Starts this Monday - 3rd November 08. Time 12.30 pm till 2pm (Lunchtime). Upstairs at Oldmeldrum town hall - the square.
Class suitable for complete beginners and those with a little experience of T'ai Chi. Syllabus will include Yang style short form - Sticking (Listening hands), the warm up set, a bit of chi kung and push hands sensitivity training.
It will be a a relaxed class with plenty humour! All welcome.
Wear comfortable shoes/trainers and loose clothing. £5.00 per session or £3.50 concession.
Telephone Scott on 01467 623014 or 07714 267057 for more details or email sallan [at] talktalk [dot] net
30 October 2008
27 October 2008
Aberdeenshire sabre practise Saturday 1st Nov
It's great to hear the first Weapons Workshop went well in London - we're looking forward to getting our hands on staffs and swords up here!
There will be a sabre practice session this Saturday, 1st November 7-10pm at the Masonic Hall, Inverurie. We'll be revising the first few postures with the new folks, so anyone who missed the introductory session with Caroline will be most welcome. We'll also go through the whole form with those who have been taught all the postures. Jasmine tea will be provided. Price will be a share of the hall hire as usual: probably a couple of pounds or so each.
There will be a sabre practice session this Saturday, 1st November 7-10pm at the Masonic Hall, Inverurie. We'll be revising the first few postures with the new folks, so anyone who missed the introductory session with Caroline will be most welcome. We'll also go through the whole form with those who have been taught all the postures. Jasmine tea will be provided. Price will be a share of the hall hire as usual: probably a couple of pounds or so each.
26 October 2008
News, Weapons, Partnerwork, Power Training, etc.
We had a wonderful weekend of T'ai Chi. Thanks to Mark for his inspiring teaching, especially for the first weapons day today; these will now become a regular fixture. It was wonderful to see 21 students working together with sword, sabre and staff all afternoon in the airy hall at St Mary Magdalene Church. We hope to have sessions every 4-6 weeks starting in the New Year, the proposed first date will be Saturday 24th January. If you have colleagues who would like to come along, please get them to contact me as to their eligibility. Also, do let me know if Saturdays are not possible for you, as Sundays are also an option. I will post some pictures tomorrow.
As I now appear to be 'Official T'ai Chi Centre Armourer' (!) I will be ordering all the weapons that people need over the next week, so do let me know if you need: sabre, sword, bokken, wooden sword, staff, or any covers / bags. You can find what you need at many martial arts shops, but I get a school discount at some great online places as well as London shops, and am happy to order in bulk.
For the Scottish students: You will not be left out. Mark would like to teach staff and sword to all those who have completed learning the postures of the sabre form. At the next Sabre Workshop in November, half the time will be sabre revision and new postures for those who started this year, followed by staff and sword introductions for the senior students. I will need to order things this week or next, so if someone could do a count up of how many wooden swords and rattan staffs I need to buy, that'd be great. I will get them delivered directly to you.
Wooden red oak or ash swords are about £4-6, rattan (not bamboo - too stiff) staffs are £10-12, I'll have exact prices tomorrow. I recommend starting with a wooden sword, as they are cheap and portable. Metal swords like mine ar about £45, Marli and Damian have lovely 'scholars' swords' which are a little more dear, under £100, Mark has a hand-forged sword, and those can cost between £500-£4000 and upwards.
Finally, London partnerwork days will now be by invitation from Mark only and will happen at least every term. If you'd like to know more about what he'll cover, contact myself or Mark directly. The minimum requirements will be familiarity with basic Ta Lu, Wabu, double push hands, figures of 8 exercises (silk-reeling) and 'step, figure-8, leap' sequences. (Everyone who attended either of the last 3 week-long workshops in Scotland will have covered all these). Some knowledge of the Ta Lu changes, rooting and uprooting and double push hands Wabu would be desirable. If you would like to work on any of these things in 121 lessons so that you can come along, do let me know. People from other T'ai Chi backgrounds will also still be able to join after covering the practices listed above. Mark plans to hold one 'Introduction to Partnerwork' in London some time next year, when there is a suitable group of newer students and those joining us from other schools to warrant a session. During the week-long workshop just passed we really got something going every day, building and deepening our sense of connection, our out-reaching, joining and transforming, as well as working strongly on improving on the external 'technical' front. Mark wants to get something of a similar depth going in one day workshops in London too.
Lastly, the 'Power' training has been postponed until January until Duncan gets back from NYC. Keen students who have at least finished Short Form would be welcome to enquire. Anyway, for now, it's not like we don't have quite enough to be getting on with, what with the weapons froms, The Dance, all the partner work, Heartwork, etc, etc...
