Come enjoy the wonderful art of Taijiquan 太極拳 (tai chi)! Michael Blackburn is a patient, diligent and highly skilled teacher with nearly 30 years of international training. All students engage at their own level, speed and individual learning styles. Regular classes are Tuesday evenings at Dunbar Community Centre and Sunday mornings at Glen Park (East Van)
Taijiquan 太極拳 (tai chi)
While alive, the body is soft and pliant
When dead, it is hard and rigid
All living things, grass and trees,
While alive, are soft and supple
When dead, become dry and brittle
Thus that which is hard and stiff
is the follower of death
That which is soft and yielding
is the follower of life
Therefore, an inflexible army will not win
A strong tree will be cut down
The big and forceful occupy a lowly position
While the soft and pliant occupy a higher place
Daodejing 道德經 (Tao Te Ching) Chapter 76
Taijiquan (太極拳) can also be written as tai chi or t'ai chi ch'uan -- it means the same thing! (just as "Beijing" can also be written as "Peiking") Taijiquan (t'ai chi) is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for health benefits, mindfulness and self defence. People of all ages and abilities enjoy taijiquan for a variety of reasons: improved balance and strength, meditation, and developing martial skills and internal power. Plus it's lots of fun!
Michael teaches the Yang (楊氏) and Chen (陳氏) styles. The Yang style is the most popular taijiquan form in the world, and Chen is the oldest. We study the entire taijiquan curriculum:
• solo form ("108")
• qigong
• standing meditation (zhan zhuang)
• push hands (tuishou)
• 2-person form (sanshou)
• solo & partner weapons training (straight sword, sabre and spear).
BENEFITS
Posture:
Taiji is a great tool for enhancing our balance strengthening our connection to the Earth through a posture of relaxed alignment but inherent potential for movement.
Martial Arts:
Learning the ways of handling oncoming force and responding mindfully rather than reactively has an effect that radiates into all areas of our life and our interactions. Confidence and discipline are two regular benefits for dedicated practicioners.
Health:
There is growing evidence that Taiji is beneficial for a variety of health conditions including:
-
Chronic heart failure
-
Obesity and cardiovascular risks
-
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-
Vestibular (inner ear) balance disorders
-
Osteoporosis (low bone density)
-
Depression
-
Parkinson's disease
(Source: Tree Of Life Tai Chi)