TongRen November, 2012 Volume 19, Issue 4

A Taste of circa 1991… Look closely at these pictures to win a CTF t-shirt! Details inside – P7!

In this issue: Putting the TongRen in your Taiji since 1988 4 We introduce you to the new Canada Non-For-Profit The Canadian Taijiquan Federation is now on Corporation Act Facebook! Please look for us there and “Like” us.

13 Reflections of a Retiring Sifu by Gloria Jenner TongRen is published by the

A look back at A Taste 28 Canadian Taijiquan Federation of China, in the 90’s and now. www.canadiantaijiquanfederation.com

1 Tongren – November 2012 Table of Contents

Articles 4 - 11 The New Canada Non-For-Profit Corporation Act Steve Holbert 4 Pour francophones et francophiles La rédaction 5 CTF t-shirts advertisement 6 Greek Man, Meet Chinese Man Jesse Lown 8 Fast and Slow James Saper 10 Finding my First Tai-Chi Class Jan Parker 11 Milestones 13 - 21 Reflections of a Retiring Sifu Gloria Jenner 13 In Memory of Grandmaster Feng (1928-2012) Matt Kabat 17 The Wave 22-24 Greetings from Kelowna! Hajime Naka 22 108 Prep for 8-Day Workshop in 52 Weeks Barbara Bryce 23

In Review 25-29 Taiji DVDs for Beginners, Many Bad and Few Good Ones… Michael Babin 25 The Waterloo Contemporary Internal Arts Studio’s Premiere Beth Weisberg 27 A Taste of China Dorian Gregory 28 Workshops and Events in Canada 30 Workshops and Events outside Canada 32 CTF Membership Form 35

TongRen (T’ung-jen)

TongRen is the 13th hexagram of the I-Ching (Yijing) Iching-hexagram-13 Meaning ‘Fellowship’ or ‘Sameness with people’. 7/15/09 4:20 PM

“Sameness with people means other people and oneself are one. As for the qualities of the hexagram, above is heaven, strong, and below is 同 人 fire, luminous: employing strength with illumination, making illumination effective by strength, being truthful within and adept without, developing oneself and others as well, it is therefore called sameness with people.” The Taoist I Ching (trans. Thomas Cleary, Shambala Publications, 1986 ISBN 0-87773-352-X bk

The next issue of TongRen will be published in February 2013 Submission deadline: 1 January 2013

Editors: Jill Heath [email protected]; Patricia Beretta [email protected].

2 Tongren – November 2012

file:///Users/rhubarb/Desktop/Iching-hexagram-13.webarchive Page 1 of 1 TongRen provides a forum for the discussion, TongRen fournit un forum en vue de discuter, expression, and experience of Taijiquan and exprimer et vivre le Taijiquan et ses domaines related subjects. Articles, reports on events, connexes. Articles, reportages, activités, biographies, letters, book reviews, poems, biographies, lettres, critiques de livres, poèmes, illustrations, scholarly research, and philosophical illustrations, textes savants et réflexions musings are welcomed. Please email submissions philosophiques sont les bienvenus. Veuillez for consideration for publication in TongRen to soumettre tout matériel à fin de publication à one of the editors. l’une des rédactrices de TongRen.

TongRen is published quarterly: February, May, TongRen est publié quatre fois par an, en février, August, November. Submissions must be mai, août et novembre. Toute soumission doit être received by the first day of the preceding month reçue avant le premier du mois qui précède la to be included. The editor reserves the right to date de publication. La rédaction se réserve le determine the content of each issue. Priority is droit de décider du contenu de chaque numéro. given to content submitted by CTF members. Une priorité est accordée au contenu soumis par les membres de la FCT. Membership

All members of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation (CTF) receive its quarterly journal, TongRen, and have access to previous issues online. Annual membership is $35 for individuals, $50 for families. Your support to the CTF is important to the Canadian Taiji community. Thank you!

To become a member (or renew), go to http://www.canadiantaijiquanfederation.ca and choose ‘Join the CTF’ (or donate) on the left menu bar for online registration and payment. To register by mail, see TongRen’s last page for our membership application and mail your completed form and cheque to:

Canadian Taijiquan Federation P.O. Box 32055, London ON N5V 5K4 Canada

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3 Tongren – November 2012 12 Articles

The New Canada Not-for- “This transition is important in order to continue operating under the Income Tax Profit Corporations Act Act. Otherwise, the CTF would be dissolved, our registration revoked, and a revocation tax would be applied By Steve Holbert equivalent to 100% of our assets.”

The new NFP Act is replacing Part II of the old • submitting articles of continuance; Canada Corporations Act which has • creating and filing new by-laws governed federal corporations, including Not- which must comply with the NFP Act. for-Profits like the Canadian Taijiquan Federation for the last 50 years. It is these new charter documents that will define and set out the rules that will govern the CTF. This new act establishes new rules for us, which are held to be modern, flexible and more suited to the needs of the not-for-profit sector. To this end, members of the Board of It simplifies various processes and allows for Directors are reviewing our documents amalgamation, not allowed under the old act. and will be filing our new articles using the following steps:

It also creates “a more objective standard for directors in carrying out their duties and 1. review of the existing letters of responsibilities,” so that those joining the board patent and by-laws; can be clearer on what that will entail. 2. drafting articles of the corporation; 3. creating new by-laws which What will be required over the next few conform to the NFP Act; months includes: 4. seeking members’ approval (slated for the AGM, June 15, 2013); • replacing our letters of patent; 5. filing of documents (hopefully, soon • supplementing letters of patent and by- after the 2013 AGM). laws with new charter documents;

4 Tongren – November 2012 43

This transition is important in order to continue Federation) and pose the question there. operating under the Income Tax Act. If you’re not a member of Facebook, Otherwise, the CTF would be dissolved, our please consider joining. This way we can registration revoked, and a revocation tax discuss things together! You may also would be applied equivalent to 100% of our contact us via snail mail at: Canadian assets. Taijiquan Federation, P.O. Box 32055, London ON N5V 5K4 Canada. Or via the TongRen editors. The deadline is October 2014. We will attempt to finish this work in time for our next AGM in June 2013, so that we can bring it to a vote. What does all this mean for you and how will it affect you? Stay tuned! Please make sure to join us at the AGM to vote on any issues that are raised. If you have questions in the mean time, look us up on Facebook (search for Canadian Taijiquan

About the author Steven Holbert has been a T’ai Chi player for about twenty-six years. He started with Gloria Jenner at the London Y, and worked with several teachers for a few years. In 1998 he returned to Gloria’s teaching at the Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre. He also began to do some teaching with her guidance, and became a teacher with the Centre in 2004. He is now certified as a teacher with the Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre and with the Canadian Taijiquan Federation. Steve has been a member of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation for eight years and is serving a second term as Treasurer. Steven is retired from full-time nursing. He maintains a small private practice in capacity assessments, and he continues as an active member of various professional groups. He and his wife have four children and three grandchildren that help keep them busy during their ‘free time’.

Pour francophones et francophiles:

La nouvelle rédaction de TongRen aimerait connaître votre avis et vos souhaits. Aimeriez- vous lire des articles en français? Voudriez-vous contribuer et nous fournir vos textes, ou nous donner de vos nouvelles, partager des images, etc.? Faudrait-il un résumé en anglais? Merci de communiquer avec nous à ce sujet, [email protected], ou [email protected]. Patricia et Jill peuvent éditer tout texte reçu en français .

Un premier sujet pourrait être une série d’articles sur la traduction des termes consacrés au Tai-Chi. Nous pourrions prendre les 13 énergies par exemple, ou les termes de pousse-mains (ou poussée de mains). Comment dit-on ‘plucking energy’, ou ‘receive, neutralize, entice, seize, and issue’? Qui voudrait se joindre à Patricia pour ce projet de terminologie en français?

