Yang Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) 24 Posture Form Video

For those students who are working on the 24 form, here is a video for you.  We hope you will find it useful when you are practicing on your own time.  Enjoy!

2 Students Earned Their Yellow Sash Ranks in Tai Chi

It has been over 6 months since they tested for their white sashes.  Six months filled with hard work, sweat, perseverance, and dedication to  practicing the same things over and over..... and it has paid off.  The two students who earned their Yellow Sashes today have truly earned this new rank and I'm very proud to have helped them reach this point in their training.

The skills that are required to earn a yellow sash include:

• Knowing and being able to perform the first part of the traditional Yang Style Long Form
• Learning 10 basic Tai Chi stepping sets that enforce many basic moving patterns of Tai Chi
• Rocking Qi Gong Sets that begin to prepare a student many aspects of pushing hands and sticking hands practice
• New stance practice routines that help strengthen the legs and coordinate body movements
• The 8 Doors, or fundamental moving concepts, of Tai Chi.
• And more...

Both of these students have been training with me since the beginning of 2011 and I'm very pleased with the progress they have made and the hard working attitude they have diplayed in their training so for.  It has taken them more than a year and a half to reach their second rank in our sash system.  This is not because they have not worked hard, on the contrary, it is because of their hard work that they have been able to reach this rank so quickly.  It is so important to make sure each skill is truly learned and not just briefly touched on and it can take a long time to get these things down.

Below are some pictures of the sash promotion ceremony.

In this picture my dad is giving me his old white sash and receiving his brand new Yellow Sash.

 Here my dad is receiving his rank certificate.

 

Here Kathy is receiving her new Yellow Sash.

Kathy looking over her new Yellow Sash rank certificate.

Dad and me showing off his new yellow sash and rank certificate.

 Kathy and me showing her new yellow sash and rank certificate.

Congratulations to you both!

Tai Chi Class Schedule Change for New York Fitness

The Tai Chi classes at New York Fitness in Jackson, CA are going to change to different days and different times starting in August.  The Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays now, from 7:00am to 8:00am.

The following is what the schedule transition will look like:
Wed. July 25th class scheduled as usual 7:30 to 8:30 am
Mon. July 30th Class Scheduled as usual 7:30 to 8:30 am
Wed. August 1st No Class
Thurs. August 2nd new class schedule 7:00 to 8:00 am

From the August second class on, classes will follow the new schedule of Tue. and Thurs. mornings from 7:00 am to 8:00 am.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

3 Students Preparing for Their White Sash Test

I'm very pleased to announce that 3 of my Tai Chi students will be testing for there white sashes next week.  They have been training for a little over a year at this point and I'm very proud of them for all their hard work.  I'm also very excited that they are about to take this next step in their training.


Below is a list of all the things they will be tested on and will need to show proficiency in to pass the test:

• Zhan Zhuang Qi Gong (Standing Like a Tree Qi Gong)
• Correct movements into posture, correct posture, and correct closing movements as well as an understanding of what you should be focusing on during this Qi Gong

• 8 Fundamental Stances – Static  (Ji Ben Ba Shi)
• Able to hold each Stance for 30 seconds 
• Horse Stance
• Bow & Arrow Stance
• Sitting on Crossed Legs Stance
• Four-Six Stance
• Tame the Tiger Stance
• False Stance
• Rooster Stands on One Leg Stance
• Squat Stance

• 5 Stepping Practices – Solo and with a partner
• Stepping Forward
• Stepping Backward
• Stepping to the Left – Inside and Outside
• Stepping to the Right – Inside and Outside
• Keeping the Center

• Yang Tai Chi 24 Postures Form

• Tai Chi 10 postures Qi Gong

• Basic Off-Balancing Concepts
• Explain the concept of the “3^rd leg of the triangle”
• Demonstrate where to lead someone to take them off balance from Horse Stance, Bow & Arrow Stance, and Four-Six Stance

• Correct Wushu Salute and Its Meaning

Many of these things may sound very simple when just reading the titles, but each section of this test requires a great deal of attention to detail.  There is a reason it has taken these students a year to prepare for this test, but all their hard work has definitely earned them the right to take part in this examination of skills.  :)


Stay tuned for pictures and updates from the test and the ceremony.  :) 

Just a Reminder

Hello All,   This is just a friendly reminder that the Tai Chi classes in Pine Grove will be at 6:00pm Monday and Wednesday starting January 2, 2012.  :)  I hope to see you all there!

A Small Glossery of Commonly used Chinese terms for Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Chinese Martial Arts

I added a page with a list of commonly used Chinese terms for Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, and Chinese Martial Arts.  This isn't something that I require my students to learn, but i wanted to make these terms available to anyone interested in learning them.  :)  A link to this new page is listed in the "pages" section on the left side of this blog.  You can also Click Here to view it.  Check it out.  :)

Great News About the Tai Chi DVD

After months of set-backs, technical difficulties, and a super busy schedule to contend with, the "Tai Chi Basics" DVD is finally finished!  :)  I just finished putting the first batch into my gym bag to take to class tomorrow morning at New York Fitness and I will be bringing several copies to the classes in Pine Grove as well.  So they will be available at both locations during each class.  :)

