Taoist Sanctuary

Preserving the Art of Taijiquan

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:36:00 -0400

The Taoist Sanctuary is in its 40th year this year. This anniversary came as a surprise to me and Bill - seems like we celebrated the 25th anniversary just a handful of years ago. Time marches on.

In the 40 years, we have taught 2 styles of Taijiquan - Yang style and Chen style. These days, we only teach the Chen style because we committed to the original style and the original methods, and we pass on the original forms of the Chen family, led by Grandmasters Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. Our primary practice form is the Laojia Yilu, from which one studies the principles and internal methods of Taijiquan.

In the 40 years, we have chosen to maintain and disseminate the fundamental tenet that Taijiquan is a martial art, first and foremost, and that if it is studied properly, it will bring to the student not only martial skill, but additionally all of the health benefits that are being discovered by modern research using the scientific method.

As more of this research is published, the original forms of Taijiquan are being altered, shortened, renamed and offered in venues ranging from parks to the local YMCA to the fitness clubs. Tai Chi Chih, Tai Chi FIT, Tai Chi Zen are a few of these. In my own neighborhood of Southern California, there is a weekend certification course offered for aspiring teachers, supported by the government.

Am I glad Taijiquan is gaining in popularity? I’m not sure. I’m afraid that what is becoming popular is not actually Taijiquan at all, but an adaptation of only small pieces of the original art, created to appeal to a modern audience of short term dabblers. Someone I know took a weekend certification course recently, and was exclaiming proudly to me about how he is now “teaching” Taijiquan to all of his therapy patients. I have been studying this art for 20 years, and I know what he is teaching is most definitely NOT Taijiquan, but instead is a series of movements that outwardly resemble Taijiquan, devoid of even the basic principles of the art developed over 400 years ago.

The average person off the street doesn’t know the difference. It’s up to those of us who practice the original arts to educate those people by offering the art in its entirety, then they can make their choice. Most importantly, I believe that the people teaching these weekend courses and these adapted programs have a big responsibility to divulge the honest truth about what they are teaching to their customers, so that the customer will not go forth and present a simple movement exercise as representative as the Art of Taijiquan. My fear - that the people teaching these exercises don’t know the difference either, and that the original art will get so watered down that the genesis of Taijiquan will be lost.

Of course, things evolve, things change. But for these newest permutations of the ancient martial art of Taijiquan, let’s be clear about what’s being offered to the general public. It’s not Taijiquan.

Flowing to bring in 2013

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:53:59 -0500

Flowing to bring in 2013

Ready for 2013?

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:19:00 -0500

As the sun sets on 2012, we ready ourselves for the coming year. 2013, Year of the Snake, the Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth. Whatever we call it, resolutions are a common theme around any shift of identification.

We resolve to:

continue to foster and support the growth of Chen style Taijiquan, meditation, and traditional Taoist practices
bring in the best of the best to teach us and our students
recognize that everyone comes to study with us for different reasons, and all will be welcomed and respected regardless of their reasons
practice more!!

We will start 2013 with an open taiji flow by the ocean - please feel free to join us. You can flow with us or simply watch and relax in our flow. We will be at Sunset Park on Coronado Island at 9am. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Be well!

The New Generation

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 12:43:00 -0500

We are so lucky! We have been following our teacher Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang and his family for over 10 years. The dedicated practice of his disciples has started to pay off, and the Taoist Sanctuary is now hosting many of those practitioners who have become excellent teachers in their own right.

In 2012, the Taoist Sanctuary hosted these 20th generation practitioners:

Jan Silberstorff from Germany
Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim and David Gaffney from Great Britain
Stephan Berwick from Philadelphia

These highly skilled practitioners provided many additional layers of learning to our students at the Taoist Sanctuary. All are scholars and authors, several have full command of the Chinese language, and all have the enviable talent of being able to clearly articulate and demonstrate the complicated principles of Chen style Taijiquan. They greatly compliment the continued teachings of Grandmasters Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing, and Masters Chen Ziqiang and Chen Bing, who visit our school every 1-2 years.

