This was the first Qigong instructor course featuring the new focus on the knowledge questions and I think a lot of us were dreading it because the knowledge in Qigong is just so vast! There were over 30 questions that the testers were choosing at random. This time, the questions were done in groups, one round at a time. When someone got a question wrong then they had failed that round and questioning moved to the next person. You had to get two consecutive questions correct to pass the round.
At first when it was described I did not quite catch how clever that system is — on previous courses the tester had to keep track of how many questions each person had been asked and whether they had managed two out of three — but by doing it this way, at the end of the round it is much quicker to tell who has passed and who has failed. Then in the next round, it is the same process again — except this time, you already stripped out the people who passed so it gets quicker.
In my group nobody got their first question right but the second question wrong, so I didn’t find out whether the fact that they had passed one question already counted in round two or whether the new way now meant it was possible to actually be asked four questions (round one, right then wrong; round two, right then either) — potentially a subtle difference from the previous three questions approach. As with other recent instructor courses, however, if you didn’t manage two questions on the first day, then you had to try again on the next day and potentially miss a chance to test, so it is important to put the study time in and try to pass on day one! Just a tiny hole in your knowledge can trip you up and cost you a question — If I would have been asked the one about Confucious’ real name, I would not have known the answer, and indeed, not many people got that one right. It is there in the Qigong Dao, but easy to miss if you gloss over the articles too quickly!
After the questions, Sigong demonstrated the forms and we got chance to polish them as usual before testing on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. I found myself thinking a lot on this course about the difference between watching a whole form as an overview, and focusing in on a specific part of a form. If you know in advance you have a specific question, then it is much easier to focus on the part that you have a question about and watch it closely for the answer. On the other hand, when watching a whole form at an overview level, I find It will be less about detail and more that I will pick up if something is more obviously different to what I am doing, or maybe it will remind me of a part that I have forgotten. I rarely maintain the same focus watching the whole form that I do watching a part where I have a specific question, however.
This is often made obvious when, after watching Sigong demonstrate, I go to a polishing room and someone asks a question about a part of the form which I wasn’t watching for that particular detail — I was either watching something else about that movement, or watching at overview level. When people ask questions like that I often think how I would answer If it were me being asked instead of the polisher. The only answer I would be able to give would be based on what I thought already before the course, rather than exactly what Sigong has just done. This all leads to me wondering, is it possible to see more detail even when you don’t have a specific question you are watching for? And what would I have to do in my head to be able to watch like this?
Another interesting thing which came up on the course was what to do when Sigong has not demonstrated the form you are testing on yet, so the only polishing rooms which have been opened are for the forms which were demonstrated. Of course, the answer is that we are on the course to learn in general, not just to learn for our next test. When Sigong demonstrates, or even in the polishing rooms, you can always learn something you didn’t know before. Even having passed a form three times, I still see new things about it or perhaps get reminded of an earlier mistake I was making which I see has crept back into my form. This is especially important when you are teaching — your students will be learning the earlier forms in the syllabus, which you may have stopped testing on the courses, but it is still important to revisit them and make sure what you are teaching is up to scratch!
It all goes to show just how much there is to learn all the time on these courses if you can keep your eyes and ears open! Even in the polishing breakout rooms, I got a lot from the other people on the course and we all helped each other as best as we could. From all these different ways to learn on the course, every year we can get a little deeper and keep developing.
Thanks Sigong for keeping the path open for me to follow on my qigong journey!
by Lee Baylis
Student Comments
3 days filled with Qigong is beneficial for anyone. It was great to spend this time polishing and looking at Sigong demonstrating forms. Always some things you will see and take home to work on or think about. The whole preparing for the course, polishing and testing really helps us improve. Apart from the different forms there is also so much background, knowledge, experience and wisdom available to us. The questions of Sigong clearly challenges us in that area as well. Many thanks for everyone making the course possible.
Wouter
There is so much to learn on these instructor courses and we get a lot from being able to move around the polishing rooms and help each other too. Every year a little deeper! Thanks Sigong!
Lee B
Thank you Sigong and Sifu for organising another fantastic course. It’s amazing how much you can learn in three days. Seeing all our brothers and sisters from around the world and how much we all enjoy each other’s company is
just amazing. Thank you also goes to the testers, we are lucky to have so many people around us of this standard.
Looking forward to next year already. Gareth Price
Excellent Qigong instructor course this year! I think everyone can agree that the questions were quite challenging this year, but we all made it out on the other side with a much better understanding of the skill – you need pressure to make diamonds. Great to see Sigong demonstrate the forms and answer questions as well as polishing in the break out rooms. A big thank you to Sigong, Sitai, Siba and all the testers and polishers for their hard work and making this years instructor course another very memorable occasion. Best – Tom Hogg
Fantastic to try the instructor course for the first time! Lots of help from the polishers and the testers and so many nice people! Thank you, Sigong. Best, Lene Hogg.