- la rédaction -

5 Tongren – November 2012 Canadian Taijiquan Federation T-Shirts

Featuring the return of the popular ‘fiery dragon’ design coiling around the CTF logo on the front of this black long-sleeved t-shirt. And now available in a short-sleeved maroon shirt for the warmer months!

Looking for a ‘team look’ in formal black? Something a little less formal for the warmer months? We’ve got you covered!

Back print: Putting the TongRen in your Taiji since 1988. Makes a great conversation piece as you explain that TongRen is both the name of the CTF newsletter and the Chinese term for ‘fellowship’ or ‘community’.

Available in S, M, L, XL adult sizes. Made from 6 oz. 100% cotton tubular jersey. Double-needle bottom hem. Shoulder-to-shoulder tape. Pre-shrunk to minimize shrinkage. Other sizes can also be special ordered. Just ask!

Long-sleeve or short-sleeve t-shirt $30.00.

Please note that postal rates vary widely due to the size of Canada, so postage is not included in this price but will be added on prior to shipping your t-shirt to you. The CTF will happily sell t-shirts (and memberships) to folks outside of Canada; you may pay in either Canadian or US funds. Looking to save some money on postage? Buy one for a friend at the same time and combine shipping. Better yet, get a group of friends together and save even more. Looking to pay NO postage? Find Jill Heath in person, and you have a deal! Contact Jill Heath to place your order: [email protected] Online payment now available.

6 Tongren – November 2012 Win Yourself a CTF T-Shirt!

In the cover photos of this issue of TongRen, you will find some multi-talented folks. They are known for having been (or still are): a scholar; a publisher; a founder; a writer; a competitor; a teacher (not just Taiji or ); a referee and / or a judge at tournament(s). Between them they represent a number of the major family styles in Taiji. Remember that they may wear more than one of those titles, and there may be more than one of something in the pictures (a competitor, for example).

Put a name to as many people in each picture that you can and some labels on them too. The person with the most correct answers wins themselves a free CTF t-shirt in the style of their choice. Looking for extra points or clutching at straws? Feel free to label them with their Taiji style as well.

Send your answers to the editors at TongRen either via email or snail mail. Answers and the winner’s name will be published in the next TongRen (Feb 2013, submissions deadline 01 Jan 2013), so don’t delay! You might just have won your first Christmas gift… to yourself!

Good luck!

Iching-hexagram-13 7/15/09 4:20 PM 同 人

7 Tongren – November 2012

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Greek Man, Meet Chinese Man

By Jesse Lown

For anyone who’s ever gone to an alternative medicine practitioner, there’s likely a chance you were diagnosed with something that made no sense to you.

Maybe you’ve been told that your heart chakra is out of whack, or that your lung meridian is obstructed, or maybe that there’s dampness in your spleen. I myself even informed a patient the other day they may have a bout of wind blowing around inside them. If you’ve been told something like this, something bizarre that naked and displaying a rather nice set of abs (damn, I need to you’d hear in an Alice in start that sit-up routine again). Wonderland adventure, do not panic! Most On the right, you have a Daoist painting entitled the NeiJing, or importantly, don’t take it internal landscape. This illustration was likely done during the so literally. mid-1800’s… and curiously, it also depicts a man. Ahhh! Interesting, no? So why do medical practices have so many The obvious difference between these two depictions? The different, and often ancient Greeks analyzed the body literally. The ancient Chinese conflicting, ways of analyzed it metaphorically. interpreting your body and your health? The above illustration explains To give you a better idea of what I’m talking about, take a it all. On the left, you second look at the illustration on the right. Like I said, it have your typical symbolizes a man. He’s facing left. You can see his spine ancient Greek man, running up the right side represented by mountains. There’s a standing proud and thin river within those mountain that could be his spinal cord.

8 Tongren – November 2012 45

The old man sitting and meditating at the If you’re asking yourself why ancient medical top where the river ends is LaoZi (also spelled theories don’t just switch over to LaoTzu, LaoTsu, LaoTse, etc.), the ancient contemporary practice theories, well the Daoist philosopher, who represents wisdom, answer is simple. Not all clinical or in this case his frontal lobe. There’s a phenomenon can be explained with round red garden which is his heart, a forest contemporary rational. So, rather than that is his liver, and a bull that’s his… um, well abandon treatment methods that have I did say this was a man, right? clinical value, it’s better to use them in their original context. The picture depicts a body not literally, but metaphorically. The various objects and As time goes by, though, and people activities within the painting explain all sorts continue to search for explanations, we are of internal relationships and physiological filling in the gaps. At some point in the future processes that take place. It’s not meant to I think there’s hope that all forms of medical be taken literally; it’s a symbolic theory will meet, and see the body in its true representation. It’s through imagery like this singular form. that many traditional medical practices understood, and continue to this day to understand, physiology and pathology. So the next time you’re diagnosed with a disharmony between fire and water, you can rest assured that your alternative Does it now make more sense? Instead of medicine practitioner isn’t high on muscles, you have mountains! Instead of (Traditional Chinese) herbal medication. blood, you have rivers! Instead of a virus, They’re just seeing you in a different light! you have evil wind heat, and instead of a Metaphorically speaking, of course. weak immune system, you have deficient Qi()1. It sounds a little strange, I know, but (1) see article Don’t Qi Blast the Messenger by Jesse you need to consider that ancient medical Lown from the August, 2012 issue of TongRen. practices were based predominantly on clinical observation and environmental comparison, not scientific and biological examination.

About the author Jesse Lown’s professional professional career began in the late 90’s in alternative medicine, including over three years living and working in BeiJing China. In BeiJing he specialized in Acupuncture, TuiNa Manual Therapy, Mind-Body Exercise Systems and Classical Chinese Philosophy. He has been practicing QiGong and martial arts for nearly 20 years and is an official 20th generation TaiJi lineage holder (HunYuan ()). He also finds time for art, like the illustration he created that accompanies this article.

Jesse is currently an owner and director at the Aim2Walk Neurological Rehabilitation Centre where he specializes treating spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and multiple sclerosis. He passionately devotes himself to the developing field of neuroplasticity and its effects on regeneration and recovery following neurological sequelae. Clinically he applies both traditional and modern neuromuscular forms of acupuncture and hands on therapy, and trains his clients in modified and customized mind-body exercise systems.

www.aim2walk.ca, www.neurochangers.com.

9 Tongren – November 2012 Fast and Slow

By James Saper

In the internal martial arts, beginning students often want to learn quickly, but teachers want About the author to teach beginning student slowly. I think there are two important reasons for this. James Saper (pictured below) is a Chinese Medicine practitioner and internal martial Learning slowly means spending time on the arts stylist living in Guelph, Ontario. A basics. A good foundation protects a student student of Andrea Falk and Jack Yan, he practices Chen Taiji, Magui Bagua and from injury and is required to reach higher Hebei Xingyi. His Chinese Medicine levels of ability and understanding. practice requires him to be perceptive and inquisitive, his internal arts practice keeps him humble. And he has a blog: Secondly, learning slowly helps build patience. thelantern.tumblr.com. Without patience, very little can be achieved.

10 Tongren – November 2012 12

Finding My First Class

By Jan Parker

The first time I saw someone do tai chi, I was drunk.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before! I’m cleaning out some stories this morning and this one crossed my mind.