They will all be returning in 2013-2014. If you have a chance, you should attend their seminars. If you have any lingering doubt that Chen style is alive and well in the 20th generation, you should attend their seminars. These 20th generation practitioners are committed to carrying on the lineage that has been so generously bestowed on us by the Chen family, and our students at the Taoist Sanctuary and other schools who host these teachers are tremendously lucky to be the recipient of their commitment.

High standards and Acceptance

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:51:00 -0400

High Standards. We all have them. We all want our student to practice harder, practice more, practice correctly. We have these standards for ourselves, why not for everyone else? After all, they pay us to teach them the Correct Way, right? At what point do we allow our students to just be?

I struggle with this in each class I teach. I give corrections, watch the transient follow through, then come the next class, the correction is gone and I have to give it again. And sometimes again, and again but nothing changes. And eventually, I get irritated and either stop giving it, or chastise the student for “not listening”. I think the student doesn’t care, or can’t learn, or worse, thinks I am wrong.

Who am I to define Correct? Sure, I’m a 20th generation disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, who is widely known as the Standard Bearer of Chen style Taijiquan. I’ve studied taiji for almost 20 years. I have a Duan Wei ranking from the Chinese Wushu Association. But what does all that mean? It only means that I have been willing to put in time for my practice, and that I’m willing to teach others what I know. It doesn’t mean I practice it correctly, all the time, or even part of the time. Sometimes, I don’t practice for days.

I think as teachers, all we can ask is that the student shows up. We offer to pour tea in their cup, and either they take it or they don’t. If in class their lack of interest or lack of hearing is disruptive to the class, then we may need to address it. I do this, and once it cost me a student. But everyone makes a choice to come to class, to pay the fees, and whatever their reasons, they are there, we should teach them, and what they take away is theirs to take, not ours to demand.

Chenjiagou documentary

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:46:00 -0500

Chenjiagou documentary:

Great documentary on taijiquan in Chenjiagou featuring Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang

Making Pesto

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:19:00 -0500

“Making Pesto” is an analogy I used in the intermediate laojia yilu class tonight. I was trying to elucidate the idea of sinking into the lower body, or “sitting in the hips” during the transitions. The hip joint should move like a mortar and pestle, maintaining strong contact through the range of motion, without rising up or separating. An analogy only, since of course the hip joint shouldn’t really be separating anyway.

We practiced this through a couple of moves. The question arose about how best to practice this technique. The tale of Chen Fake doing 30 rounds of laojia yilu a day has been a topic of conversation lately, and the thought of “making pesto” through all 70 something moves x 30 reps was a bit intimidating.

So how to practice?

I played classical piano from age 3 to age 20. I was a very serious student - I was told I could have really gone somewhere with my talent (but I chose a different path). I can easily compare practicing piano to practicing taiji.

Scales, and pieces. Silk reeling, and form. Basics, and flow.

My signature piece was Fantaisie Impromptu by Chopin - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantaisie-Impromptu- an exceedingly difficult piece that I happened to play very well. For many years I practiced this piece, and for as many years, I practiced scales, over and over, and over. I never could have mastered this piece without the practice of scales. And it wasn’t like I practiced scales for a while, then mastered the piece, and never had to practice scales again. I always had to practice scales. At the same time, I had to play the entire piece, over and over, and over. It wasn’t like I played it a few times, and mastered it. I always had to play the whole thing, many times.

It’s like that with taiji. Practice the silk reeling, flow the form. Practice the moves, flow the form. Work the technique, flow the form.

You have to do both. That’s how you move toward mastery.

Exciting Spring and Summer Line Up

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:33:35 -0500

We have Grandmasters and Masters, 19th generation and 20th generation, friends and family dropping in to teach at the Taoist Sanctuary this year!