What a great experience that was, learning and sharing with everyone during the instructor course. I feel so blessed to be part of our Qigong family and grateful for all the knowledge I have gained.
Cathy
What a rigorous and invigorating Qigong Instructor’s Course. The new verbal test adaption for the old written test is a great way to ensure we train the heart, spirit and body on the course. Thanks to all for another enlightening course that challenges us in our preparation as well
as the weekend. Looking forward to coming together with everyone again for next year’s anniversary and at some point a return to residential course for a special occasion! Thanks again!
Kay
Great course. More challenging on the theory this year. Good to hear Sigong’s explanations.
I got some good points to work on for the forms – something to keep me busy until the next qigong instructor course!
Thank you to Siba Darryl for organising, to all the testers for their help and patience, and to Sigong for making all this possible.
Paul Hogg
A really really special 2024 qigong instructor course. For me the high point of this year was the way the questions triggered me to delve deeper into the three qigong dao books far deeper than before. This has been a revelation and I am really excited to continue this. Thankyou Taisigong and the assistant instructors for making this course happen. Daniel
Such shifting of emotions. Feeling anxious at times about verbal and physical tests. Frustration at myself. Hanging in there to do the next thing – the flow of positive energy when getting helpful polishings and/or passing a test. Much gratitude for the well organised course, polishers, testers, Sifu, Sibagong, Sigong & TaiSigong. Jennifer L
Another Qigong Instructors course ends and what a great learning experience it has been!
This year I have certainly picked up more details and finer points than previous years as the more you work on and learn a form the more there is to understand and notice.
As well as the learning and testing it is always such a treat to see everyone on screen together and share this experience.
Many thanks Sigong, Sifu, Siba Darryl and all the testers and polishers for all the hard work you put in.
Nicci
The 2024 Qigong Instructor’s Course started differently as we needed to do the oral test first. The polishing of the forms were done by Sifu almost at the same time and there were so much to learn on theory and practice. I enjoyed the course very much especially with the new format as we need to challenge ourselves more to gain more knowledge and wisdom. Thank you Sifu for the special course, also thanks to Siba Darryl and all the testers and polishers who helped as a family to make this happen.
Shahriar
Intense beginning with questions which you had to pass 2 before proceeding. Found it lead me to look more deeply at the questions so learning curve and better understanding of many things to do with Wild Goose Qigong. Was like a story unfolding and much still to practice. Thank you Sigong and Sitai, Siba and all seniors for organising this instructors course. Natasha
Well what can I say, my vital energy is buzzing, I have a big smile on my face, I faced my demons and they didn’t win my Shen did instead. The course was awesome and the learning was massive. I feel like my Chong Chanel is so happy and my body is saying yeah keep up this I’m liking the effort miss human keep going. It was so nice to see everyone. Thank you to Sigong and Sitai for holding the space, to Sifu Moy for his It and management skills and no break effort, to all the testers for balancing so many questions while also going through their own testing and doing it with such style and grace, and to all the students who love the skill. Thank you deeply.
Orla
I remember when I first came to the Instructors course I was very nervous about being tested and observed so closely for my many mistakes. What I learned that first time was that this process didn’t just teach me about the clarity of the movement but also gave me opportunities to work through my own internal barriers to growth. To develop my resilience and ability to focus and persevere despite any anxiety or difficulties. This is something that helps me not just with my Qigong but in life.
Every year I still get nervous but know I will benefit from being tested and all the new ways that Tai Sigong brings to challenge us and pass on the skill in more depth.
I am very grateful to you all for this learning experience and look forward to next time. Helen
Thank you for a very enjoyable Tse Qi Gong instructor course, the demonstrations where great Si Gong seems to know just the right points to emphasise to improve our forms, don’t lift your shoulder here, connect to this acupuncture point there. Going over the questions for a little more clarity helped too! It was good to here there may be an in person instructor course in the future , it would be nice to meet up with everyone again, although I think the zoom format works really well, I think the two question test makes me think more, which is probably a good thing, I hope to see you all soon. Richard, Chester Class.
What a great instructor course despite many technological challenges. In many ways, we rose and we rose again, with each other’s support and sheer determination to be part of the wonderful opportunity to learn, share and be together.
I got so much out of the demonstrations and I think I can see more deeply as a result of the online classes where we go into a lot of detail.
Much gratitude to Sigong and Sifu, Siba Darryl and Siba Mike and more whose humble help is there but not so visible.
Thank you everyone for your good and uplifting spirits.
Lee M
I loved the challenge of the questions and answers from the theory. A lot of it is hard to wrap your head around and it really helps every time Sigong talks about it and explains.
I so appreciate the course and all that is going on behind the scenes with organising and all. Thank you everyone!!