It was in the early 80’s, I spent my most of my days on the couch, watching TV and drinking. Most of the time, I paid no attention to what I watched, soap operas, game shows, even the religious shows that offered 800 numbers to call so someone would pray for you. I admit, I called them and would spend as long as they would let me, arguing. I did have a few favourite shows as well. Dallas and Falcon Crest were two evening shows I didn’t miss. Dallas was set in the rich state of Texas with the Ewing family; one big dysfunctional family, I loved it. with me: round, continuous and Falcon Crest was another one. Same idea, but not slow. as grand. I still watched it. For two years after I saw that Google tells me, Chao Li Chi played the role of show, I moved around our house Chao Li, the butler on Falcon Crest. On the show slowly, and in my opinion, Chao Li had a practice and every once in a while gracefully. I’d make circles with they would show him on the back patio moving in a my arms, step lightly, and ask slow and graceful way. I didn’t know he was doing anyone who came over, if they Tai Chi, I’d never heard of it before, but I was knew what I was doing. No-one captivated. On one of the episodes, he took did. Lance, played by Lorenzo Lamas, the troubled young son of the family, out back and tossed him A year after I sobered up, Ken (my around. Looking back on it, it was the first time I saw husband) and I moved to Oregon. a form of push hands. Incredible! The first week of living in Eugene, I saw a poster at a health food It might have been the next day or maybe the next store, that said, “Learn Tai Chi” - it week, but Chao Li Chi showed up on a morning talk described having movements that show. When I saw Chao Li Chi I stopped channel were, “round, continuous and surfing and turned up the volume. He was talking slow.” I signed up! about this form of exercise that was odd, yet beautiful. He described it as having movements My first Tai Chi class, taught by Jim that were round, continuous and slow. I missed the Eisenman, changed my life. name of the exercise, but those three words stuck

11 Tongren – November 2012 3

When I came home from the class, I had trouble getting up the stairs to our house. Ken asked me what I learned. I raised my arms and lowered them.

He asked why my legs hurt. I said I didn’t know!

About the author

Jan Parker has been a student of Taijiquan since 1985. She has studied and learned from masters from both North America and China and is a top student of Sam Masich. As a Taiji and Qigong expert, she specializes in teaching private lessons and study group seminars throughout North America,

A member of the Pacific Association of Women in Martial Arts (PAWMA), the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) and has been an instructor at their annual training camps. In 2004, Jan was honoured as PAWMA’s Martial Artist of the Year. She is also a past Director of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation.

Today she is the Editorial Director and Co-Creator of the Android and iPhone app called Today’s Step: Recovery (http://www.todaysstep.com/). Jan has been sober since 1984 and developed a daily qigong program for clients seeking treatment at a drug and alcohol treatment centre on Bowen Island, BC.

Jan is passionate, supportive and encouraging about the changes that happen in one’s life when we begin to move in a conscious way. Reach her at www.janparkerarts.com; blog: www.janjimjam.com.

12 Tongren – November 2012 1

Milestones

REFLECTIONS OF A RETIRING SIFU

By Gloria Jenner

“T’ai Chi is an art of contradictions. It is an art that develops one’s ability to overcome others while removing the desire to do so. It is an art that produces great power and strength, but is practiced by emphasizing no power and little strength.” (1)

Everything in our lives happens for a reason. My life direction took a turn in 1979 when I first saw T’ai Chi demonstrated and explained to me. To me it looked like Yoga in motion, and I said to myself, that is for me. And the journey began, looking for a teacher, to opening my own Centre in 1988, and now to retiring.

How can I retire from teaching T’ai Chi Ch’uan, as it has been part of my life-style since 1979? Retiring as the owner and Sifu of Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre took some consideration. When I found the right person to carry on the centre I felt that I could let go (of) the business part. I have had a long history of teaching T’ai Chi Ch’uan since 1982, and opening and running a T’ai Chi Centre since March of 1988. It is hard to reflect on retiring (from) teaching as I will always share my knowledge of this great

(1) Gordon Muir studied Yang style from Master T.T. Liang in 1982. His current teacher is Master Chen Zhonghua. He lives in Victoria, B.C., Canada.

13 Tongren – November 2012 23

discipline with others, but to reflect on no they teach you this lesson right from the start, longer running a Centre which was my and you learn you cannot make clones of creation, I will always feel it has been a part them, and you learn differences in body of me in the years ahead, as I reflect back. types, not only in movement but in how people learn. You find yourself describing When I needed to choose a name for my the move in a different way to help those Centre, I wanted a name and symbol that who do not get it the first way you break it represented what I saw happening in down. students I was teaching then. The name Phoenix represents transformation. What does this teach me? To be more ‘Celebration of Life through Movement’ verbally creative and come up with different represents the moves of T’ai Chi. And the visualization(s) of the moves, to accept older yin/yang symbol represents fluidity. everyone is not like me. It also teaches me When I put this together as a logo, I said, to be more flexible in the way I teach. And ‘yes, this will represent my Centre.’ To to remember I am dealing with adults in T’ai completely retire and close down the Chi classes, therefore, in giving corrections, I Centre, my concern was what would try not to insult their intelligence. happen to long-time And what I participants, and noticed was that teachers. But I really when students feel I can let go now started opening of this concern as a their bodies, they very responsible and began to open caring Teacher has their minds to stepped up to the new probabilities job: Steven Holbert. I in life. am so thankful to Steve that my future Again, I mention concern of the that all the Centre will not be a almost 30 years I worry. have been teaching T’ai Chi It was also suggested I have never got that I reflect on my bored teaching experience in basics and emphasizing the health benefits. teaching… I have always been enthusiastic about the Looking back, in 1987, a T’ai Chi teacher health benefits I acquired from being a lover from a Toronto club asked me, ‘Do I not get of this marvelous exercise that incorporates bored with teaching beginners?’ I said no, so many of the Chinese healing techniques. for beginner students help you to become a It always amazes me the layers and layers good teacher. As they do not know, as yet, hidden in this beautiful internal art. How did what questions to ask, you tend to read the creators of this moving meditation know them and how they are enjoying the how to put in their Chinese Healing Arts, of movements or are they finding them stressful. Yin & Yang, I Ching, the meridian systems You do your best to make them comfortable and their knowledge of how animals move in their bodies. As everyone moves and nature’s seasons? differently and our energies flow differently

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I have been fortunate over the years, to ball—which is an ‘in’ breath in our style. draw to our Centre, mainland Chinese Teachers of T’ai Chi and Qigong, and a In the beginning class I have students just Chinese Medical Doctor who taught us standing with their hands on their abdomen knowledge that had not been put in books and feel the deep breathing going on in in English as yet, and they teaching their their bodies. So again I do not try to teach styles, and they enjoyed learning our style. beginners the breathing with each move, as The 108 long Yang form was not being done they have a lot going on with remembering, in China at that time (2). hands, feet, and direction, but make them aware the breathing becomes important. One of the most important things I learned teaching this slow-moving exercise was Intermediate students bring the joy of patience, something I never had before teaching T’ai Chi in a more focused way, as learning T’ai Chi. now you can refine their moves and begin to see how their practice has enhanced their Some Tai Chi Instructors say the breathing T’ai Chi. You begin to hear the benefits they pattern is not important. I feel it is very have received from playing this slow-moving important. form. Stronger ankles, knee pains gone, better posture, stronger lower back, and the Coming from practicing Yoga before most benefit I hear is their great balance. discovering Tai Chi, I share the breathing technique with students. I do not expect One exercise we do in all classes is toi yu— them to memorize it. But just to be aware of shifting weight back and forth on (the) feet how the in and out breath goes so well with and the slow turning of the waist and hip, the rhythm of the yin and yang movements, and incorporating arm movements. I ask especially with Yang style. There are some them to go inside their bodies when doing moves that get slurred into the next one this exercise and feel the gentle massaging without using a transition move and here is of the ankles and knees and hips. I often where the breathing helps the student to be wondered why doctors sent people with aware of each movement and not to forget knee problems to T’ai Chi as the moves the transition movement, i.e. holding the constantly use knee joints (which would be

(2) Note from Gloria: According to the Chinese teachers that ended up at my Centre in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, they told me that only the 24 set was done and this was set up by the Communist Government. So I taught them the 108 and they taught me the 24 set. Later, Chinese teachers that showed up did know a 108 and a complete Sun Style set, but were older teachers. That was information given to me at that time. … I am quite sure in Hong Kong all forms were allowed, but these teachers came from mainland China.