I send my love and thanks to all the folks old and new who came to this weekend and created such a creative atmosphere with their good work and enthusiasm. I feel very lucky to have such great colleagues and students: T'ai Chi brothers and sisters.
As I now appear to be 'Official T'ai Chi Centre Armourer' (!) I will be ordering all the weapons that people need over the next week, so do let me know if you need: sabre, sword, bokken, wooden sword, staff, or any covers / bags. You can find what you need at many martial arts shops, but I get a school discount at some great online places as well as London shops, and am happy to order in bulk.
For the Scottish students: You will not be left out. Mark would like to teach staff and sword to all those who have completed learning the postures of the sabre form. At the next Sabre Workshop in November, half the time will be sabre revision and new postures for those who started this year, followed by staff and sword introductions for the senior students. I will need to order things this week or next, so if someone could do a count up of how many wooden swords and rattan staffs I need to buy, that'd be great. I will get them delivered directly to you.
Wooden red oak or ash swords are about £4-6, rattan (not bamboo - too stiff) staffs are £10-12, I'll have exact prices tomorrow. I recommend starting with a wooden sword, as they are cheap and portable. Metal swords like mine ar about £45, Marli and Damian have lovely 'scholars' swords' which are a little more dear, under £100, Mark has a hand-forged sword, and those can cost between £500-£4000 and upwards.
Finally, London partnerwork days will now be by invitation from Mark only and will happen at least every term. If you'd like to know more about what he'll cover, contact myself or Mark directly. The minimum requirements will be familiarity with basic Ta Lu, Wabu, double push hands, figures of 8 exercises (silk-reeling) and 'step, figure-8, leap' sequences. (Everyone who attended either of the last 3 week-long workshops in Scotland will have covered all these). Some knowledge of the Ta Lu changes, rooting and uprooting and double push hands Wabu would be desirable. If you would like to work on any of these things in 121 lessons so that you can come along, do let me know. People from other T'ai Chi backgrounds will also still be able to join after covering the practices listed above. Mark plans to hold one 'Introduction to Partnerwork' in London some time next year, when there is a suitable group of newer students and those joining us from other schools to warrant a session. During the week-long workshop just passed we really got something going every day, building and deepening our sense of connection, our out-reaching, joining and transforming, as well as working strongly on improving on the external 'technical' front. Mark wants to get something of a similar depth going in one day workshops in London too.
Lastly, the 'Power' training has been postponed until January until Duncan gets back from NYC. Keen students who have at least finished Short Form would be welcome to enquire. Anyway, for now, it's not like we don't have quite enough to be getting on with, what with the weapons froms, The Dance, all the partner work, Heartwork, etc, etc...
I send my love and thanks to all the folks old and new who came to this weekend and created such a creative atmosphere with their good work and enthusiasm. I feel very lucky to have such great colleagues and students: T'ai Chi brothers and sisters.
Big Roll Back
You may have noticed the TV ads for Asda at the moment featuring their Big Roll Back of prices across their stores. As you probably know, a literal translation of 'Ta Lu' can be expressed as 'big roll back' (or, nb. - 'the great pull'). So inevitably, whenever I see those ads, I have visions of all the students of Marks' and my schools, massed in the aisles of a supermarket doing vigorous, flowing Ta Lu to the sound of trolleys crashing and shoppers' jaws dropping. That'd be one for Youtube.
David and I never did get around to filming 'Strictly Come Ta Lu' with him in a tux and me in a full length evening dress, going seemlessly from spirited Ta Lu to Quickstep and back again. Life's just been too busy. Also, doing Ta Lu in 3" high shoes would take me a bit of practice, as I haven't worn high heels for more than 1 hour in the last 7 years, since losing that disc in my lower back.
Lastly, this from the superb dancer Ginger Rogers:
"Everything Fred Astaire did, I did backwards and in high heels."
David and I never did get around to filming 'Strictly Come Ta Lu' with him in a tux and me in a full length evening dress, going seemlessly from spirited Ta Lu to Quickstep and back again. Life's just been too busy. Also, doing Ta Lu in 3" high shoes would take me a bit of practice, as I haven't worn high heels for more than 1 hour in the last 7 years, since losing that disc in my lower back.
Lastly, this from the superb dancer Ginger Rogers:
"Everything Fred Astaire did, I did backwards and in high heels."
