CLASSES IN TRADITIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TAI CHI CLASSES

Daytime Beginner Tai Chi

A. The Yang Family Sixteen Form
B. The 10 Essential Principles of Practice

This course will teach a complete 16 movement form. This course is designed for students who want to learn a complete form in a relatively short period of time, for Seniors, and for students looking for a mid-day Tai Chi refresher. Students will learn the basics of footwork, palm shapes, and stances.

Suggested reading: A Few Comments on the 10 Essentials of Practice
By Holly Sweeney-Hillman

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Tai Chi for Kids

A. Tai Chi based movement
B. Tai Chi Cha based exercises
C. Creative projects

In this course, students will have fun while learning the basics of Tai Chi movement. A shortened form based on Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi will be learned. Classroom activities will include meditative and creative applications as well as movement. For ages 7 to 11 years. [Return to top]

Evening Beginner Tai Chi

A. First section of the 103 Traditional Form
B. The 10 Essential Principles of Practice

A student will be ready to go onto Intermediate class when the first sixteen postures of the form can be preformed independently and the student can name the 10 Essentials of practice.

The student will learn the basic palm techniques and the basic stances in this class. [Return to top]

Evening Intermediate Tai Chi

A. Practice first section of the 103 Traditional Form
B. Learn second section of the 103 Traditional Form
C. Begin to integrate the 10 Essentials into practice

A student will be ready to go into Advanced Class when the first fifty-four postures of the form can be preformed showing the standard palm techniques and footwork. The student should be able to practice more smoothly, comfortably and continuously. [Return to top]

Evening Advanced Tai Chi

A. Practice 1st & 2nd section of the 103 Form
B. Learn or refine 3rd section of the 103 Form
C. Integrate the 10 Essentials into practice
D. Begin to show appropriate energy for the postures

A student will be ready to be enter the testing system for earning Tai Chi Chuan ranks when the entire 103 Form can be preformed showing the standard palm techniques, footwork, and direction of each move. The student should be able to practice smoothly, comfortably and continuously. [Return to top]

Push Hands (Tui Shou)
*all push hands students must be members of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association and have completed Advanced Class curriculum.

A. Single Arm, Fixed Step (Tan Tui Shou)
B. Double Arm, Fixed Step (Shuang Tui Shou)
C. Four square energies applications
D. Four diagonal energies applications
E. Moving Step (Huo Bu Tui Shou)

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Yang Family Tai Chi Sword
*all sword students must be members of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association and have completed Advanced Class curriculum.

A. Learn basic sword techniques
B. Learn 67 posture Yang family sword form

Students who complete the sword form will be eligible to test for Rank 3 or higher. [Return to top]

Chi Kung

Chi Kung (Energy Work) is a therapeutic practice that unifies the body's three major areas of energy. The Body (Jing), Breath (Chi), and Mind (Shen). Through a holistic practice of slow, callisthenic body movements, synchronized relaxed deep breathing, and mind focusing exercises, the student learns to harness the connected power of their body and mind.

In this course, we will study and practice the methods passed down from the Chinese warrior monks of the Shaolin Temple that they used to strengthen their bodies, and illuminate their minds. These eighteen exercises will focus on, body alignment to increase balance and full range of motion, breathing to energize and relax the body, and mental exercises to free the mind from undue stress. The exercises are easy to perform in the beginning, and are modified to challenge the student as he or she advances in their practice. These exercises are based on Chinese Medicine theories, and have been know to stimulate the internal curative processes of the body. [Return to top of page]

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