Charlotte
Thank you Sifu and all who helped with the running of a great instructors course. The demonstrations, questions and answers, polishing, testing were top class. I believe we all benefitted from this brilliantly run course. Peadar
Many thanks for a yet another Qigong Instructors course. This year’s course has made me reflect on how far I’ve come on my qigong journey but also how far I’ve yet to go. Many thanks to Tai Sigong for the demonstrations, answers to questions, also to everybody for the organisation and all the help and support from polishers and testers. With best regards.
Allistair Lomax
Anticipation, Nerves, Joy , Socialising and overall Learning.
Learning skill, learning to meet your self in situations, tackle disappointment, getting over your own hurdles and how to keep the nerves down so you are still open for learning.
Learning from others in the breakout rooms, learning helping others and thereby learning to be clear and simple. And then to learn qigong forms. Get more and more detailed and see the finery in it, observe more, wonder more for the why and how. And then be able to get questions answered and explained, so you yourself get a little better understanding of what it all means. A bottomless source of knowledge exposed and for us to pick up to the level we understand, try to integrate it and then dig deeper.
What a gem the Centre is!
And how great meeting people with similar interest!
And all this made possible by a team of dedicated persons willing to give from their spare time, also some getting up at hours we others are still asleep normally, to experience all this.
As alway impressed by yet an other flawless accomplishment. My hat off!
So thank you, Sifu and Simo. Also Dai Sihing Darryl for yet an other mind widening long weekend. Of course all tester and helpers thank you too.
Good luck with all the new knowledge to my fellow qigong family.
As you notice I am very happy for having been invited for the course.
Greetings from a warm and sunny northern Norway.
Saskia.
Thank you so much Sifu and Sihing for such a brilliant instructor’s course. I feel invigorated and energised and keen to consolidate both familiar and newer skills as well as learning more about the history and deep knowledge that Sifu shares in Qigong Dao. Thank you again. Vanessa
Thanks for an exceptionally well-organised instructor course and some very testing questions at the beginning to sharpen our knowledge. Special appreciation to all the testers and polishers and those students around the globe who had to lose a lot of sleep to join with us!
Yvonne
Another Qigong instructor course has passed and with the questions and answer segments, we have a deeper understanding of the many, many different aspects associated with this skill. Polishing is always a highlight for me but on reflection, it is the coming away with feeling encouraged and inspired to be a better student and a better Sifu.
Thank you Sigong, Siba, Testers and Polishers for all your hard work, it is appreciated.
Belinda
Thank you Sigong, Sitai, Sibaak and everyone involved for organising another excellent Qigong instructor’s course. Although challenging, the questions do really help develop our knowledge., a little bit like helping someone who has trouble meditating. It’s clear from the feedback from teams leaders, polishers and other students in general, that the quality in the Tse Centre Family is so much higher and it’s an amazing level to aspire to. Thank you again everyone. Sam
This year’s Qigong Instructor Course was challenging, though rewarding. I found some of the questions pretty difficult, but again, it’s interesting to learn about the history, theory and culture connected to our skill. Thanks to all the seniors for their patience, understanding and great advice. Thanks to our Sifu for being a great Sifu. Thanks Siba Moy for all the organisation. Thank you Sigong for making it all possible. Peter Hogg
A great instructor course, the standard keeps going up and the Questions were also challenging. A big thank you to Sifu and everyone working behind the scenes, it all went so smoothly. It was great to see everyone. See you next year! Peter A
This year was a great instructor course. The questions and the knowledge was a key point and a great learning experience to be able to understand even more the knowledge. I was also happy we could ask so many questions and see so many forms together. Preparing for the tests was also a great experience as we could talk about and practice the form together of what we were going to test. Thank you Sifu, Simo, Moy Sihing and all senior students for organising a great Qigong Instructor Course and for helping us to become better!
-Radu
Thank you Sigong and Siba for organizing an excellent seminar.
Siba again, every detail so well thought and every issue quickly addressed.
As we finished, I feel very well and I think we have all progressed a lot and so many from around the world with great dedication no matter the time difference. Thank you to all the senior and junior brothers and sisters.
It was great seeing Sigong going in detail through so much skill and I also loved the questions part which, although challenging, was also very inspiring for deepening our knowledge.
So much wisdom treasure in the Qigong Dao, every note revealing something deeper with every new reading.
And a great closing with an inspiring story by Peter A. and then Sigong’s advice to keep challenging ourselves and that time is precious: Decide how to use it – loose something but gaining more.
Michalis A.
The Qigong instructor course this year was different with a stronger emphasis on the theoretical knowledge of Qigong, I learned so much from all the questions, and also listening to Sigong giving the answers gave further insight into the meaning of the answers, that was great. There was quite a bit of change to the schedule during the course and Siba Darryl and Siba Mike did an amazing job of reworking the schedule on the go, whilst also doing polishing and testing! Very nice to see everyone on the course from around the world. Always good to go back to the basic forms and watch Sigong demonstrate them. Thank you Sigong, Sitai, Siba Darryl and Siba Mike for all your hard work in making the course happen. Christine