23 October 2008
This weekend: Workshop Days in Tooting
This weekend there will be two T'ai Chi workshops with my teacher Master Mark Raudva at St Mary Magdalene Church Hall, Trinity Road, Tooting, SW18, 1-7pm. Both days will cost £25 (concessions available). Bring a snack for the break, jasmine tea is provided.
On Saturday we will study Partner Work, to include push hands sensitivity training, sticking (listening hands), Ta Lu, Wabu, San Shou, rooting and uprooting, etc. The sessions are very friendly and inspiring, all those with at least a term's T'ai Chi experience are welcome, but there will also be plenty for those with many years' experience too. We study both push hands and weapons to further develop our sensitivity and awareness, always seeking to better embody the T'ai Chi principles we value in our solo practice. Our push hands is non-competitive and suitable for all ages, both men and women.
On the Sunday there will be an Introduction to T'ai Chi Weapons, including Sabre, Staff and Sword. Those with over 6 months' experience of T'ai Chi are welcome to come along, spare wooden weapons will be available. If you can bring your own sabre, staff or sword, or wooden sabre, bokken or sword, do, but keep it covered with fabric or in a bag whilst in public to comply with the law. We study weapons forms for many good reasons, one being to learn how to extend our awareness into an inanimate object and go from 'body as one unit' to 'body and and sword / staff / sabre as one unit'.
If you have any questions, do contact me.
By the way, if you would like me to make a recycled fabric bag or cover for your weapon, let me know this weekend. I charge £5 for sabre or sword bags with carry strap, cord and toggle fastening, and £4 for a simple staff bag. Though branded 'martal arts style' bags with Chinese logos might look very nice and work fine, I find they attract the wrong kind of attention in the street. In over 4 years of carrying my bokken around in a burgundy coloured velvet bag with stripy strap, I have never once had anyone guess what it was or assume it was a 'weapon'. Mostly people are convinced I must be carrying a long flute. I recommend slightly hippy looking fabrics, especially for blokes!
On Saturday we will study Partner Work, to include push hands sensitivity training, sticking (listening hands), Ta Lu, Wabu, San Shou, rooting and uprooting, etc. The sessions are very friendly and inspiring, all those with at least a term's T'ai Chi experience are welcome, but there will also be plenty for those with many years' experience too. We study both push hands and weapons to further develop our sensitivity and awareness, always seeking to better embody the T'ai Chi principles we value in our solo practice. Our push hands is non-competitive and suitable for all ages, both men and women.
On the Sunday there will be an Introduction to T'ai Chi Weapons, including Sabre, Staff and Sword. Those with over 6 months' experience of T'ai Chi are welcome to come along, spare wooden weapons will be available. If you can bring your own sabre, staff or sword, or wooden sabre, bokken or sword, do, but keep it covered with fabric or in a bag whilst in public to comply with the law. We study weapons forms for many good reasons, one being to learn how to extend our awareness into an inanimate object and go from 'body as one unit' to 'body and and sword / staff / sabre as one unit'.
If you have any questions, do contact me.
By the way, if you would like me to make a recycled fabric bag or cover for your weapon, let me know this weekend. I charge £5 for sabre or sword bags with carry strap, cord and toggle fastening, and £4 for a simple staff bag. Though branded 'martal arts style' bags with Chinese logos might look very nice and work fine, I find they attract the wrong kind of attention in the street. In over 4 years of carrying my bokken around in a burgundy coloured velvet bag with stripy strap, I have never once had anyone guess what it was or assume it was a 'weapon'. Mostly people are convinced I must be carrying a long flute. I recommend slightly hippy looking fabrics, especially for blokes!
22 October 2008
Workshop Dates For 2008-9
Below are all the revised dates for the forthcoming academic year. Check your diaries and do get back to me with any dates you would like me to revise, as only the Summer Week-long Workshop is unmovable. As many of you have asked for 121s in Scotland with Mark, we have decided that October next year will see a shorter 4 day workshop, with the following 3 days put aside for those who want 121s. Please email me if you think you'll want one. If more than 9 121s are required, we will have a 3 day workshop, and 4 days of 121s. Apart from that, we will continue with monthly weekends with either myself or both Mark and me for 10 months of the year.
We plan to use Fetternear Hall for all the below dates if we can get it, but we hope that we will at least hold the May workshops in Gartly, where Ev uses a lovely hall, to encourage a few Huntly, Elgin and other folk to come along, maybe to a beginner's afternoon. Students from down South can economise by sleeping over during the Summer week-long at Fetternear Hall itself. We expect quite a posse of Londoners to join us for this workshop, from both Mark's and my schools.