15 Tongren – November 2012 67

painful to them) and when I them to learn, as they have one set under their belts and began to pay attention to what recognize various moves in other sets. It also gives you was happening in my knees the benefit of keeping your various sets up-to-date with when doing this toi yu exercise, I practice. It is like having your cup full and now you can noticed that instead of the let it flow out and share this knowledge. You begin to knees going in a linear fashion, notice the advanced students have developed some of the knee is doing small circles their own way of doing moves. The student has when you do the exercise discovered their own rhythm. correctly. No wonder the knee joint gets stronger. Teaching classes also in the community I have noticed various groups learn fairly well while others do not even With intermediate students you have a sense of their own bodies. Give this second group start reading to them the T’ai simpler moves so they feel they are accomplishing Chi Classics and other articles something. Talking about simpler moves, over the years and books to give deeper teaching MS and Parkinson students I often create a small insight into the practice. Push set with no turns, so they won’t lose their balance and get Hands or Two-Person T’ai Chi is scared of doing any exercise. a great help to develop sensitivity in their moves and The question sometimes comes up should you use realizing the martial aspects. background music. My first teaching job in 1982, I was asked to use music in this community class. What I Advance(d) students give you discovered in using music compared to classes where I the challenge of teaching them did not use music, was the students being taught with other sets once they are slow music picked up the idea quicker of one movement comfortable with the first set. flowing into another—this was not a stop-and-start Other sets are now easier for exercise.

Even after this many years of playing T’ai Chi Ch’uan, it always blows my mind when I discover another layer of this exercise, saying to myself, ‘That is why the ‘Father’ of T’ai Chi created the move this way.’

So, my almost 32-year T’ai Chi journey has been a fantastic experience and I am so glad that in the beginning I kept being gently pushed in its direction. Doors just kept opening up. Knowing so many people in the healing community at that time, it was so easy to share this new concept with them

Over the years, I have touched so many lives and heard their stories. What a wonderful way to learn about life: sharing and listening. We are on this Earth plane to learn, and how do we learn? Through relationships.

And can you tell me what other exercise subtly strengthens one’s ankles and lower back, helps you to feel what is happening inside you, and develops a sensing of Chi? Amazing. And I agree with Laurence Galante who calls it the “Supreme Ultimate”.

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So what more can I share About the author with you about retiring? Gloria Jenner has been teaching T'ai Chi since 1982. Gloria and her staff Giving up responsibility is teach Yang Style T'ai Chi, T'ai Chi Sword and Qigong. one thing, but I intend to Gloria has studied under many T'ai Chi and Qigong teachers and continue playing this masters including: Ken Baldwin, Master Moy, Chang Cheung, Sifu Paul supreme internal art as it will McCaghey, Ai Min, Master Mantak Chia, TCM Dr. P. Liang, Qigong Master be so important in keeping Guo Yi, Benhuang Gong and Yingchiang Song. Gloria has also me healthy, with good completed workshops with Dr. John Painter, Sam Masich, Master Jim Carrothers and Master Yan Wu. balance, serenity, and the joy of knowing I am Gloria's teaching focuses on the health improvement and stress reduction practicing an ongoing art aspects of T'ai Chi and Qigong. that keeps giving back to At its annual Open House on June 4, 2005, the Canadian Taijiquan me all its benefits. Federation recognized Gloria's long-term service by honouring her with Elder membership status. (See picture of presentation on page 15; Roseann MacKaye is the presenter; CTF BoD seated in the background). Gloria is also a past Director and Treasurer of the CTF.

In Memory of Grandmaster Feng (1928-2012)

By Matt Kabat

This article was originally published in vol. 6, issue 2 (July 2012 edition) of the Center for Taiji & Qigong Studies quarterly newsletter, and we thank them for their permission to republish it here and to share their experience with the legendary Feng Zhi-Qiang. You may register to receive their free newsletter from Dr. Yang Yang's center at his website: http://centerfortaiji.com/contact/signup.html .

17 Tongren – November 2012 12

"So, I know that every teacher has things called on by the Chinese government to that they do especially well. What is it accept challenges to the traveling national about Master Feng that you think makes demonstration team which at the time him very special?" With almost no included Jet Li and other martial artists that hesitation, Yang Laoshi answered brightly, later became more famous. His successful "Oh, his spirituality." This was not the execution of his duties defending against all answer that I expected. There was a long challengers made him famous as a practical pause while I made some attempt to martial artist in China. digest this answer and reconcile it with what I knew of Master Feng. His fame and dedication as a teacher, for me, was exemplified in the story of how he used his I had been studying with Yang Laoshi for intimate knowledge of the curriculum and his about 4 years and was anticipating experience as a practical martial artist to aid in Master Feng’s visit and workshop in 2001 the preservation and continuity of the Chen and had a rare opportunity to talk to lineage after the tragic early death of Chen Yang Laoshi privately about his teacher Fake’s son, Chen Zhaokui, making several trips and their relationship. What I knew about back to the Chen village to share his Master Feng revolved around the stories understanding with the practitioners there. of his martial prowess and his openness Because of this Master Feng is sometimes and dedication as a teacher. For a referred to as a "bridge across generations." moment I began to think that Yang Laoshi had perhaps misunderstood my question, but quickly I realized I just didn’t I had heard his fame and reputation as a understand the answer. I didn’t even practitioner at the highest level of martial arts know what else to ask to help clarify his illustrated through the story of how my teacher answer. It appeared that I would need to Yang Laoshi was first introduced to Master Feng wait to meet Master Feng myself before in Shanghai in the early 80’s. The government receiving some clarification. had just changed its policy towards traditional martial arts, and as an effort to foster its reemergence after the Cultural Revolution, a To me at that time Master Feng’s gathering was held of the top traditional reputation centered around his legendary martial artists in China in Shanghai where Yang exploits as a fierce martial artist and as a Laoshi was going to school. Master Feng unique teacher. I knew he possessed arrived without bringing one of his own students intimate knowledge of two great lineages, with which to demonstrate his skill, and in a the Chen Taiji of Master Chen Fake and show of style and bravado said to the others the Xinyi and Qigong of Master Hu gathered, “It’s okay, I’ll practice with Yaozhen. He was one of the highest level whomever you choose.” So after some students of both legendary teachers, and deliberation, the crowd chose a specialist in a one of the few tough enough to endure type of Qigong referred to as ‘’, Master Chen Fake’s direct training in push emphasizing strength and invulnerability. The hands. Because of his dedication and his gentleman selected had earlier performed an martial arts prowess, his two teachers impressive demonstration which had included often called upon him to answer being driven over by a truck with no apparent challenges to the martial arts society that ill results. Surely, the crowd determined, if the they had co-founded, the Capital Wushu truck didn’t hurt him, he would be tough Research Society. Likewise he was also enough for Master Feng.

