T'ai Chi
"Be still as a mountain, move like a great river. The upright body must be stable and comfortable in order to withstand force from eight different directions. The form is like a falcon about to seize a rabbit, the spirit is like a cat about to pounce on a mouse."
--Wu Yu-Hsiang
(Found in an article in Energy Times, Jan. '98 issue, quoting from The Complete Book of T'ai Chi by Stewart McFarlane.)
T'ai Chi, although one of the martial arts, closely resembles dance with the fluidity and grace of its movements. It's a martial art that almost anyone, no matter their age or physical condition, can participate in to some extent. (One of my friends who teaches me when I can't attend regular classes, has taught T'ai Chi to Senior Citizens and found her classes very well attended and satisfying to the participants.) The form teaches you to flow into a position, relax into it and then stretch a little farther, rather like Yoga. It is especially good for loosening up tight joints. It also promotes energy flow and better circulation through the body. It's meditation in motion for me!
I've been learning the slow set of Yang style T'ai Chi for the past three years, attending classes somewhat sporadically as my work schedule allows, and filling in with individual tutoring as possible. I've gotten all the way through the whole set a couple of years ago and then wasn't able to practice for a while, so forgot most of it. I'm currently in the process of re-learning the 1st and 2nd parts. Fortunately, I'm picking it back up pretty quickly!
My teacher, most recently, is Chris Chambers. She and I have both studied under John Donze. He learned from my original teacher, Joseph Coppo, who studies directly under the Master -- Kai Ying Tung.
The following is a paper given out to us in class on the Tung lineage:
Kai Ying Tung's Academy of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
| Chen Wang Ting 1580?-1660? | |
| Chen You-Pen ? | Chen Chang Hsiang 1771-1853 |
| Chen Ching-Ping 1795-1868 | Yang Lu-Ch'an 1799-1872 |
| Wu Yuxiang 1812-1880 | Yang Chien Hou 1839-1917 |
| Li Yi-Yu 1832-1892 | |
| Hao Weizheng 1849-1920 | |
| Li Hsiang-Yuan ? | Yang Cheng Fu 1883-1936 |
| Tung Ying Chieh 1888-1961 | |
| Tung Kai-Ying 1941- | Tung Fu-Ling 1917- |
5820 W. Manchester Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90045
Phone (213)379-5396
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Still working on this area!
The background on this page came from Patti's Place.
Comments? Questions? Email Jeanie "Calico Cat" Ramsey, or contact me with ICQ! My UIN is 948220.
Created July 9, 1997. Last modified January 20, 1998.
© Jeanie Ramsey 1998
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