Episode 150 - Three Levels of Achievements in Taiji

Some notes from my reading of "On the Art of Taiji":

Upper-level: The practitioner starts with both the artistic (the conceptual, the body of the art) and the martial (the technique, the use of the art) from the very beginning and get the best of the art.

Mid-level: The practitioner starts from the artistic and develops the martial subsequently in accordance with his studies. Alternatively, he starts from the martial and works out the artistic from the applications. In both cases, the practitioner reaches a higher level through devotion to his art.

Low-level: The practitioner focuses on either the artistic way or the martial way only and manages to work out the best of either stream.

The distinctions are for illustration purpose. They are not in hierarchical orders as the emphasis is on the effort and achievement of the practitioner.