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Master Feng, however, handled him again was to be physically overwhelmed by easily, to the astonishment and delight of him despite his advanced age. However, his the crowd. To cement the lesson of his touch was soft, even gentle, with a smoothness martial prowess, the next day, Master and easiness that was disarming, not Feng asked the gentleman to take off his overwhelming. At the same time, no matter shirt and display the magnificent how hard I tried, I could not gain an collection of bruises that now were advantage. Because he spoke no English, and arrayed on his ‘Iron Shirt’ which the I spoke no Mandarin, we could not gentleman good-naturedly agreed to do. communicate verbally. However, I had the In the spirit of openness, Master Feng clear sense that he was communicating two continued to practice with anyone else things. One: “Don’t be afraid, you can really who volunteered to brave his teachings. try, you won’t hurt me.” And two: "Relax, pay attention and try to understand what I’m doing here. Learn something." So my expectation at meeting him at the upcoming workshop in Champaign, Illinois, was based on this idea of meeting One of the other things that surprised me about a great fighter and dignified Master, not the workshop, was that we were not taught an accomplished spiritual teacher. many martial techniques or any long sequence of movements. There was very little emphasis on choreography or technical application. It was clear though, from the moment What was emphasized even when we were Master Feng entered the room of the learning new movements was the importance workshop, that his presence carried a of changing our demeanor and learning ways depth of power and complexity that my to relax and attend to a sense of our own inner imagination had failed to conceive. It vitality. Relax, sink, expand were the perpetual seemed as if the very air itself changed lessons. This repeated emphasis throughout the when he walked into the room. The sense workshop both put me into an altered state of energy that he exuded was heavy and and began to give me insight into why Yang palpable even across the room. And yet, Laoshi had chosen the Chinese character for his demeanor was nonchalant, friendly, ‘Nurture’ as the logo for the workshop and even casual and approachable. This was Master Feng’s visit. clearly not the fierce authoritarian martial artist I had expected. In years he was over 70, yet structurally and energetically In the end, what I gained in insight from the appeared to be easily 20 years younger workshop far surpassed any gain of technical and gave off a sense of humour and information concerning the taiji curriculum. vitality few others of any age possess. And yet, what is remarkable in retrospect is that those experiences continue to be accessible and continue to unfold and teach me as a Even further was my surprise at the central focus of my practice. In this way I begin qualities of physical interaction when to understand the traditional saying about taiji: practicing with Master Feng. I was The true art is very deep. fortunate enough to get to practice an exercise of "Pāi dǎ" (拍打), a sort of game where you practice bumping your partner My preconceived notions and erroneous and testing their position and energetic expectations of Master Feng took another capacity or strength. My expectation devastating blow in the celebrations that

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closed the workshop. Master Feng arrived I began to sense that this message from Master for the dinner wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a Feng was an initiation of sorts into a deeper Mardi Gras mask and beads, dancing to level of practice that he was offering to me, music from New Orleans and throwing and continually offering to everyone in his beads to his admiring fans. Clearly his presence. Such a practice predominantly sense of humor and his joy for life had follows the example Master Feng set rather overwhelmed any sense of formality and than the physical or martial specifics of his distance we had wanted to project onto exploits. His instruction to us conveys a him. This dude knew how to have a good responsibility to embody his example…. to time! He led us all into an atmosphere of study, to practice, to teach. He was offering a fun and frivolity for the rest of the night. map to follow an exemplary path of inner His sense of delight and joy of life was development in order to nurture vitality and infectious to everyone. growth.

By the time of Master Feng’s final farewell As one translation of verse 27 of the Tao Te dinner—a much smaller and more Ching says: intimate grouping—I was not sure what to expect. Sitting at Master Feng’s table I The great teacher is ready to use all situations was listening intently to the character of and doesn’t waste any opportunity. everyone’s subtle interactions so that I This is called embodying the light. would not miss anything important or fun. Much of the conversation was in Chinese and so beyond my grasp, but I was What is a great teacher, but an example for us listening for an understanding through all. context. And something strange and Our work is to embody his good example. interesting was happening. Very clearly I Without understanding this, all other felt Master Feng’s attention was engaged understandings are irrelevant. with everyone at the table, and I had the Every other intellectual pursuit is sense that he was coherently and non- inconsequential. verbally saying to me, "Be like this. Just do This is the essential lesson. this. This is what you need to improve." What I felt like he was modeling for me was a sense of, "Open your heart, be expansive, and relax."

It was then that I began to understand that this was what Yang Laoshi had meant in our earlier conversation when he had answered me so quickly about the spiritual quality of Master Feng.

About the author

Matt Kabat teaches in Asheville, NC, and is a student of Master Yang Yang. Master Yang Yang lived and studied with Grandmaster Feng and became a formal disciple of Grandmaster Feng in 1987.

20 Tongren – November 2012

21 Tongren – November 2012 12

The Wave, News and Updates from our Members

Greetings from Kelowna! shown on T.V. where four people were buried. The Retreat Center is located just on the other side and I was concerned about By Hajime (Harold) Naka getting there, but when I phoned Richard (owner of the Retreat), he assured me that Greetings from Kelowna, the land of the the road was cleared and repaired and endless summer. I hope you all had a Qi- better than before. full summer. Due to the economic situation and the news In July I was at Naramata, a certified slow of the slide, there were only nine participants village, situated just north of Penticton on plus three instructors. The number of Okanagan Lake, to lead a week-long participants may have been smaller but the Qigong-Taiji Retreat for Naramata Centre enthusiasm was high. (a United Church Learning center). Although Naramata Centre is a Christian- I co-led the classes with Bryan Knack (who faith community, I always throw in some lives in Vancouver, Washington) and Arnold Daoist philosophy into the mix. Porter from Victoria, B.C. Bryan and I taught the 24 and cane forms, while Arnold led part Naramata Centre can accommodate of the morning Qigong and led the evening and feed over 300 people, and offers sessions, teaching massage. around 14 different workshops each week during July and August. I had 17 After saying farewell, and setting a date for participants in my program plus another next summer’s camp (Aug. 10-16, 2013), I dozen or so folks in the early morning drove to the other side of the lake to meet Qigong for people taking other my wife and daughter for another week of workshops. This was my 26th summer of camping on the beautiful Kootenay Lake. leading classes and hope to be asked back for many more years. I am now back to teaching and glad to see all the smiling faces again in classes. I returned to Kelowna to teach classes until I headed out to the Kootenays to co- I read with interest, ‘Don’t Qi-blast the lead the 35th Kootenay Lake Tai Chi camp Messenger,’ by Jesse Lown. I can at Johnson’s Landing Retreat Center. understand Jesse’s dilemma with the word Qi. I personally do not have any problem You may have seen the slide which was using the Qi word as long as I don’t have to

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explain what it is. I also very much enjoyed reading ‘Tai Chi and Music Improvisation,’ by Patricia Beretta I just met a couple this week who are taking – I would love to be in that creative space. a course online about awakening the Kundalini and they were asking about Qi, what is it and what does it feel like. I am going to show Jesse’s article to them, so I am Qi-fully yours, not going to Qi-blast the messenger, but Hajime (Harold) Naka offer my thanks.

About the author

Hajime (Harold) Naka is an Urban Daoist rebel, zen reject, movement artist, word dancer (poet), radical visionary, unenlightened philosopher, seriously playful martial artist and a C.T.F.-certified Senior Instructor. Although Hajime has 10,000 hours of practice under his Dantien, he is still Qi-challenged and OFF-centered in the Dao. Hajime teaches in Kelowna, B.C.

108 Prep for 8-Day Workshop in 52 Weeks

By Barbara Bryce

It started with Linda saying, ‘Sam’s doing a workshop. Oh yes, I remember now, Sam Super-intensive Tai Chi workshop in May 2012 gave it to me as we were leaving a focusing on the traditional Yang family 108; Campbellville workshop awhile back. I guess we should start working on that.’ didn’t think too much about it at the time, but I’m glad to see it now. Thanks, Sam! ‘Our class is just starting to get Dr. Shen’s 108 equivalent (‘the 154’); what, we’re going to First couple of weeks: ‘Wow, this is different. start something new?’ Don’t know how I’m going to remember all this.’ ‘Don’t worry,’ says Linda, ‘I’ve done it before and we have this, the official boot leg DVD, Later: ‘Okay, this first part is starting to feel can’t see the moves in a few parts but good and the pattern is familiar, but it’s mostly you can see what’s going on.’ like… more simple and defined.’

