Written Assessment marking criteria – Shibashi Instructor APT
ALL ESSAYS MUST be referenced using the ref handout that we provide to inform you of how to do this. You must include at least ONE ref in an essay.
Written accounts do NOT have to use refs.
Tutors WILL NOT accept assignments that have been copied and pasted from websites. (Tutors will look for signs of copying – different text in same assignment, different types of bullet points, a ‘familiar’ phrase ). Please see extra guidance at bottom of page.
Written Accounts - The guideline for written accounts is 250 words for Level 2 but the maximum is 1000 words. Bullet points can be used in conjunction with written accounts to enable a concise assignment. Assignments over the max word limit will be returned.
Written Accounts - The guideline for written accounts is 500 words for Level 3 but the maximum is 1500 words. Bullet points can be used in conjunction with written accounts to enable a concise assignment. Assignments over the max word limit will be returned.
Essays - Level 2 - 500 word essays - Please ensure that essays are NO more than 1000 words. Essays will be returned if they are over this length.
Essays - Level 3 - 1000 word essays - Please ensure that essays are NO more than 1500 words. Essays will be returned if they are over this length.
Copy & Paste: This is not acceptable in any assignment except where the candidate has made reference to the website that it has taken been from. As this is an online course we do expect candidates to research via the internet, hence when you come across something that you want to quote or use in your essay, you have the right to do this, AS LONG AS YOU REFERENCE IT. Some candidates may copy and paste everything and provide references to it all, thinking they have done the correct thing, but this is not acceptable. The essay needs to be in your own words with references if required (at least one is the agreed criteria).
Unit 1
1.2 Abdominal Breathing - Level 2 & Level 3
Must include:
● Mechanics and must mention the diaphragm. Also need to show they know that the diaphragm contracts on inhalation or relaxes on exhalation and the movement of the abdomen - either extends on inhalation or contracts on exhalation.
● Yin- in breath, yang – out breath
● Names of at least one movement and it’s correct breathing sequence
● At least 2 of the benefits or ‘generic’ benefit e.g. pain relief, more oxygen into organs, stress reduction, controls panic attacks etc.
● Change of brain pattern from Beta (short) to Alpha (long) to initiate the relaxation response. Can use the words Beta, Alpha or short, long
● Brief mention of relationship to qi – you do not cover this till a later unit so only a mention is required.
1.3 Body alignment - Level 2 & Level 3
Must include:
● Name Yang Fu and mention at least 3 of his 10 essentials and their relationship to some of the Shibashi movements. This must be in your own words and not a Copy & Paste exercise
● Mention health and safety aspects of correct body alignment which must include knee toe alignment, importance of not compressing the chest, keeping head above heart. Other aspects can include- chin, pelvis, spine, shoulders, head, chest. General justification for these i.e injury in case of knee toe alignment. Relate/mention some of these to Shibashi movements.
● Brief mention of Qi and its relationship to correct body alignment – you do not cover Qi until a later unit so only a brief mention is expected..
● Level 2 must make brief mention of rooting as it is not covered in a separate assignment. This need not in depth, just a mention is sufficient.
1.4 Rooting (Level 3 ONLY)
Must include:
● Must mention that rooting occurs through Bent knees & correct body alignment or posture.
● What rooting is - explanation to learners – e.g. analogy of tree roots, feet in mud, extending into or to the ground.
● Demo to learners – weight change in some way; keeping balanced, lower part of body weighted with upper body light etc, depending on how you visualise it but remembering that some learners may be seated. You are NOT to use classic Tai Chi example for this (Push hands) unless you ‘adapt’ this in some way that is suitable for health/ reduced balance.
Unit 2
Must include:
2.2 Inclusion - Level 2 & Level 3
● Visual Impairment & what extra the instructor should do - mention at least 2 issues- voice, touch, positioning, descriptions – and provide an explaination. Must mention that it’s the instructor who needs to adapt their teaching/instructing style rather than adaptation of the movements or at least show this by the examples you provide.
● Must mention lack of a specific joint mobility & how to adapt for it showing at least one specific Shibashi movement.
● Mention of a H & S point if relevant to the adaption – eg head above heart especially for seated Scooping From Sea.
● Must mention Seated and and examples of particular adaptations of movements when performing movements seated.
