Resources

Workshop - Sam Tam (Easter 2005)

Putting Qi in Your Form (I and II) Pushing Hands (I and II)
Sam Tam is world renowned for his internal martial arts ability. He is known for his Eagle Claw , Yiquan, Taichi, Bagua, Qigong and other arts. His unique style of teaching emphasizes yielding over force and the power of awareness. The focus of his teaching is how to cultivate the Chi and how to develop an internal power. The form classes presented an Yichuan perspective on practice. The Pushing Hands classes presented Sam Tam's version of practice routines that provide a foundation for further development.

Workshop - Patrick Kelly - Dec 15, 2003

Introduction - Muscle Cycles
"Unknown to most people but now measurable by machines, when people move the muscles cycle through the states of contraction, relaxation, stretching and unstretching, these muscle states, along with the state of holding or no change, produce five different types of strength in the body. There are five corresponding Mind and Energy changes as well. These 5 states equate to the 5 Elements. These muscle changes are too fast and too subtle to be sensed or controlled from the superficial mind. Zheng Manjing (Cheng Man-Ching) said: 'If you want to know how to use Taiji, then you must know the five elements.' All good old masters of Taiji understand these five types of strength which can be generated within the body. We can look at a few simple exercises to develop some awareness of these internal changes." (More about this workshop can be found in the Club Private section.)

Alan Kan Workshop

Standing Meditation - Embracing the Tree.

The power of standing meditation is such that it is considered all-important in diverse disciplines in pursuit of better health, greater marital ability or spiritual development. It has the ability to promote health effectively even in those at an advanced age. The young can practice it for physical and mental development while the elders practice it for better health. It is that universal.

While standing meditation was once widely practiced in both internal and external martial arts schools, it is now no longer a consistent component of a typical curriculum. Yet its beneficial effects cannot be overestimated. Internally it is for the cultivation of qi, basic to better health for everyone whether he is a practitioner of Taiji or not. For the students of Taiji, standing meditation provides an opportunity for growth in the enjoyment and perfection of form practice and push hands.

We will learn the classic Embracing the Tree posture in two sessions. In the first session we will learn the posture with arms down. The student will likely experience the sensation of qi in this accommodating posture. We will complete learning the posture with arms raised in the second session with the goal that the student will be able to practice it independently.