(I order the DVD off the website, it comes five Later still: ‘Well, still can’t move like the DVD weeks later, I watch it three times, then a but I can see how the sequence in the Dr. penny gets stuck in my disk drive of my lap Shen Form is based on the Yang form.’ And top and scratches the disk to shreds. Not all the repetition in the Shen form makes it sure this is such a good idea). feel more like chi gong than a Tai Chi form.

Laptop is repaired but the DVD is still a mess, I Lucky for us most of the class seems to enjoy find another DVD while cleaning up my learning this new form. It’s simpler and easy

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to follow. But there is one…, ‘I don’t like, too slow and too boring.’

Oh well, can’t please everyone, I guess.

Fast-forward: ‘It’s March, I think we’re getting this, we’re going to make it. There is just this middle section of the last part I still don’t get but we’ve got a bit of time to work it out.’

One more week to go: ‘We did it! We got through the whole thing (just barely mind you and there are some shaky spots).’

Day 2 of the 8-day workshop: ‘Holy Mother of Pete! It feels like every little piece of this 108 has 108 new pieces we have to re-learn!’

In 8 days we‘ve been given enough to work on to last us 108 years! What are we going to tell to the class when we see them next week?

About the author

Barbara Jean Bryce is a stained glass artist (shown above and below), and a Tai Chi enthusiast. When she’s not working with glass she helps with Linda Kearn’s Tai Chi For Health classes in Guelph ON, www.cold-mountain-internal- arts.com/home/community-partners And although her formal design education is in Landscape Architecture (University of Guelph), once a year she designs set, props and costumes for Sue Smith’s Season Singers Theatrical Children’s’ Choir. She is head of props and paint at Guelph Little Theatre and has won two awards for her set painting and design. Barbara lives in Guelph with husband Ricardo Ramirez. The kids have flown but they still have an orange dog and an orange cat.

24 Tongren – November 2012 12 In Review Past Events, Books, DVDs, etc.

Taiji DVDs for Beginners: Many Bad and Few Good Ones…

By Michael Babin

I was recently reading reviews on it if I hadn't opened it," "too confusing for Amazon of an instructional dvd that I beginners with too much focus on the feet have. Like many of its ilk, it was and not enough on arm positioning," as advertised as an instructional product for well as, "not an instructional tape as a Yang-style solo form that I have advertised, just too much repetition of practiced off and on for about 25 years. postures and groups of postures." The instructor and creator of that particular product is still alive and teaching and is a great inspiration for all The sad thing for beginners remains that of us with a mind to explore an there really are very few good instructional interesting variation of traditional Yang- dvds for beginners and not too many style taiji. On the other hand, you more for more intermediate players. I wouldn't necessarily have any inclination have watched and studied the products of his personal ability and skill just by of dozens of instructors over the decades reading at random in the numerous and it's sadly true that videos and dvds are reviews of that dvd on Amazon. often sold way past their ‘shelf-life’ in the sense that a 15- or 20-year-old instructional product which has simply been put into a I wasn't surprised that those reviewers dvd format may not resemble in detail who identified themselves as what the instructor is now doing with the experienced practitioners were same material, if he or she still teaches it at generally happy with what they got: all. some must have experienced Sifu X personally and others through his many students who now teach his approach in It can also be a horrible shock for various parts of the USA and Europe. I beginners used to a western academic also wasn't surprised that just as many approach to realize that traditional were unhappy with the product and teaching of basic forms and methods was wrote things like, "I would have returned often done en masse with everyone trying

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their best to copy teacher as he led the way watching a library of such products once in a group format. Questions and detailed or twice with having done the real work explanations, if they happened at all, were necessary to acquire anything of value reserved for the benefit of senior students. from their use. Such products are almost always more suitable for providing a reference material for home-study to It is true that modern taiji classes have often those who are studying the same material evolved in North America to reflect a more with a live instructor. pedantic and western approach to teaching; but many of the older generation of taiji and teachers produced—and As to recommendations for instructional continue to produce—cassettes and dvds material suitable for beginners... I have that are basically just endless repetitions of always liked Sam Masich's Five-Section small chunks of whatever method or form is material and his dvds are some of the being taught. Detailed explanations are best that I have experienced in terms of missing as are martial applications which depth and clarity of instruction in terms of could, in some cases, at least clarify why you the Yang-style taijiquan. Paul Lam of are moving in a particular way in the form Australia has produced a variety of being taught. instructional dvds in modified Sun taiji as well as qigong for health that benefit from his experience as a medical practitioner. Another common issue is ‘mistakes’ being Those who want a very clear approach to left in the material covered... sometimes this the traditional Sun-style 97 posture solo is because of editing error; sometimes the form for health should consider Tim production company can't afford to re-shoot Cartmell's recent four-volume set. I am mistakes even if they are identified; and so not affiliated with any of these gentlemen mistakes are left in on purpose and selling though I value the workshop instruction them anyway is rationalized as ‘a few little that I have had over the years from both mistakes don't matter as long as the bulk of Sam and Tim. the material is sound.’

In the end, you can take my advice for This happens more often than unsuspecting what it is worth—an opinion from an buyers might assume. In this way, experienced practitioner who has seen purposefully left-in ‘mistakes’ could be a many bad and a few good instructional useful way of identifying those who have dvds and cassettes. learned exclusively from electronic formats— particularly when that individual is claiming to have learned properly through long-term personal instruction at a later date for About the author commercial reasons.

Michael Babin has been practicing the Chinese To be fair, it is also true that for those with martial arts and particularly taijiquan since 1975 some skill and experience, studying dvds can and teaching since 1985. He's mostly retired since bring insights and maybe even some level of 2010 and focusing on swordplay in his martial competence at a solo or two-person form. dotage, but after some 30 years of also writing on these subjects [five books and 120+ articles] still Unfortunately, at least in my experience, finds time to ramble a little on his martial blog: many buyers seem to confuse owning and www.mbtaiji.net.

26 Tongren – November 2012 12

The Waterloo Contemporary Internal Arts Studio’s Premiere

By Beth Weisberg

Anyone who’s watched or taken part in any every inch of one’s surroundings. The WCIAS kind of improvisation knows that it is full of performers - Alpha Montemayor, Deirdre surprises. Whether it’s music, comedy, or Nally, Jan Bentley-Fogolin, Lisbeth Haddad, even cooking, improv is full of unpredictable Patricia Beretta, Peter Reist, and Cold twists and turns that surprise the artist as Mountain Internal Arts (CMIA) Sifu Steve much as the audience. Higgins – had to face similar physical challenges: the confines of the performing space; the unpredictability of where anyone else might step at any given moment.

On consideration, though, such a harried analogy doesn’t work as well as the time- honoured vision of a stream. The music and the performers (all also current CMIA CMIA Sifu Steve Higgins (left) and WCIA members) supporting each other, at once Musical Director Jason White (right) creating the current and moving with it, at one moment verging on methodical and in On October 17th, when the aged timbers of the next moment a flash of light, a curling in, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church a spray of sound and motion. A stork cools reverberated several times during the premiere of the Waterloo Contemporary Internal Arts Studio (WCIAS), the audience responded with shakes of their own. “Why did he stomp like that?” reacted one woman to the Chen style assertions.

The audience, to paraphrase WCIAS’ musical director and jazz pianist Jason White, had likely never seen anything like this performance before. Ordered ranks of practitioners this was not. After a few short demonstrations of empty hand forms, qi gong, fan, and sword, the performers launched into a slow-motion swirl of movement that one could be forgiven for thinking was choreographed. At first view, it reminded me of the staff’s balletic performance at my favourite dim sum restaurant, a palatial but packed space that necessitates an instinctual awareness of

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its wings, someone moves through the reeds at the shore’s edge. Plucked piano strings, snapping fans: a landscape of sight, sound, and qi emerges and grows within the sanctuary. The motion stills, and just like that it’s over. For this time.

