Mezinárodní festival v tchaj-ťi / International Taiji Festival
International festival in taiji
Maybe you are practising taiji for some time by now and are saying to yourself that you would like to measure your strenghts with other students. You watch the competition videos and find out that you simply cannot compare yourself to those competitors – pros that are often performing almost acrobatics shows. And so you let it be… until this year… because this year you have a possibility to participate in the first international festival in taiji. Green light is granted also for those who have started to practise recently, have earlier date of birth or simply don’t feel to be in the right condition, however still want to try it.
I have asked Jitka Rychnovská, the founder of Taichi-Praha school, who together with the Czech Wushu Federation, organizes the event, for details of the competition.
Jitka, how the idea to organize the festival occurred to you? How the festival differs from other competitions that are being held in the Czech Republic already?
The main difference is that the festival is about taiji only. Other competitions are organized by the Czech Wushu Federation and they include all wushu categories. Tomáš Veselý, the member of the federation, has recently come up with an idea of organizing several smaller competitions of individual styles such as taiji, wushu, contact styles… and I was intrigued by this idea.
Taiji often happens to be the last on the program and the contestants have to wait for a long day before their turn. Taiji festival will be shorter so there will be less waiting.
Last year, at the summer camp of our school, we organized a competition for ordinary students from our courses, no competing representatives. People were initially afraid, but after the event they were all excited and glad they went into and tried to compete. For their own progress, for joy, but also for verification of what to work on, what to improve.
That’s why I thought about doing something similar, official, and include as many schools as possible.
How often will the festival be held?
I hope, people will be interested in it and it will be repeated regularly, preferable each year.
Who can participate in the competition? Are there any limitations regarding age, style, advancement…?
There will be five age categories A–E in the competition, from the youngest till 14 years of age to the seniors over 60 years of age (separately for men and women). In this sense there are no limitations. And as it appears from the title, it should be an international competition, so we also count on students from abroad.
As for styles, you can compete in Chen, Yang or in the other styles group. As Chen subcategories there are mostly shortened variants of laojia form: 13 forms of Grand Master Zhu Tiancai, 13 forms of Master Chen Bing and 18 forms of Grand Master Chen Xiaowang, allowing to compete also those who practise for a relatively short period of time.
Advanced students can also practice forms with weapons: a Chen style sword or other styles, with other weapons or paired weapons; groups can also compete.
Is there a limit for the number of competitive starts?
No, you can essentially compete in all categories unlimited. It is up to you, if for a beginning you will want to try just one discipline or you will have a liking for selecting more.
We have just one small limit. We would like to ask really advanced students, who have long term experience with competing and are also engaged in international events not to sign in to the basic forms category.
In this group we primarily want to give a chance to the students who have never competed and practise for a short period of time.
If I am interested and want to come to compete what shall I do?
Most schools received all necessary information by e-mail already, sign in form and competition categories schedule included. Should you therefore compete under the name of the school I recommend your teacher (master) to sign you in.
In the case your school is not interested to participate in similar events and you by the chance happen to be reading this article 🙂 and are interested to try the competition let us know (see below) and we will send sign in form to you. It is not a problem to sign in as an individual without background of a taiji school. The same applies also to those, who train by themselves and are currently not attending any particular school.
What prizes are prepared for the competitors?
Competitors placed in the gold, silver and bronze categories will receive medals and diplomas. Others receive a diploma for participation in the competition – the festival.
Why should taiji students come to the competition? How would you inspire them?
First of all, it’s not about winning it 🙂 . The sense is that you are interested in how you practise and how others practise. You will meet new people and get to know new forms. You will find an inspiration for new things and your personal progress.
I’m not a competitive type myself and I think neither of my students is, however every competition they participate in is moving them forward in their personal growth. They are learning to get rid of stage fright, better see what they should improve.
What’s more, referees are from different schools and often have good insights that may not come to the mind of the teacher who trains with his student. It is always beneficial to have a professional view from another side than from the one that provides just one closed school. This means… the greatest benefit is in the personal development of each competitor.
Jitka, thank you for an interview and wish good luck to you and the festival 🙂
Alena Koutecká
Should you think about participation in the competition, further information about the competition and registration form can be obtained on
- e-mail address: taijifestival.praha@email.cz
- phone no.: +420 720 664 502 (Jitka Rychnovská, Jana Kovářová)
- or in the Vnitřní síla magazine section “Akce a kurzy” under the name International festival of taiji