2.2 The Discussion - Level 2 & Level 3
● You must make at least 3 relevant contributions.
● Must cover at least 3 adaptations and say why and how.
Unit 4
Level 2 - 500 word essay. Level 3 - 1000 word essay.
4.1 (4.1 and 4.2 are combined)
Must Mention:
● Two of the following: Professor Lin, Master Wing Cheung, Master Wu Jian Hiua and the development of Shibashi through these people.
● Brief mention of the development/relationship of Shibashi from Yang style Tai Chi.
Can highlight:
● Outline of the history of qigong.
● Outline of the History of Tai Chi and different styles.
4.2.
Must mention:
● Three of the following: Shibashi improves circulation, balance, digestion, lung conditions, physical tension, well being and mental stress and relaxation.
● Shibashi should be practiced in a relaxed state.
● Movements should flow and not be disjointed – in your own words..
● Must mention matching movements to the breathing rather than breathing to movement.
Can Highlight:
● Strengthen the smaller muscles around the joints.
● Yi and intention
Unit 5
5.1 - Level 2 & Level 3
Yin Yang assignment
Must mention:
● At least five opposites for Yin and Yang e.g. Day and Night.
● At least three descriptions of Yin and Yang within a given picture e.g. the water is Yin and the sky is Yang etc.
● Demonstrate knowledge that an item in the picture can be both Yin and Yang at the same time e.g. The water is Yin as it is below the green mountain and the mountain is Yang as it is above the water. However the water is also Yang as it has movement and the mountain is Yin as it is at rest.
Written work
Must mention the four principles in your own words:
● IInterdependence: One can not exist without the other, for example hot and cold, up and down.
● Interconsuming: Process of transformation from Yin to Yang or visa versa, for example day to night or cold winter to warm spring into hot summer.
● Intertransforming: Point where polarity changes, for example the midnight hour.
● Opposition: Never in a static state, constantly changes balance through adjusting. Everything contains a seed of the opposite.
5.2 (Level 2 assignment is drop down questions, Level 3 is written work)
Level 3 Must include:
● Mention the channels or meridians for circulating Qi in the body.
● 12 Primary Channels, Six being Yin and Six being Yang e.g. Heart is Yin Small Intestine is Yang. Must mention pairing
● 8 Extraordinary Channels and name Governing and Conception vessel.
● Mention of main Acupuncture points that are worked on during Shibashi – Laogong must be named.
● Blocked Qi in the Channels can cause imbalance or illness – can be in your own words.
● The direction of Qi flow in the channels.
● At least one relationship of the meridians or Acupuncture points to Shibashi.
5.3 Level 2
Drop down Q & A
5.3
Level 3 is a 1000 word essay. The format for this is Q & A to ensure that the relevant points are covered.
Must include:
● Mention of Qi in relation to energy.
● Mention Human Qi with at least 3 of the following: Original (essence) Qi, Food Qi, Gathering (chest) Qi, nutritive Qi, nourishing Qi, Postnatal and Prenatal Qi.
● Mention at least two of the following: Qi transforms, transports, holds, raises and warms.
● Qi flow.
● At least one mention of Shibashi in relation to Qi
● Three Treasures Qi, Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit).
5.4.
The format for both Level 2 & 3 is Q & A .Please ensure that the correct assignment level is used and that you do not exceed the word count.
The account must include:
● Mention TCM Zangfu system e.g. energetic organs as characteristics.
● Mention of the western organ system.
● Mention the western medical view of organs e.g. cellular and physiological.
● Mention at least one specific organ – compare and contrast.
● Mention emotions in relation to TCM.
Unit 6
500 word essay for Level 2. 1000 word essay for Level 3.
Must include:
● Mention at least three of the following in relation to Shibashi: Intention, Qi, relaxation, breathing, softness, generating Qi, circulating Qi, storing Qi, meridians, Dantien, suppleness, flexibility, internal, gentle, mind or spirit, long meditative brainwaves, holistic.
● Mention at least three of the following for conventional exercise systems: Strength, muscles, speed, stamina, builds bone, uses resistance, external, vigorous, physique, cardio, exertion, pushing, building, short brain waves, no mind element, specific.
Please remember to relate to Shibashi and compare & contrast the 2 styles of ‘exercise’.
Gill Brydon 8 August 2011