I tried learning Tai Chi from a book back in the 90's to no avail, because it seemed to be the best martial art for some-one like me. (I didn't know of the other internal arts then) I joined the gym at work a couple of years ago and I could see the Tai Chi going on in the mirror from where I worked out (I was told it was the New Age form) I saw that this was the class I wanted, so I joined. I was in for an even bigger suprise. My teacher works under Grand Master Henry Look. I am no where near the head of the class. I am more the odd ball. Most of them are white collar, and a bit mean. I am blue collar and a bit of a hippy. I do have a passion for sword fighting (it pacifies my viking side)

I'm in Boston. I train Shaolin Kung fu, Yang and Chen Taijiquan. I teach qigong, shiatsu, massage therapy, and simplified taiji for health here in Cambridge, MA. Am a practicing bodyworker. Interested in growing my knowledge of the Tao... evolving myself as a being of virtue and wisdom, and assisting beings in their evolution if I may.

Oh yeah, I also recently completed my Masters in Chinese medicine and am currently studying for my California state license exam.

New to tribes, I began low level practice in a Wu-like Tai Chi Style about 10 years ago and serious practice under a serious teacher 4 years ago. I regularly practice the left and right long round hand form; the left and right Spear form; and will be completing the Sabre form by New Year's with any luck. In addition, I do Internal Strength regularly and teach a Tuesday night class at the local Bally's. (Prior to TCC I was a gym guy for 25 years; and I have been a chiropractor for 20.)

I particularly enjoy freestyle push hands and have made several attempts to find good training partners in the Seattle area, with mixed success. Anyone in the area interested feel free to contact me.

This seems like a nice place.... I'll stop by again.

How's the wrestling going? I always wonder what it's like for women.

Welcome to this tribe everyone! It sounds from reading all your posts, we have quite a wonderfully diverse and passionate membership.

As youve noticed, ive not been keeping up on posting in here myself. Life is busy with other areas to attend. And as these arts are so oriented to experiential involvement, talking about them is often not as interesting to me.

Though having a space like this and others for us to meet, share and hopefully connect to practice partner or other practices together is the inspiration motivating this tribes creation.

Hopefully we will create and enjoy such use through our connections here -

Aaron

oh yeah - I'm in San Francisco!

"I just began training with Fong Ha this month. Very new to CMA, but not new to Taoist meditation. I also take Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Would be funny to throw a party and invite both groups. :)"

Sean,
Hi. I do not recognize you from any of Fongs' east bay classes.
Where are you studying with Fong Ha?
Are you referring to taking a workshop of his when he visits other areas of the world for a week or so?
Or in his Marin classes?

Hi all;

I live in Castlemaine, Central Victoria, Australia, and have been practicing swimming dragon (Cheng Tinghua) ba gua for 5 years now. Ba gua is my main focus, but i have also absorbed a bit of Zi ran men, Xing yi, Taiji and of course Qi gong along the way. Recently i've begun dabbling in Takemusu Aikido, and have been struck with it's similarities to ba gua. I also did a year of Capoeira way back in 2001, but my dodgy knees soon put a stop to that! :-(
I know it's probably a long shot on this forum, but i'm always on the look-out for more training partners in my area - as i travel the 140kms down to Melbourne to go to class every week, someone local would be a dream. But just from an info-sharing, network-building point of view, it would also be great to hear from anyone practicing in oz. :-)

Hi. I mainly studied with David Leung. Started with him in 1989, trained intensely with him for a few years, then off and on afterward.
Out of curiosity and feeling out how / what others were teaching i did visit other teachers but did not actually study with anyone else.

Depending on what you are interested in, I would recommend David Leung, though I have no idea how he is teaching, or who he has as assistant instructors at this time.? So it would also depend on that, as when I started with him he taught classes more himself, and i received alot more personal attention the first couple years than I saw him doing with his classes as the years went on.
The last I was around his school at all was late 90s, and all i can say is go feel it out for yourself.

Sometimes the people who are assisting him with classes are more aware and grounded in what is important, in my feeling ( using arts for enriching personal spiritual / wholistic equilibrium, Love, awareness and respect / appreciation for the diversity in individuals organic life exploration, growth and experience / expression paths ). And sometimes there have been people assisting who are more invested in throwing their egos around, cattiness and trying to control others through various means.
Life flows on, situations and people change...
Best to feel situations, people, situations out for ourselves personally before coming to any opinions.
And even then, are we 100% sure that we really know all the "facts" about the whats, whys, ... motivations, lessons being learned, other "reasons" for doing what someone may be doing or have done in the past that we may not fully or at all recognize or even acknowledge being possible...? Trust our feelings while remembering that our or others presumptions, beliefs and even judgements based on them
may well be mistaken at one or multiple layers.

That may not have been a response you were wanting or asking for? But it is what I can honestly respond with at this time.

Yes, the shaking after standing at first is usual for just starting. If you stay with it at least a few times a week, or somewhat consistantly it will become easier for your body and energy to stand longer without the shaking. Though sometimes it may still happen when increasing the standing duration, depth of stance or moving through energetic stagnation.



"Hi Folks,

I'm in Eugene, Oregon.
Aaron.
Too bad you moved. I would have liked to do some partner practice with you. Can you give me any feedback on the teachers you studied with in Eugene (Is that David Leung)? Have started doing zhan zhuang recently. (embracing the tree posture). Is it usual to experience strong shaking after about 15 minutes? Any feedback on that would be great.
Studied Guang Ping Tai Chi with Kuo Lien Ying and Bing Gong in the late 70's and Sun style Xing Yi with Wong Jack Man in the mid-80's.
Would be interested in exploring push hands with someone with internal arts background with more emphasis on listening, neutralizing, using push pressure to firm the joints, etc;"

Kenn, have you taught at the Starwood festival???? I think i took your workshops