Talking Tai Chi With The Teapotmonk

What do we mean by authentic Tai Chi? What does traditional Tai Chi mean? And why are Tai Chi practitioners so obsessed in claiming exclusive access to these very elusive terms? Many people say: "Hey Teapotmonk, answer me this, if you're really an authentic teacher you must have trained in China, or learnt from a Chinese practioner of recognised lineage. How come you don't speak Cantonese like a local, and how come you don't you wear your silk pyjamas when teaching?" The truth is, I have had teachers from many different countries and I can only say that nationality by itself does not convey good teaching skills. One of the best tai chi teachers I ever had was from Chile. I don't think Chile can be credited for that. It was simply she knew how to relate to people and convey complex issues in simple ways. So when someone says, I'm looking for the best teacher- I say, forget tradition and forget nationality - and this week I'm going to tell you why.......