Our comprehensive T'ai Chi Ch'uan (TCC) classes and Mini Series, cover several subjects in TCC which leads to building a complete foundation in the basic training of TCC.

Students enrolled in basic TCC classes will gain a comprehensive understanding of the art, its basic principles of movement, the basic applications of its motion, and the interactive components and principles. Student will be able to apply the acquired understanding of this preventative health art in their everyday life.

Basic T'ai Chi Ch'uan Training Includes:

T'ai Chi Ch'uan 1, 2, 3
Form Progression
Push Hands
Application
Supervised Practice Sessions
The Mini Series Includes:

Tai Chi Classic
Meditation
Five Element Thery
I Ching
8 Ways
There are no tests given in TCC. Instead, students have the option to periodically write an essay or journal their experience and hold interviews with core instructors to evaluate their success.

Description of Basic T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classes

TC 1 - T'ai Chi Ch'uan Beginner class - First / third
TC 2 - T'ai Chi Ch'uan Beginner class - Second / third
TC 3 - T'ai Chi Ch'uan Beginner class - Third / third
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a Chinese internal style of martial arts. As an internal art it emphasizes the integration and cultivation of the internal energy with the body and mind. This is done by concentrating on the techniques of relaxation and the use of imagery, and while in motion. Balance and an overall sense of well-being are enhanced through these techniques and T'ai Chi Ch'uan's unique, slow, and graceful movements and breathing coordination. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is often characterized as "Meditation in Motion," because of the stillness that is exemplified in its motion.

The Yang style, short form, a continuous series of 45 postures and transitional movement, takes approximately three semesters to learn (or 1 school year). TC 1, 2, 3 must be studied sequentially.

FP 1 - Form Progression (ongoing)
FP 2 - Advanced Form Progression (ongoing)
After completing the T'ai Chi Ch'uan solo form, students who would like to continue their study can join this class. In this class the form and its basic principles are focused on to develop the quality of the student's comprehension and experience of the art. There is more individualized attention given to deepen the students insight of their body/mind connection, locating and dissolving tensions, and understanding the dialogue between the body, min, and spirit.

Push Hands (ongoing)

Description: Push Hands is a two person exercise that studies the interaction of forces. Through some of the primary movements in the TCC form, in interaction, students explore the Push Hands principles of how to Listen, Adhere, Yield, and Neutralize force. These principles expand beyond the interaction in class and hold the understanding of potential relationships in conflict resolution, and corporate, political, and the basic dynamics between groups and individuals. As a stuent develops in this class they move out of the choreographed movements into "fre-style" Push Hands. Note: Students must have completed the TCC form before enrolling in this class.

Application (ongoing)

As a martial art, every movement within the TCC form holds a self-defense technique. These techniques are curtained while practicing the form, but are none the less a part of the dynamics of the form's momentum in movement. Learning the application of the physical mechanics, and how to utilize the techiques of using the other person's force as a means of self-defense, adds to the feeling of prowess that can enhance one's holistic feeling, that is unrelated, but oh so related to one's well-being. Within this class students will not only use the TCC form movements, but receive reflex training, work-out with basic kicks and punches, and explore liht contact self-defense training using the TCC principles of soft power.

Description of the Elective / Mini series

There are a number of electives offered in the Basic TCC Training Prgram. They are usually offered as part of the Mini Series each semester.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classics

Description: The development of TCC as an art has been ongoing since its conception. There are many ancient written texts referred to as the "classics" that add great depth and understanding to the principles of the TCC form. In this class, students explore some of the ncient and lost classics, commentary by other scholars on TCC, as well as ponder their own experiences and insights on this art. Some great poetry and sharing is bound to com out of this class.

Meditation

Description: There are many forms of meditation practices all over the world. Meditation techniques can act as a vehicle offering an opportunity for the individual to see the true nature of their being and the nature of their thoughts. In practicing the art of meditation, individuals have reached states of clarity, calm, quietude and vision. Students participating in this class will learn the fundamental techniques used in the Buddhist and Taoist styles of meditation such as: sitting, standing, walking pondering, visualization, focusing, and guided meditation.

5 Element Theory

Description: The 5 Element Theory is the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese identifications within the written character of the word "element," implies movement, a coming together, exchange, and change. Learning about the 5 Element Theory helps to bring clarity to comprehending qualities associated with the organic process of nature. Within this theory is the increasingly poignant and revaling concept of the complementary or generative cycle as well as a destructive, degenerative, or controlling cycles relative to our existence. In this class, students will study this theory and its correspondences and relations in their lives.

8 Ways

Description: The 8 Ways was created by Professor Cheng Man-ching. They are eight simple and relaxing exercises to improve mobility and mind/body coordination. Using eight images and corresponding movements, the Eight Ways is a good beginning in learning TC and is excellent in presenting the principles of TCC in Senior classes and time limited workshops.

I Ching

Description: The I Ching (Book of Changes) is one of the first representations of ancient Chinese thought and understanding of life's dualistic illusion and triad relationships. As a book of oracles, based on the binomial theory of yes and no, the I Ching freeze the image of the moment and projects that image into the near future to clarify the cause and the effect of the present. In this class, students will learn the stick method of calculating a reading, often referred to as "throwing the sticks," as it is the most comprehensive and meditative method used to consult the I Ching.