It is nice to see that even traditional style Masters of Tai Chi Chuan like to have some fun This is Master (James) Fu Qing Quan taking time out of his serious training to perform a little Gangnam Style. He is the grandson of the famous Fu Zhong Wen of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan lineage.
Fu Qing Quan is a 6th generation master of the Yang family style of Tai Chi Chuan. His father is Fu Sheng Yuan, who he has assisted with teaching for many years. Fu Qing Quan was fortunate to study Tai Chi with Fu Zhong Wen from an early age and the influence of training with his grandfather can be seen in his movements.
Fu Qing Quan is now an excellent traditional teacher in his own right, and it is nice to see he also has a fun side as well!
Master Wei Shuren (1924 – 2013) passed away last night, June 11, 2013. He was the last disciple of Yang Tai Chi master Wang Yongquan (1903 – 1987). Wei Shuren taught the Yang Family style of Tai Chi Chuan that was passed to Wang Yongquan from 2nd generation Yang family master Yang Jianhou.
Below is a video showing how even at 80 years old, Wei Shuren was still adept at the subtle skills of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.
The knowledge and skill of Master Wei Shuren will truly be missed by the Tai Chi world as yet another door to the past great masters of Tai Chi Chuan has been closed.
A gathering of internal arts friends, mavens and instructors will be taking place at The Tai Chi Gala in Albany, New York on June 7-9th. What is the Tai Chi Gala? Taijiquan Master, Jou Tsung-Hwa originally founded an event called “Zhang San Feng Festival” in honor of the legendary founder of the art of Taijiquan Grandmaster Zhang San Feng. The purpose of the festival was to unite all Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Qigong and internal arts enthusiasts in a spirit of brotherhood and sharing instead of competition or factionalism.
Wang Rengang teaching students
The weekend event was originally held at the Tai Chi Farm in Warwick New York a 150 acre site devoted to the practice and learning of all internal arts for health, martial skills and spiritual attainment. Presenters at these Festivals read like a who’s who of the elite in Chinese internal arts some of the dignitaries included, Master William C.C. Chen / Master B.P. Chan / Canada’s Sam Masich / Dr.Yang, Jwing Ming, Daoist and Buddhist monks and many, many other visitors from China.
Loretta Wollering
After Master Jou’s untimely death in a car accident Loretta Wollering one of Master Jou’s inner door students took over the challenge of keeping the festival alive. She has kept the concept of the event the same; but although the event is for all internal martial arts the name was changed to “Tai Chi Gala.” This makes it easier for all people to pronounce and remember. Whether you are completely new to the Chinese internal martial or healing arts, or if you are experienced, there’s something here for you to learn and enjoy. Come and make new friends, meet share and learn from highly skilled instructors and masters from China, Canada and the USA. With one inexpensive registration, you can take all the workshops you want for the whole weekend!
The topics this year are plentiful and rare – learn something fascinating in: Taijiquan (Tai Chi Ch’uan), Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang), Xingyiquan (Hsing Ch’uan), Qigong (Ch’i Kung), meditation, Chinese massage and Acupressure, Push Hands from Taiji and Bagua, sword and other weapons programs and other esoteric Chinese healing and martial art topics will be presented and it is all for one price.
You can experience hands-on work in martial applications and Qi development. There’s something for everyone, guaranteed. Between workshops, enjoy our vending area where you can get hard-to-find books, clothes, metaphysical items, custom Chinese calligraphy and more. We end with a moving Daoist ceremony and friendship procession. Please do come and join us, you won’t be disappointed.
Students studying at The Tai Chi Gala
The Festival was traditionally followed by Master Jou’s close friend Baguazhang instructor Dr. John Painter’s Gathering of the Nine Dragon Baguazhang Circle, a five day intensive training in all aspects of Baguazhang from Qigong to practical applications and the way of Baguazhang weapons.
Gathering of the Circle 2013
Wind Palm Qigong and Martial Skills Plus Chinese Chan (Zen) Sword Drawing Tactics and Wind Sword Combat
About Baguazhang Wind Palm:
As a martial art method wind is one of the most unpredictable of the palms. Known as Pi-Zhang the Wind palm appears to be a simple chopping action yet, this is deceptive. Wind energy uproots splits and divides an opponents balance and control in a way unlike any other Nine Dragon Baguazhang posture. It is highly effective for self defense as it can be used for stopping strikes and kicks by attacking vulnerable pressure points or easily breaking arm and leg bones and for creating instant knock out strikes. There is no other posture like the Pi-Zhang Wind energy forms as a method of moving rapidly through multiple opponents.