This project originally started as a single DVD and has turned into a 2 DVD set because I was not able to fit all of the information on one disc.  Some of the topics covered in this set are as follows:

• Basic Movements
• Basic Footwork
• The Yang Style Tai Chi 24 form (With each step broken down in detail)
• Basic Stances
• Standing Like a Tree Qi Gong
• A Tai Chi Moving Qi Gong Set
• Warm Up Exercises
• Cool Down Exercises
• And Other Information

I'm really excited to have this project complete and to have this learning aid available to all of my students.  I am very much in hopes that these DVD's will help you all practice at home.  Thank you all for your patience while this project was in the works!  See you at class.   :)

Update and Some Screen Shots for the Tai Chi DVD

Good news!  I'm coming up on the half-way mark in the editing process.  I've still got a lot of work to do before this DVD is ready for everyone, but it's coming along!  :)  I thought I would share a couple of still photos from the video footage so you guys could get your first glimpse of what's on this DVD.  :-D

This first photo is from the Qi Gong section of the DVD.  In this photo I'm explaining how to do the Qi Gong exercise called "Sink the Qi to the Dan Tian"

 

The next picture is from the section of the DVD where we go over the Yang Tai Chi 24 step form.  In this photo I'm performing the move called "Single Whip" :)  

  

And finally, this last picture is one of my dad and me working on a partner exercise for "Firming the Center." A practice designed to help you learn to maintain your balance....even if someone is trying to knock you off balance.  :)

I'm actually taking a break from editing right now to post these pictures, but I thought you all might enjoy seeing them.  :)  I'll keep you all updated as this project progresses.

Tai Chi in the Pine Grove Park

Just FYI, this upcoming Wednesday (June 15) I will be teaching Tai Chi in the Pine Grove Park in the form of short 30 minute introductory classes from 12:00noon to 3:00pm.  If you know anyone who would like to give Tai Chi a try this is a great chance for them to check it out.  :)  The cost is only $2 per 30 minute class.  Everyone is welcome to come.  I hope to see you there.  :)

Self Control? Part 4

In the last installment of the Self Control? (Self Control? Part - 3.2)  blog posts we discussed how meditation increases circulation and activity in the part of the brain that is responsible for self control and good reasoning abilities.  We talked about how Tai Chi is practiced by millions of people every day as a moving meditation and we asked what about Tai Chi (compared to other forms of meditation) is so special?

Well, one of the things that sets Tai Chi apart from many other forms of meditation is that when you practice Tai Chi, you are not only getting benefits from the meditation (which strengthen the self control and reasoning center of the brain), but you are also exercising and strengthening your body at the same time.  Exercise helps increase blood flow to the brain and helps keep the body and mind younger longer.  So rather than just receiving the benefits of meditation, or just the benefits of exercise, Tai Chi provides the benefits of both.   In addition to those benefits, practicing Tai Chi requires learning to move your body in ways most people are unfamiliar with and begins to improve coordination.  This is an entire workout for your brain in and of itself which helps keep your mind active and sharp.

So, Tai Chi offers a very "whole being" approach to health.  Instead of the focusing solely on the body or mind, it brings both into the mix and allows you to exercise, calm, and develop both at the same time.  That is one of the reasons I personally prefer Tai Chi over many other forms of meditation. 

Sometimes this brings up questions about whether someone should practice Tai Chi instead of some of the various other forms of meditation available?

To me, this very much depends on a person's personal preference.  One person might enjoy Tai Chi more than they enjoy, say, yoga and another person might enjoy yoga more.  So, rather than saying you should do Tai Chi instead of something else, or that you should do something else instead of Tai Chi....I would say, try them both and see which one is a better match for you. 

A very important thing to remember when studying any meditative art form is that there is no single art that is perfect for every individual person.

I am personally a big fan of Tai Chi because, as I said before, it can benefit both your physical and mental well being simultaneously and the benefits of this can spill over into many areas of your life.  However, the only way for you to know if it's right for you is to try it.  :)

It's good for the body, good for the mind, and good for the soul.   :)

If you would like to give Tai Chi a try check out my Class Schedules and Locations to see when might be the best time for you to try it. 


Feel free to send me any questions or comments you may have. 

This is the final installment of the "Self Control?" blog posts.  I hope you have enjoyed them and have possibly learned something new from reading them.  :)

P.S. The following links will take you to the previous "Self Control?" blog posts if you missed any of them.

Self Control? Part - 1
Self Control? Part - 2
Self Control? Part - 3.1
Self Control? Part - 3.2

Monday, May 30, No Tai Chi class at NYF

Just FYI.  There will be no Tai Chi class at New York Fitness on Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day.  All classes will resume as usual on Tuesday, May 31.  I just wanted to let everyone know.  :)  Please comment if you have any questions.

Just a Reminder About Tue. Evening Classes at NYF

This is just a real quick reminder about the Tuesday evening Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes that will be starting this Tuesday (May 3rd) at 4:00 to 5:00 PM.  The classes will be held at New York Fitness in Jackson, CA.  If you need to contact the gym for more info click on this link to their website.  http://www.nyftyfitness.com/

I hope to see you there!  :)

P.S.  I will be posting the second part of my last post next week.  So be sure to stay tuned for "Self Control?  Part 2"   :)