Prelude #24
 
Theme: Hexagram:
  C major    Fu "a turning back"

Mirrors in a classroom can be a great teaching device if the student can visually process hir or her image and make corrections. In fact, we strongly preferred showing videos of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei in a manner so that the student could directly compare movements in a mirror. However, mirrors create all sorts of problems for cameras. In addition, not everyone wants to cover a wall or three with mirrors to accommodate practicing at home. And one poorly handled kwan dao or errant Fei Tou (flying weight) and class will have to stop to clean up the pieces of broken glass.
An alternative is smart glasses. Whether they are as effective as mirrors remains to be seen. If we can stream a video of the Grandmaster to one lens and a video of the student from a nearby camera to the other lens that would be ideal.
We note in passing that for students who wear ordinary glasses that a
safety strap is a good idea. As long as it does not exert pressure on the nose or back of the head, of course. Also known as croakies, eyewear retainers, peeper keepers and lanyards, there are all manner of colorful ones for probably $2 each including shipping and sales tax. If there is enough demand we will have some custom ones made. 

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