April 12-15 Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing
July 10 - 16 Master Chen Ziqiang
August 10-12 David Gaffney and Davidine Viaw-Soon Sim
September - Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
November - Stephan Berwick

Something for everyone! Don’t miss any of all of these great opportunities to learn Chen style Taijiquan from the Chen family and their 20th generation disciples.

Special offering in March - Qi Gong with Ken Cohen, one of the world’s foremost experts on Taoism and Qi Gong. This will be offered as a 6 week evening seminar on Tuesdays at 7pm. Starts March 6th. Space is limited so sign up early!

http://www.taoistsanctuary.org

Chen Family Taijiquan Training Methods

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:45:26 -0500

Chen Family Taijiquan Training Methods

discoverynews: Stunning Images of Rare Albino HummingbirdThese...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:29:36 -0500

discoverynews:

Stunning Images of Rare Albino Hummingbird

These beautiful shots of an extremely rare albino ruby-throated hummingbird were taken by two teens and two preteens.

keep reading

The Road Goes On Forever

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:58:15 -0500

Here’s the thing about taiji. You can practice it for a lifetime! It lends itself well to practice for health, martial ability, strength training, relaxation, and old age. You can practice superficially and enjoy, or you can go into the deepest examination of each and every move and revel in the complexity.

Taiji has kept me busy for 18 years, and I expect to continue down this road until I am no longer able.

Everything

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:23:04 -0500

Everything is everywhere in the form. Once you realize that, then you make the choice to think about either everything or nothing. But you can’t choose to think about nothing if you don’t understand this.

Smoggy Beijing caves to public complaints, releases key air pollution data

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:56:40 -0500

Smoggy Beijing caves to public complaints, releases key air pollution data

Order

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:42:00 -0500

The universe makes perfect sense, if you know how to read it.

Wuji and Taiji

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:35:53 -0500

Wuji and Taiji - stillness and movement. Wuji is no movement, stillness, no thing. Taiji is something, movement, 10,000 things.

All movement should be preceded by, accompanied by, and followed by stillness. This makes all movement thoughtful and correct.

Earth!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:10:39 -0500

Earth! :

This is an amazing place that we inhabit. The Tao in all its glory as seen from the International Space Station

Taijiquan explained

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:07:03 -0500

Don’t miss Master Jan Silberstorff at the Taoist Sanctuary this weekend! Starting Thursday at 6pm, Master Silberstorff will teach several seminars on taiji theory, use of the 8 trigrams in silk reeling, standing post and form correction, and push hands.

No reservations necessary, just show up!

Visit our website for more information:
http://www.taoistsanctuary.org

Interview with Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:44:30 -0500

Interview with Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

Why Taijiquan (from another point of view)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:25:43 -0500

Why Taijiquan (from another point of view):

This is a nice question/answer blog on the practice of Taijiquan.

Why Taijiquan?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:22:57 -0500

People start Taijiquan classes for many reasons. It’s in the news, it’s pretty, it’s supposed to be healthy, and on rare occasions, it’s appreciated for being an effective and comprehensive martial art. Are these the reasons people stay in Taijiquan classes? Not usually.

Practicing taiji is a long term commitment. The dedicated student understands that the principles of taiji apply to all aspects of life. The body takes center stage in the initial stages, getting the chance to get to know itself with intent, perhaps for the first time. Emphasis is on relaxation, structural alignment, and gentle strengthening. After the taiji forms are familiar, teaching shifts to the principles of movement from the center, whole body coordination, and understanding the role of the dantian in taiji. This stage can be a focus for many years, as these principles form the core of the art of taiji.

Life in general can benefit from practicing taiji. Moving from the center is a principle that can easily be applied to how one moves through the challenges of life. “Go with the Flow” has become an overused phrase, but is quite meaningful in Taoism and taiji. One should always approach a situation from the path of least resistance. Waiting, watching, and moving into openings will accomplish much more than aggressively beating a way through. Push Hands, the two person taiji practice, demonstrates these principles by teaching how to deflect and reapply energies to unbalance an opponent.

Why Taijiquan? For life!