Wait for the WCIAS to emerge again from their cocoon – and try to catch

their next performance. Highly Left to right: Patricia, Steve, Peter, Jan, recommended. Deirdre, Lisbeth, Alpha

Photos and stills from movies from Yves Beretta and Paul Thorpe

About the author

Beth Weisberg’s interest in helping people with their integration into daily life in different cultures developed into a career in facilitation and cross-cultural education. A series of health challenges introduced her to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and led her to the study of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. She came to realize that TCM, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong all go back to one root, and recognized that this foundation can deepen the level of help she is able to bring to people. The study of tea (Beth wrote about this in the August 2012 TongRen), used for millennia to assist and support meditative work and general health, draws Beth in the way it complements her other studies.

A Taste of China

By Dorian Gregory

I attended my first ‘Taste of China’ in 1999. I had not yet begun my Taiji journey (http://taichidorian.com/about/about- dorian/)in earnest, but I attended for a couple of reasons. The event was held in the small rural town in Virginia where I was born, figured one day that I would learn taiji, why and Janice and I were visiting my Mom, 15 not spend some time at the conference and miles away in Strasburg. Janice had been make the family visit easier, too? Turns out, studying Taiji for a few years and was very that would be the last time I saw my Mom interested. Since I was a martial artist who before she died.

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I remember Janice learned a fan form, I Dunbar, Yang Yang Ph.D., were there. I enjoyed think from Madame Wang JuRong and many great workshops—beginning the Master Helen Wu. I took a push hands weekend with Taiji for Transformation with Jose workshop with Chris Luth and Elaine Waters. Johnson, on to Wuji and Daoist Qigong with But what I remember most was the Master Liang, and Martial Grand Circulation and Saturday night Friendship Demonstration Taiji for Health with Dr. Yang, and the Five at the local high school—especially Animal Frolics with Kathleen Cusick, and of William C.C. Chen and the physical course, workshops with Sam Masich—his flexibility of his son, Max, pushing hands newfangled PengLuJiAn method—for partner and bending backwards, and the way and solo practice. Nick Gracenin astonished me with his chain whip form (really? tai chi? wow?). The funny thing to me today, is that I don’t But the best parts for me were the remember seeing Sam Masich at all demonstrations and discussions both nights. I (though I know now that he was not only learned so much about the breadth of internal in the demo, but the emcee too!). arts and I loved hearing the personal stories of these dedicated and top-level masters of these arts. The other really wonderful part of the This Year’s Theme: Transformation weekend was seeing so many of my taiji friends and making new ones. And of course, I definitely have a recollection of seeing Sam this Fast-forward 13 years, and more than a time! few taiji lessons later, and wow… what an amazing weekend I just had at the Grand Finale event. After 30 years, Pat Rice is I only wish I could attend again next year… retiring the event. Read more about this alas, I must say Happy Retirement! year’s event on Sam’s home page (www.sammasich.com). In this final year, many of the great masters attended, and ‘Til the next move, the turnout of participants was more than twice what was expected. My teacher, enjoy your practice, Sam Masich, and two of Sam’s teachers, Master Liang Shou-yu, and Dr. Yang Jwing- Ming, were there. Dorian

About the author Also, Masters Wei-lun Huang, Helen Wu, Nick

Gracenin, Jose Johnson, Kathleen Cusick, Jay A passionate and gifted Taijiquan (Tai Chi) and Qigong (Chi Kung) instructor, Dorian Gregory, MA, CPA, has taught in North America and in Europe, and specializes in the Yang Style Full Traditional Taijiquan Curriculum. Her teachers are Sam Masich and Jan Parker. She is a lifelong martial artist with advanced black belts in both karate and modern arnis, and she is a certified public accountant. Dorian works part-time as an auditor with a small local firm, and teaches Taiji classes, seminars and private lessons. Finding harmony in the seemingly disparate aspects of life is at the heart of her practice. Dorian’s web site is http://taichidorian.com. That’s me with Dr. Yang, and Sam.

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Workshops & Events In Canada

Workshops with Adriaan Treasures of China, Blaauw & Jill Heath Featuring the Dazu Rock

Contact:! Carvings Adriaan Blaauw [email protected] or Jill Heath [email protected] Contact: The Museum (Kitchener) (519) 749 9387, [email protected], www.themuseum.ca Fundamentals of Two-Person Work: Empty Hand and Sword! Exhibit of spiritual sculptures from the hillsides of Saturday – Sunday Dazu County, Chongqing, dating from the Tang !24-25 Nov 2012 Dynasty! 05-06 Jan 2013 48 unique sculptures depicting Buddhist, Confucian !23-24 Feb 2013 and Taoist beliefs. !20-21 Apr 2013 The Museum, 10 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario !15-16 Jun 2013 !Centre de Tai Chi Gilles Vaillant, 109 rue Wright, Carvings exhibit from 21 Sept. 2012 to 17 March 2013 Gatineau, QC Tai Chi classes and workshops at the Museum with ______Patricia Beretta during this exhibit! Contact: (519) 496 8973, [email protected] Riverbank Push Hands www.LeShiatsu.com Tai Chi and Qigong: Relaxation in Action Days Four introductory classes !Saturday morning 11 a.m.-12 p.m., with Diane Kehoe & John Eastman January 12, 19, 26 and February 2, 2013 Contact: (604) 946-4983 or (604) 868-2396 !$40+ HST for the 4 classes, [email protected] Registration with The Museum

Sunday 18 November, 2012 Tai Chi and Qigong: Treasures for Health Sunday 9 December, 2012 Workshop !1-6 p.m. – no charge! !Saturday January 19th 2013 4126 River Road West, Delta, BC !1-3 p.m. – no charge with museum or exhibit ticket

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!Contact: Michael Blackburn, (778) 228-3500 , Power of Balance [email protected]

Workshops and Retreats Taiji Spear mornings Taijiquan www.powerofbalance.com Each morning 8:30-9:30am before the Long Form Super Intensive above ! Treasures of Wudang Mountain Qigong Retreat Vancouver, BC !Contact: Michael Blackburn, (778) 228-3500 , with Donna Oliver and Sheila Furness [email protected] 416-465 6122 [email protected] or [email protected]

Friday, November 16-18, 2012!Harmony Dawn Workshops with Retreat, Rice Lake in Northumbland County, Ontario !$335 + HST Andrea Falk Contact: James Saper, (519) 760 6718 [email protected] Bagua Seminar: Cultivating Deep Skill Temple Knights February 2-3, 2013 (Saturday afternoon 2-4pm and all day Sunday 11am-4pm) www.templeknights.com !Guelph, Onntario Women’s Wellness Weekend Registration: $135; Saturday only: $90; Sunday half With Valerie Houston-Peel day only: $60 Xingyi Seminar: Aligning Form and Intent Contact: 705 767-1177,! [email protected] February 3, 2013 Guelph, Ontario! Saturday, November 24th, 2012, 9-11:30am Registration: $60; with spear workshop: $100 Temple Knights Martial Arts Academy & Retreat Centre, Chinese Spear: King of the Long Weapons Muskoka, near Bracebridge, Ontario. February 3, 2013 Guelph, Ontario Registration: $60 ______Workshops with Sam Masich Holiday Season

www.sammasich.com Celebrations in Ontario Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre’s Christmas Party The 88: Yang Style Taiji Sanshou 88 Sparring Form Wednesday December 5th, 2012, 7-10pm! with Gloria Jenner as special guest of honour May 17 – 20, 2013 Unitarian Fellowship of London!, 557 Clarke Road, !Campbellville, Ontario London ON!(519) 439 8875, !www.phoenixtaichi.ca !Contact: Mary Hansell, (905) 854-0314, [email protected] Cold Mountain Internal Arts Chinese New Year Celebration !Saturday February 16th, 2013, !1-5:30pm: free 'LONG FORM SUPER INTENSIVE' Yang-style seminars and demonstrations, followed by a potluck Taijiquan 108 & '37 Essential Forms'! Calvin Presbyterian Church, 248 Westmount Rd., E., Kitchener, Ontario Saturday May 25th to Sunday June 2nd, 2013 [email protected] , 519-886-8364 10am-5:30pm http://www.cold-mountain-internal-arts.com Vancouver, BC

