Tai Chi history is usually skewed toward the author or speaker. Once we know this we can read or listen with an unfettered mind.

There is only one way to validate what someone knows or doesn’t know and that’s to touch or cross hands.

In my experience it was rare to cross hands with someone that had the kind of knowledge that I was looking for. It really was a ‘needle in a haystack’ scenario.

Never believe what anyone says or teaches, including me. If you find a source that you trust, yield to their teachings, practice them until you have questions, then challenge and test them until you can validate them for yourself.

Many teachers on the scene bluff and bluster, relying on stories and lineage. Disregard that and cross hands to test it, not letting them ‘set you up’ or ‘get in your head’ first.

Many have ‘box of tricks’ rather than a toolbox of eating bitter and hard earned knowledge. They should be a magic act rather than a teacher.