We will be instructing Wind Palm Qigong for health in the morning sessions. Wind Palm martial skills and circle walking during the afternoon and Wind Palm Sword Tactics in the evening.
The Tai Chi Gala will run from June 7-9th and The Annual Gathering of The Jiulong Baguazhang Circle is scheduled take place June 10-14 in Albany New York.
For more information and registration for the Gala or Gathering of The Circle check out the Tai Chi Gala website http://taichigala.com/
On April 26, 2008 various groups of Tai Chi schools, teachers, and students gathered together at Reedy River Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina. The event was the 2008 World Tai Chi and Qigong Day which is held annually in cities across the world on the last Saturday of April at 10:00am.
This beautifully filmed video of the event was shot by Valdas Kotovas. He filmed it all in slow motion using a Sony EX 1 camera. You can view his other wonderful films on his YouTube Channel and more about his work on his website valdasvideo.com
Some of the participants who attended this event and seen in the video include Jimmy Dong of the Greenville Chen Style Tai Chi School; Keith Davis, a practitioner of Chen Style Hunyuan Tai Chi; George Gantt of Equilibrium Zen Gym teaches Yang 24, sword, and fan; and Master Tony Wei, who unfortunately passed away in 2011 at the age of 90 years old.
Chungliang Al Huang gives an interesting lecture at TEDx Hendrix College on “Taiji” – the philosophy of the yin and the yang, which the art of Tai Chi Chuan is based upon. Huang uses calligraphy to paint five key Chinese characters and then he discusses their place in the interaction of yin and yang. Chungliang Al Huang also gets the audience involved by leading them through Tai Chi movements to understand the key concepts of how the yin and yang are incorporated in our lives.
Chungliang Al Huang is an internationally-acclaimed Tao master, as well as a philosopher, performing artist, and teacher of Tai Chi. He is the founder and president of the Living Tao Foundation and is the author of several books.
His 1973 book (below) “Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain” is well known to seasoned Tai Chi practitioners and has since been translated into 14 different languages.
In this interesting newscast from the summer of 2010, CBC Television covers the 40th anniversary of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society in Toronto, Canada. Outside of the World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events, this was probably one of the largest mass demonstrations of Tai Chi in North America.
Up to 1500 participants from the International Taoist Tai Chi Society took part in this Toronto event, as thousands in other cities and countries also took part in celebrations to mark the anniversary.
The International Taoist Tai Chi Society was created by Moy Shin Lin. who moved to Canada in 1970 and began teaching his Taoist Tai Chi in Toronto. The form was based on the traditional Yang style 108 movement form, with elements of other internal martial arts mixed in. Moy taught both the health and martial side of Tai Chi at first and later changed his focus, only emphasizing on the health aspects and no martial applications. As a result it became a Tai Chi health exercise with much focus on stretching.
The Taoist Tai Chi form gained much popularity in Canada over the early years with over 15,000 members currently in that country, and has now spread to over 27 countries with more than 40,000 members worldwide.
Dr. Ilan Amit was known as a mathematician, defense consultant, author, philosopher, and a mystic. He also was a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan for many years. Dr. Ilan Amit was Blind. He started learning Tai Chi with Assi Ben-Porat, and met once a week with him for instruction for 23 years.
Watch this absolutely inspiring short documentary about Dr. Ilan Amit and his journey of Tai Chi Chuan with his teacher Assi Ben Porat. Unfortunately during the time of the making of the film, Dr. Ilan Amit passed away after suffering a stroke. He was 78 years old.
Assi Ben-Porat is a certified Tai Chi instructor of the British Tai Chi Chuan Association, where he studied with John Kells from 1978 to 1984. After returning to Israel in 1984 he opened the Center for Tai Chi Chuan in Tel Aviv, and was one of the first to instruct Tai Chi Chuan in Israel. Assi Ben-Porat is also known for his paintings on Tai Chi.
Over the years spent as teacher and student, Assi Ben-Porat was able to teach Dr. Ilan Amit different aspects of the Tai Chi training. As well as the Tai Chi form, he also had learned Chi Kung, the Tai Chi sword, and the two-person exercise known as Push Hands.
