Each of the animals embodies certain characteristics that must be explored in self defence.
This constitutes the 'way of' part of the syllabus.

These qualities must be incorporated:

1. Bear
   - gravity, indifference, casual
    
2. Bird
   - open & close, unite upper & lower
    
3. Monkey
   - withdraw, yielding, softness, distraction
    
4. Snake
   - reeling silk, speed striking, wave, penetration
    
5. Tiger
   - advance, wu nien

Merely to train 5 animals in form is to practice the shape but not the essence of the animal.

A Tai Chi Grandmaster must have taught an extensive number of high-level Instructors, be in a position of significant responsibility within a school and have influence in the wider tai chi/martial arts community.

What is a treasure?

1. A quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects
2. A very valuable object
3. Keep carefully (a valuable or valued item)
4. Value highly
5. A collection of precious things
6. From Greek θησαυρος; thesaurus, meaning "a treasure of the chest"
7. A concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered
8. A term of endearment
9. To consider to be precious
10. To store or stow in a safe place

The 16 treasures are key skills that underpin the entire system.

People are seldom aware of postural faults; their sense of balance is not reliable.
When most students are asked to adopt a shoulder-width stance with the insides of the feet parallel, they usually have one foot askew but feel as if they don't.
Then they look.

Does your martial art cater for the realities of self defence?
Are you learning to respond to multiple attackers?
Will your opponents be armed?
Do they carry knives or other improvised weapons?
What will you be wearing? What kind of footwear?

Be honest about what you are expecting to do with your art.
Is your art up to the needs of self defence?
Are you training the necessary skills?

In order to step, all of your weight must first move into the supporting leg - making it 100% weighted.
The unweighted leg then lengthens and the foot places.
There is no more weight in the foot than the weight of the foot itself.
When stepping, transfer weight from the heel to the ball of the foot.
Feel how the ball actually pushes slightly back towards you when it receives pressure from the weight shift.
This awareness is very important because it prevents the knee joint from being bent too far.

Learning to strike somebody and learning how to take a strike are essential.
Being hit can really mess you up.
Clever self defence tactics and techniques may fall to pieces when you are actually taking hits.
It is imperative that you know how to relax and roll with the punch.

Developing your own striking ability is critical. Without it, you cannot hope to defend yourself.
You need to make each blow count. 
Range, timing, distance, accuracy and penetration must be practiced relentlessly.
A bag or focus mitt is not the same as a person. You need to strike real people.
Do not pull your punches. Let them land. Feel whether or not you are receiving adverse feedback.
Learn to control your power, your commitment and your intent.

Punching thin air may train the body mechanics behind a strike but tells you nothing about your ability.

Fear needs to be addressed as well as competence under pressure.

You do not have to endure severe combat training in order to see how you cope under duress.
It can be done safely and playfully. If this sounds improbable, look at sport.

What matters is the core requirements:

1. Keeping a cool head
   - no anger
   - no upset
   - no panic
    
2. Decisiveness
   - action
   - no dithering
   - no getting ready/anticipating
   - no worrying
    
3. Effectiveness
   - does it work?
   - are you able to follow it up?
   - can you improvise, adapt and change?

You need to know that the material works and have the confidence to use it when the situation is unpredictable and confusing.

Group dynamics and evasion strategies cannot be codified into a step-by-step guide.
You must learn to go with the flow, responding and adapting to the needs of the situation.
This takes patience and practice.

If you lose your composure, you lose everything.

You need to work with punches, kicks and grapples. It needs to be varied, confusing, unsettling and unpredictable. A melee.

Tao Te Ching, The Art of War, The Book or Five Rings and I Ching all offer excellent principles.
These are what you need in self defence.

Scour your art for underlying precepts of body use, relationship and strategy.

Provocative behaviour will draw attention to yourself.
Wearing your martial arts costume, sweatshirt or lapel badge all call attention to what you do.
Similarly, macho behaviour only demonstrates an inner weakness. An insecurity. Your fear.

Keep your skills quiet and subtle. Avoid being noticed.

Optimal range is a necessary consideration in terms of health, and combat.
It is the degree of range that enables you to use your extension most effectively.
Considerations:

1. Ease
2. Root
3. Comfort
4. Strength
5. Stability
6. Movement
7. No leaning
8. Relaxation
9. No stretching
10. Maintain balance

When operating within your optimal range, your body is far stronger and more resilient.
It can adapt, change and move with ease and comfort.

Stretching the body is good when the purpose is exercise.
When lifting a heavy object or when engaged in combat, stretching in not a good idea.

The problem with stretching at the wrong time is that it puts stress on the body, reduces stability and prevents freedom of movement.
A stretched joint cannot rotate and turn comfortably.
It is not relaxed.
It is prone to injury.

The internal arts never advocate stretching in everyday life or combat.
The joints remain free and loose, heavy and dropped.

The internal arts teach the student to move the entire body towards the opponent, rather than stretch out the limbs.
Stretching is regarded as foolish:

1. It exposes the ribcage, armpit and torso
2. It makes the joints less resilient
3. It makes it easier for your balance to be taken
4. An opponent can avoid a strike more easily
5. The further out from the centre you reach, the less power you have

Rather than stretch, you step.

If you cannot employ optimal power at your current range, do something else.