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We recently launched 46, and everyone seems to struggle with the low block/high block move in the warmup track.  I have tried going over it before we start, facing the same direction as the class, but when we do it for real, despite cuing it as clearly as I can, arms and legs are going in different directions.  It doesn't help, either, that we repeat the move so many times.  I sense a lot of frustration and boredom amongst the participants, and I can't figure out a way to sell this to them.  Personally, I wish there was a third move incorporated in the track so there weren't so many repetitions of that move, and to have a little more variety.  I do love, love the music and want everyone to enjoy it as well. 

 Is anyone else struggling with this?

I totally understand where you are coming from.  We have been with the new release for two weeks now and it will get better.  The first class they were all over themselves.  I found that if we do a couple at super slow speed - 8 count low block, 8 count high block that they understand better what I am doing.  Then we speed it up to 4 and 4

Even in the second class, they are starting to get the hang of it a bit more. 

I try to get them to relax and not pressure themselves to get it right. "Don't worry, it will get easier - just relax and let your body warm up" etc....

I remeber when learning the choreo that i had quite a time of it myself, so i know what they are feeling. 

Keep being positive and smile along with them....repeat the instructions, block low and other hand osweeps up by your forehead....

Some of them may never quite get it, but the ones that do really appreciate that you stick with them and keep encouraging :) 

 

 

This is what I put in my review:

Tai Chi: The music is good and when I watched the video I thought the movements were solid and very martial arts focussed. It has a lovely flow to it. But when I started teaching it I found that the classes were absolutely all over the place, going in the wrong direction, not getting the right arms in the air, and generally looking very confused. For the first time ever I found I had to run a quick technique session before or after class - and even then people aren't getting it. Also don't do it on a mat as many people are crimping the mat up as they drag their toes along. I found that by teaching the first block with a step directly behind instead of on an angle reduced the confusion - but this has taken a few weeks to sink in - and has been a real challenge for me as an instructor. And it looked so effortless on the DVD.

Now having taught this release for a month - this track is the first to be mixed out!

 

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Dang!  That's what I think is going to happen, and it's a shame because I really like the music!

Ambernicole--great idea to slow it down.  I'm going to try that next week.

They don't... it's rubbish.

Like Roger wrote: it was the first track to be mixed out.

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Now recruiting more FREAKS

It's a shame because I love the song, but my classes are also having a heck of a time with this one. The first sequence they are fine with, the second one is where they get lost. It took me a few times to learn it myself, but this is the third week of teaching this release and my members still aren't getting it :-( One thing that I thought might be helpful is to specifically cue to keep your weight on the same leg as the arms come up. The tend to want to shift their weight onto the other leg. Oh well, next week I'll be teaching an old release anyway. But for future reference, any brilliant cuing ideas are appreciated!

kimberlyh:

We recently launched 46, and everyone seems to struggle with the low block/high block move in the warmup track.  I have tried going over it before we start, facing the same direction as the class, but when we do it for real, despite cuing it as clearly as I can, arms and legs are going in different directions.  It doesn't help, either, that we repeat the move so many times.  I sense a lot of frustration and boredom amongst the participants, and I can't figure out a way to sell this to them.  Personally, I wish there was a third move incorporated in the track so there weren't so many repetitions of that move, and to have a little more variety.  I do love, love the music and want everyone to enjoy it as well. 

 Is anyone else struggling with this?

 

ahhhh i agree, i think there needs to be a 3rd move... i LOVE this song, but you do do the high/low block thing for quite a long time... maybe try cueing "left leg bent, right hand pushes to left knee, right hand across to shoulder height... create length from left hand to left foot... top hand to right knee..." etc... in my opinion they didn't do much with such a GREAT song... shame though... they might bring it back in a few releases time with new choreography... well, hopefully!  

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I agree with all that has been said about track 1.  I work at 5 different gyms, have covered for other instructors and all the participants struggle with this move. Before we start I tell them not worry as long as they are moving thats fine, even if you wave your arms in the air, I always get a smile when I say this.   I remember when I did it for the first time at the quarterly I was totally lost and thinking how on earth am I gonna teach this but by the time I launched I was fine. 

I can see their frustration in their faces. I have tried the slow block - doing it in 8 counts, teaching with my back to them - so we aren't mirroring, running through the move before we start you name it I've tried it! As said, some will get it and some will never. 

This will be my last week of playing track 1.

I mixed this track out at the first chance. After a few weeks I found I was loving the feel of the moves and the song, but I teach it a minimum of 6 times a week so I had plenty of practice to get the move.

The look of frustration on my class members faces was so upsetting, but the worst part was new members. They finally get the courage to try balance and they are hit with that track first up. It really put so many new participants off. The Tai Chi should always be simple and feel good. As the introduction to our class it is probably the most important track. This is where we can win or lose new people.

Caz

I've done it a few times as a participant and found it a bit tricky to say the least but what totally confused me was when an instructor did it with their back to the class - my poor little brain just couldn't cope with that and it all went horribly wrong......

By placing main focus on the hand/arm movement, the legs(lower body) naturally follow and move w/the flow of arms & head.  For me, this was a much easier way to learn and keep up w/movement throughout track.  I love this Tai Chi track so much that I was determined to learn it well.

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So many people seem to have struggled with this track... have to say that it hasn't caused me any major problems however.

Since there are only 2 moves to cue I've found the easiest way to cue it is to let the legs guide you... first move, the leg and arm move together when you step out. However, on the second move, the focus is on where the weight shifts - cue to push the arm to the opposite leg and take the weight into that leg. The people who get it wrong tend to do so because they've still got the weight in the same leg from the first sequence...

 

A fellow instructor commented that being tall might be an advantage for teaching this track... perhaps it is? All I know is that I've had very few problems with it... In fact, only just mixed it out this week after 2 months of teaching BB46.

I have to agree with the masses on this one- great song, but our participants just aren't getting it. :(

I like the idea of slowing things down a little, that may help, and maybe a mini technique session building just the leg movements, and then adding in the arms (similar to the choreo in 45's tai chi track). I'll keep checking back for any outstanding coaching cues- and if we find one that clicks I'll be sure not to keep it to ourselves!

thanks! 

My participants did not have as much problem getting it as it sounds like yours have.  What I did was to focus them in on the legs and told them to not worry about the arms if they didn't get it.  Once we did the legs a few times and I saw some of my long-time regulars giving the arms a try, I told them that if they were ready to add the arms then they could give them a try.  I used one variation or another of these words:  "Press across the body to the knee, sinking into the leg.  Rise up nice and tall; long arm opens to the side, bent arm comes overhead."  I talked them through it two or three times as the rest of the class tried it out, and then I just shut up and let them wrap their minds around it in relative quiet. If they looked like they were getting bored with it, I would throw in something to help them make it bigger - deeper in the legs this time, more strength in the arms and hands, think about your breathing, postural cues for abs or shoulders or eye focus, etc.