Below is the book “The Lamp – A (Not Quite) Spiritual Biography” written by Dr. Ilan Amit. An interesting read about an amazing man! As well, Assi Ben-Porat has created this beautiful shirt from one of his paintings Click on the images to see more!
If you enjoyed this inspirational Tai Chi Video, please click on the “Like” button!
In our Tai Chi training we are often told to be mindful. So what is mindfulness, and why is it important to our practice of Tai Chi Chuan. Mindfulness is being aware, in the moment, being present in what you are doing and where you are at that moment.
We need to be mindful of all parts of the body, not only the isolated parts. For example in the movement “Single Whip”, it is very easy to be focused on the lead hand opening out, and not on the the opposite (hooked) hand or on the movement of the legs. This act of being mindful helps to not only unite the parts of the body together, but also the mind and the body.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. is known internationally for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher. In this video below, he explains his working definition of mindfulness. This is another look at the meaning of mindfulness so we might better understand its use in our practice of Tai Chi Chuan.
In the video, he talks about an interesting and important part of mindfulness. That is to be non-judgmental while being mindful. Jon Kabat-Zinn then goes on to say what he means is to not to be caught in those judgements which color the things we like or dislike.
How could being non-judgmental in our mindfulness affect our practice of Tai Chi Chuan? Perhaps one might not like the way the teacher is telling you how to learn a movement, which you might not quite agree with. If you practice this movement with that judgment in your mind, then you are not being truly mindful, and being in the moment to be aware of all the things that need attention. Perhaps you are proud of yourself that you can do the movements so well. Does this cloud your mindfulness so that you don’t notice flaws in your Tai Chi?
Practicing your Tai Chi Chuan with true mindfulness is very difficult. There are so many things to remember when learning and even for those that have been practicing for many years. By practicing being mindful in the beginning stages of your training, you ingrain an important part of your training that will become more important as your Tai Chi develops.
As one becomes more proficient in their Tai Chi Chuan, the practice becomes more of an exercise of the mind than that of the body. The ability to maintain mindfulness in one’s practice is an integral part of achieving higher levels in the development of Tai Chi Chuan.
Let us know in the comments section below what are your views and experience on “mindfulness” in the practice of your Tai Chi Chuan!
At 10:00 am on Saturday, April the 27th, the world will breathe as one! The annual World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is held every year on the last Saturday of April. Starting in New Zealand`s Time Zone at 10:00 am and ending 22 hours later in Hawaii`s time Zone, it is almost a full day of celebrating the benefits of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong across the world.
Participants in at least 70 countries and several hundred cities will take part in this day of awareness for these two arts. Local World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events are organized by Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong schools, groups, and associations independently of the World Tai Chi and Qigong organization.
The event began originally as a celebration to the healing benefits when a group of about 200 participants gathered on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
As you watch this video about the World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, enjoy the music “The Breath” in the video by Graeme Revell.
World Tai Chi and Qiqong Day events in the different cities are organized by local Tai Chi or Qigong schools. If you are interested in organizing your own World Tai Chi and Qigong Day event on April 30th or join in an existing event, you can find more information at the World Tai Chi and Qigong Day website.
This is an amazing Short Film Documentary by Gennaro Ambrosino about Daoism, and its connection to the martial arts. Beautifully filmed, it features interviews with scholars, top martial artists, as well as monks who talk about how they understand the “principles of the way” which is known as the Tao, a valuable wisdom that is thousands of years old and still relevant in today’s busy world.
[quote]The film contains exclusive interviews with Prof. Chad Hansen and Prof. Chris Fraser from the University of Hong Kong, Dr Wang Daoke from Wudang Taoist Association, Master Yuan Xiu Gang (Wudang Gong Fu Academy) and martial arts performances from Master Heng Wei (Tang Long Kung Fu), Master Yongxing Guan and the students of the Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy in Wudang Shan, China.
The documentary also features a master narrative of the Dao De Ching by Edward Petherbridge, former leading actor of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Quote from the Life Arts Media Vimeo page for the documentary[/quote]
The relation of the Tao to Tai Chi Chuan is inseparable. It is a martial art that is based upon the principles of Taoism. The understanding of these principles and how they apply to the practice of Tai Chi Chuan can greatly enhance one’s own experience in this profound internal martial art.
You can view the complete Short Film Documentary “Opening Dao”, as well as other great short films online here at the Life Arts Media Vimeo page.
