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T’AI CHI Magazine Founder Marvin Smalheiser Passes Away
Marvin Smalheiser, the founder, publisher, and editor of the popular T’AI CHI Magazine, passed away on October 21, 2016 from undisclosed causes. He was in his mid 80’s.
Marvin Smalheiser began learning Yang style Tai Chi Chuan in 1969 from Marshall Ho’o, who was a student of Tung Hu Ling. After learning from Marshall Ho’o, Smalheiser began learning from Tung Kai Ying, who was the son of Tung Hu Ling. In 1974, Smalheiser took over teaching Tung’s classes at his Tai Chi studio at the Silver Lake location because he was relocating to the West Side of Los Angeles
Smalheiser founded the T’AI CHI Magazine in 1977, at a time when information about Tai Chi Chuan could only be found in the odd book, or a rare article in Black Belt Magazine and Official Karate Magazine. Over the years, Marvin Smalheiser has provided an invaluable service to the practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan.
T’AI CHI Magazine featured interviews of notable Tai Chi masters from China, biographies of famous masters of the past, articles on Tai Chi styles, and training tips.
Our condolences go out to Marvin Smalheiser family, friends, students, and staff of the magazine.
This book is a compilation of Marvin Smalheiser’s own writings from his magazine “T’ai Chi” from its beginning in 1977 up to 2016 when he passed away.
18 thoughts on “T’AI CHI Magazine Founder Marvin Smalheiser Passes Away”
Leave a Reply to Alfred J. Tolbert, Ph.D., Tai Chi Instructor Cancel reply
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How do I get a hold of any of the staff of Wayfarer publications? I used to work for Marvin and has some question to Lisa (office manager)
Soyry to learn about this loos for the Tai Chi community.
Can you tell me if the Tai Chi Magazine continues ?
I tried to contact them but no luck. I just stopped receiving the magazine.
What about subscription holders and remaining issues
It seems that as a result of Mr. Smalheiser’s passing, the magazine has ceased publication. I don’t know that for a fact, but it is the rumor I’ve heard. His passing is a great loss. And it is terribly sad, and very disappointing. that publication has stopped, as I, like many others, had time remaining on my subscription. Unfortunately, I recall a similar situation years ago when Barbara Davis stopped publishing T’ai Chi Journal. All too bad.
Is the Tai Chi Magazine going to continue? I have a two year subscription and have not received any magazines since Summer, 2016. Please advise.
Hi Alfred,
I have not heard if the Tai Chi Magazine will continue in some form or another. I do know that the website was bought by someone else, but do not know their intentions for the site.
Someone put the newsletters together in a form of a book. It was $55 on Amazon ($65 in hard cover) so I went to my public library and they’re going to get it for me on the inter-library loan. I also just purchased a copy of 1000+ page book for three dollars from Barnes & Noble for the Nook app. It’s called Marvin Smalheiser legacy with Tai Chi by Anahid Kademian
Where can I purchase old issues of T’AI Chi magazine ?
Maybe on ebay?
The office is closed, funds into the neather world without recourse and no news from the office before closing.
No one cares sufficiently to post the facts from the office!
What a great loss to the Tai Chi community. I was not aware of Sifu Marvin Smallheiser until I read his obituary today. His Tai Chi Magazine was such a rich resource of informative articles, wonderful pictures, current seminars, and listings of DVD, CD, and books. I have always found an article of interest and a picture or pose to inspire me. Thank you Marvin for your wonderful gift though out the years. Blessings to you, your family, and all involved in producing and delivering Tai Chi Magazine.
Someone should pick up mag. and continue the same format
I am assuming that I am reaching the publishers of the “Tai Chi” magazine. or someone who can pass this information along to people who are involved now. I received the magazine from the very beginning and I am reading them all again, as I pass them on to a new student. I just finished April 1984 vol. 8 no. 2. This copy came from back when it was a set of folded sheets. I was reading about Tai chi and breathing. During this period there was a raging battle of authors over the proper way to breath during Tai-Chi and one of the authors, Wu Ta-yeh, mentioned the notion of wu wei. My teacher was Mary Chow, (she was a Chinese woman that fled China during the revolution) and I asked her what it meant. As most of us know Chinese is interpreted in context. She explained breathing during Tai-Chi and wu-wei as “effortless doing.” In doing the long form she said that the body will regulate the breathing naturally after the student masters the form to a certain level. At some point, if the form is practiced correctly the body will respond to the movements and regulate the breathing accordingly. My experience is that when I perform those movements that require contraction I inhale and those movements like doing a push that require expansion I exhale, that my body has learned to inhale and exhale at the appropriate times. Thus, I have at least experienced wu-wei or effortless doing while doing the form. I have also noticed that my heart beat comes into synch with my movements. She told me (when I was very new to Tai-chi) to look around and watch master craftsmen, so I could see what it looks like to be “in flow” to use a Western concept of wu-wei. . After years of doing their jobs they come to a point where they don’t have to force or think about the work, it just comes to them effortlessly. I found a couple of these craftsmen and asked them about this and they told me about it so I could bring it into my practice.
Hi Mike,
Unfortunately we are not involved the the T’ai Chi Magazine, nor are we in contact with anyone who is connected with it. Sadly, it seems the magazine may have ended with the passing of Mr. Smalheiser.
Hi Mike,
We are looking for copies of Tai Chi Magazine and in particular one short (maybe 2 pages) article that describes the mechanics and mind focus of the substantial and insubstantial appendages. I remember that article being very helpful in my study of Tai Chi and would like a copy to pass on to students in our class. Unfortunately, I do not know the author, though he is Asian and I can kinda remember that there is a picture of him in a stance on the first page. Would you have the edition of the magazine with this article?
Regards,
Malcolm
Marvin and I began studying Tai chi about the same time with Master Marshall Ho’o in 1969 then Marshall had some of his students, including us, go to Kai Ying Tung. Marvin was a very serious student and friend although not always easy to get along with…I wish him well on his transition.
Someone put the newsletters together in a form of a book. It was $55 on Amazon ($65 in hard cover) so I went to my public library and they’re going to get it for me on the inter-library loan. I also just purchased a copy of 1000+ page book for three dollars from Barnes & Noble for the Nook app. It’s called Marvin Smalheiser legacy with Tai Chi by Anahid Kademian