31 Tongren – November 2012 12

Workshops & Events Outside Canada

World Tai Chi & QiGong Workshops with Day Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming YMAA CA Retreat Center http://www.worldtaichiday.org Miranda (area), California On the last Saturday of April each year at 10 am, tens of thousands in hundreds of cities, in over 70 nations Contact: (707) 502-8739, come together ymaa.com/seminars ... to breathe together ... to provide the world a healing image of our planet and our people Saturday April 27, 2013 Traditional Yang-Style Taijiquan, or Taiji Sword Look for events close to you! July -12, 2013

Taiji Pushing Hands and Martial Applications Workshops with (Level 1-4) Sam Masich July 12-19, 2013

Contact: Sam Masich 0170-553-8096 Qigong-1 (Qigong Theory and Spine Qigong) www.sammasich.com July 19-26, 2013

Qigong: Equilibrando el corazón y Taijiquan: 5 Qigong-2 (Medical Qigong: Eight Pieces of Brocade, secciones principios básicos Four Seasons Qigong, and The Five Animal Sports) May 10-12, 2013 July 26- August 2, 2013 Mexico City

Qigong-8 (Grand Circulation, Muscle/Tendon 4th Annual Berlin Push Hands Camp Changing and Marrow/Brain Washing Qigong) August 16-19, 2013 Berlin, Germany August 2-9, 2013

2nd Annual Berlin Summer Taiji Weapons Intensive—13 Power Taiji Sabre Embrace The Moon August 22-25, 2013 Berlin, Germany Workshops - Seattle WA

13 Power Taijiqiang: Taiji Spear Camp! Contact: Kim Ivy (206) 789-0993 October 12-20, 2013 [email protected] Location TBA, Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA www.embracethemoon.com Contact: Dorian Gregory, [email protected]

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Laojia, Xinjia, Silk Reeling with Grandmaster Chen Xiao Xing March 5-10, 2013 Qigong, Laojia & Intrinsic Energies with David Gaffney & Davidine Sim April TBA, 2013

Seminars with the Deyin Taijiquan Institute (UK)

www.deyin-taiji.com

Health Qigong UK seminars tour November 8-18, 2012 Annual visit by the Chinese Health Qigong Delegation from China organised by the British Health Qigong Association, please visit www.healthqigong.org.uk for detail of workshops and seminars. Contact: [email protected], +44 7779582940

Sun Style Tai Chi Weekend Special December 1-2, 2012 Hosted by Tary Yip Wolverhampton, UK

33 Tongren – November 2012 Canadian Taijiquan Federation / Fédération Canadienne de Taijiquan A registered Non-Profit Corporation / Un organisme à but non-lucratif dument enregistré

Mission

1. To encourage development in the practice of 1. Encourager la pratique du taijiquan et préserver Taijiquan and preserve its characteristics as an son caractère culturel et philosophique chinois. expression of Chinese culture and philosophy. 2. Stimuler la connaissance et la participation du 2. To stimulate public awareness of and grand public en matière de taijiquan. participation in Taijiquan. 3. Relier tous les praticiens de taijiquan, peu 3. To inclusively link practitioners of Taijiquan importe les styles et les traditions, qu’ils soient from various styles and traditions without seuls ou affiliés, partout au Canada. precedence – whether as individuals or 4. Élargir et renforcer l’expérience canadienne du gathered in groups, clubs and organizations taijiquan en créant un réseau national et across Canada – as they join the Federation international pour les individus, les groupes, les family. clubs, et les autres organisations. 4. To network nationally and internationally with other Taijiquan practitioners, groups, clubs and organizations with the aim of broadening and strengthening the Canadian Taijiquan experience.

Membership / Membriété

Annual CTF membership includes: Une membriété annuelle vous offre: • A subscription to the CTF’s quarterly journal • Un abonnement à TongRen, la revue trimestrielle de TongRen la FCT, que vous recevrez par la poste • One complementary official CTF crest for each new • Un écusson gratuit de la FCT si vous êtes un membership nouveau membre

Benefits of CTF membership: Avantages supplémentaires: • Access to Taijiquan Teacher Training workshops • Accès aux ateliers de formation des instructeurs, sponsored by the CTF and facilitated by experienced ateliers parrainés par la FCT et donnés par des Taijiiquan teachers enseignants chevronnés • Access to the CTF Taijiquan Teacher Certification • Accès au programme de la FCT de certification des program enseignants de taijiquan • Email notices of CTF-related news and upcoming • Avis électroniques des nouvelles et des événements à events venir de la FCT • Access to the ‘members-only’ section of the CTF • Accès à la section pour les membres du site web de website which includes expanded event postings la FCT qui présente une liste étoffée des événements and links, an archive of back issues of TongRen, et des liens, les anciens numéros de TongRen, des photographs, blogs and forums photos, des blogs et des forums • Postings to the public-access pages of the CTF • Pages publiques pour annoncer votre organisme, vos website for your club/school, workshops/seminars ateliers et tout autre événement lié au taiji and other Taiji-related events • Des occasions de contacts, de rencontres et de • Opportunities to connect, meet, share and further partages avec des praticiens du taiji pour accroître your Taijiquan-related knowledge and experience vos connaissances et votre expérience with other practitioners • Des occasions de vous engager comme bénévoles et • Opportunities to get involved and make a difference d'influencer la communauté du taiji en joignant le in the Taijiquan community by sitting on the CTF Conseil d'administration de la FCT et ses multiples Board of Directors and its various committees comités (volunteer) • Des inscriptions à tarif réduit à des ateliers et • Discounted enrollment is often extended to CTF activités organisés par nos membres members for workshops and activities organized by • Possibilité d'acheter les t-shirts et les écussons de la CTF members FCT • Purchase of official CTF T-Shirts and crests 28

34 Tongren – November 2012

Canadian Taijiquan Federation Membership Application Form Formulaire d’ Inscription à la Fédération Canadienne de Taijiquan

www.canadiantaijiquanfederation.com

! ! Name/Nom: ______

! Address/Adresse: ______

! ! ! ______! ! Country/Pays: ______Postal Code/Code postal: ______

! Telephone/Téléphone:

! Home/Domicile: ______Work/Travail: ______

! Email/Courriel: ______Website/Site web: ______

! Student of/Étudiant de: ______

! Club/Organization/Organisme: ______

! Instructor for/Enseignant pour: ______

! Club/Organization/Organisme: ______

! Forms Studied/Formes étudiées: ______

______

Individual membership $35 (Canadian or US) / Family membership $50 (Canadian or US) Membriété personnelle 35$ (canadiens ou américains) / Membriété familiale 50$ (canadiens ou américains)

Please copy and mail completed membership form along with your cheque or money order to: Veuillez envoyer le formulaire dûment rempli et accompagné d’un chèque ou d’un mandat à la: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Canadian Taijiquan Federation ! ! ! ! ! P.O. Box 32055 ! ! ! ! ! London, Ontario ! ! ! ! ! Canada N5V 5K4

You can also register or renew your membership online. Vous pouvez aussi devenir membre ou renouveler votre membriété en ligne. www.canadiantaijiquanfederation.com

35 Tongren – November 2012