway, the US and, yes, even down there from England and Wales.Aside from an ongoing, seemingly unsolvable problem of arranging suitable workspace, (more later) Stirling University campus seems ideally suited to our needs. Offering private accommodation in very pleasant rural surroundings, with woodlands, lakes and hills a short walking distance away, students can train in highly conducive surroundings, weather permitting.
Nils Klug (Germany) and Judith van Drooge (Holland) arrived on Thursday evening so we had good time to share a little wine and salad whilst catching up with our respective developments and travels. After teaching a class on Friday morning, where Judith entertained then with a nice sword form, we returned to a rested Nils who took reliable responsibility for dealing with the washing machine repairman. An hour or so later Bob Lowey arrived shortly followed by Sam Masich who had been accommodated by my long-time student Aileen. We loaded the cars and headed north in the pissing rain.
By the time we arrived on campus Karen and the team of staff seemed to have the majority of visitors settled in their accommodation. Judith helped me to set up the shop and we all had a wine or two before bidding each other goodnight.
As is the custom, 8.30 Saturday morning, everyone assembled in the lecture room for the opening meeting. Here is where we introduce the instructors who, in turn, detail what their workshops will entail, after we have provided clear information on how to around the campus, eating times etc.
Just before 10.00 we adjourned to the badminton halls to begin the workshops which were very well attended and, by all accounts, greatly appreciated. In putting the program together we try to arrange something for everyone and work with three general themes: qigong, principles and applications, which may also include some basic weapon work. Despite being two teachers short of the advertised programme (Luigi Zanini who was much against his own will, stuck in Italy and Wang Ning who was to arrive a day later because of transport difficulties). The weekend sessions run for 45 mins and are designed to provide a taste of a number of different approaches to the arts. In working this way it also creates a programme for those who are unable to attend for the full week. On looking back over the programme (www.taichicaledonia.com/programme.html) I’m sure there is no other place in the UK where you can experience such an incredible breath of quality workshops by highly experienced teachers.
Once the workshops were underway all seemed fine, until I saw two gentlemen standing together, apart from the action, looking confused. When I offered to help one of them told me it was ridiculous, there were so many people and he felt it was a complete waste of time. I advised him that he would be able to learn, the teachers were approachable and helpful, but if at this point in time he felt really unhappy I’d refund his money and he could leave. He then told me he hadn’t paid but would leave anyway, despite travelling 60 miles or so to join us. A few hours later I met some of his classmates who were hugely enthusiastic about what they had learned and the quality of teaching. We agreed it was a shame that their fellow student was so easily inclined to leave.
Normally we run the demonstrations after the last workshops on Sunday but as there were many people attending on a day basis we staged demos on Saturday too. This sudden decision caught some of the teachers on the hop but they more than delivered the goods with some stunning performances including Faye Yip on sword, Sam’s taiji, Judith & Nils demonstrations of William CC Chen’s approach to applications and Franco Mescola’s unique approach employing spiralling energy.
After dinner on Saturday we arranged a Panel Discussion entitled, “The Nature of Spirit in Taijiquan & Qigong.” I took the role of facilitator and kicked off by asking members of the Panel (Marianne Plouvier, Sam Masich, Faye Li Yip and Judith van Drooge what the term ‘Spirit’ meant to them in this context. Marianne (naturally) had trouble accessing her thoughts in English on what is a potentially esoteric topic. However, once the other three expressed themselves the discussion got rolling and yielded some very interesting points of view. (It is hoped to include a transcription of the debate in a future edition of Tai Chi Chuan & Oriental Arts magazine and, of course, on the Caledonia website. (www.taichicaledonia.com).
Sunday continued on the same vein as Saturday with the varied programme of 45 minute slots and on Sunday evening we staged pushing hands sessions for both beginners and experienced practitioners. As is the norm at Caledonia these sessions merged into informal gatherings fuelled by various liquids, into the wee small hours.
Monday saw the more serious in-depth training sessions begin where students pick one topic in the morning and one in the afternoon, working for 2 ½ hours each session, over 4 days, providing 20 hours training, over two topics.
It is always our hope that the weather is kind to us and that the majority of the work can be practised outdoors, however, being Scotland this isn’t always possible. In arranging the indoor workspace we have tried over many years to convince the University of our need for quietness but for some inexplicable reason they continue to force is to use spaces where women perform aerobics to music, children play badminton and others play basketball. We have tried in the past a number of attempts to overcome this situation but it seems we’re doomed to suffer. I spent a considerable time looking for alternative workspace but as yet it has not been possible. At one point I instructed everyone to leave the noisy gym and work outdoors as it was clearly impossible to hear the instructions. Please be assured I have subsequently had a number of high-level meetings at the University and sincerely hope to have a solution by 2010. If not then changes may have to be made.
By way of variety I introduced, for the first time at Caledonia, the concept of ‘Environmental Art.’ This provides all attendees the opportunity of expressing their artistic skills using only natural materials found around the campus. We paired up two chalets together to form teams of artists, provided some basic examples and left them to it. Despite one or two detractors to majority of people were hugely enthusiastic and approached their tasks with gusto. Soon they arrived with photographs of their ‘Installations’ which eventually covered a whole window in the office building. You can see the entries on the Caledonia website and the winning one is featured here.
As organiser of this event I firmly believe that there is a certain ‘Caledonia Spirit’ that has matured over many years of distillation. Many ingredients are carefully selected to create our unique blend: the choice of instructors never fails to please the guests, as they continue to offer a range of high quality workshops and learning experiences.
We know there are aspects that require improvement and we are continually working to offer the tai chi community a place to work, share and develop in an atmosphere of openness with clear structure in which to develop.
Since leaving Caledonia 2009 I have spent a week in Bulgaria, a week in France and will tomorrow leave for a week in Venice working at other major international tai chi and internal arts gatherings. Aside from my own benefits of meeting and sharing with others from many lands and traditions I also have a unique opportunity to see how others run events and meet skilled instructors from other traditions. I already have ideas for Caledonia 2010 and again I hope to offer an event that continues to stimulate and inform the tai chi community
Ronnie Robinson 28.07.09 22:50
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