Check the dates below, and do get back to me by email with any suggestions for changes. I plan to finalise dates by 1st December.
2008
November 28th Ta Lu 7-10pm
29th 2-5pm Sort Form, 7-10pm Sabre
30th 2-5pm partner work, 7-10pm Long Form
These will probably be held at Kemnay Hall, I will confirm soon.
Most weekends will follow this pattern. 121s are always available with me in the mornings. I hope to also be available to teach Inverurie Thursday Long Form class most visits, but it hasn't been possible to organise that for this next visit. When I do, I will be available for 121s all day and evening Fridays.
2009 - (dates given are the Saturday of the workshop weekend)
Jan 31st Fetternear
Feb 28th (Mark) Fetternear
March 21st Fetternear
April 18th Fetternear
May 16th (Mark) Gartly TBC
June 20th Fetternear
July 25th Weeklong Workshop (Mark) Fetternear
Sept 19th Fetternear
Oct 31st 4 day workshop plus 3 days 121s (Mark)
Nov 28th Fetternear
I will be booking my January flight in November and will post full class plans for each month as soon as I book flights, hopefully at least 2 months in advance each time.
We plan to use Fetternear Hall for all the below dates if we can get it, but we hope that we will at least hold the May workshops in Gartly, where Ev uses a lovely hall, to encourage a few Huntly, Elgin and other folk to come along, maybe to a beginner's afternoon. Students from down South can economise by sleeping over during the Summer week-long at Fetternear Hall itself. We expect quite a posse of Londoners to join us for this workshop, from both Mark's and my schools.
Check the dates below, and do get back to me by email with any suggestions for changes. I plan to finalise dates by 1st December.
2008
November 28th Ta Lu 7-10pm
29th 2-5pm Sort Form, 7-10pm Sabre
30th 2-5pm partner work, 7-10pm Long Form
These will probably be held at Kemnay Hall, I will confirm soon.
Most weekends will follow this pattern. 121s are always available with me in the mornings. I hope to also be available to teach Inverurie Thursday Long Form class most visits, but it hasn't been possible to organise that for this next visit. When I do, I will be available for 121s all day and evening Fridays.
2009 - (dates given are the Saturday of the workshop weekend)
Jan 31st Fetternear
Feb 28th (Mark) Fetternear
March 21st Fetternear
April 18th Fetternear
May 16th (Mark) Gartly TBC
June 20th Fetternear
July 25th Weeklong Workshop (Mark) Fetternear
Sept 19th Fetternear
Oct 31st 4 day workshop plus 3 days 121s (Mark)
Nov 28th Fetternear
I will be booking my January flight in November and will post full class plans for each month as soon as I book flights, hopefully at least 2 months in advance each time.
20 October 2008
Reference Book For Short Form Study
At last this great book is available in English: Toyo and Petra Kobayashi's 'Tai Chi Chuan: Becoming One with the Tao' (Tuttle Martial Arts) ISBN 0804837643. The Kobayashis were students of Dr Chi Chiang Tao, and still live and teach in Germany. We use their excellent 'Classical Sword Form' as a guide when studying straight sword (Jian). The empty-hand book is full of concise writing, clear illustrations and photographs as well as the best diagrammatic system for showing weighting and direction of movement that we have seen in any Form book. It is ideal for beginners as well as those further along in their study, and it includes writing by Dr Chi himself. The Short Form illustrated is Prof. Cheng's original set, rather than Dr Chi's revised set, which we teach, where Turn and Kick is replaced with Needles at the Sea Bottom, followed by Turn Body Chop and Push. Despite this, it is still a great reference. We have photos of Mark doing all the postures and now plan to make a supplement for these different postures, before cracking on with a full hand out booklet over the winter. Thanks to Scott for finding this book and bringing it to the workshop last week.
The Kobayashis were the teachers of my second T'ai Chi teacher, Kajedo Wanderer, who still lives and teaches both T'ai Chi and meditation at Findhorn Community, Scotland. Only last month we were looking through his old German language books by the Kobayashis and enjoying their clarity, wishing they were available in English too.
For students who in the meantime 'must have' a set of pictures of the whole form which we study, there is a book available. Angus Clark's 'Illustrated Elements of T'ai Chi' shows our whole Form, and as a reference for posture order and general shapes it is fine. However, the Kobayashi book is much closer in spirit and in detail to what we teach.
The Kobayashis were the teachers of my second T'ai Chi teacher, Kajedo Wanderer, who still lives and teaches both T'ai Chi and meditation at Findhorn Community, Scotland. Only last month we were looking through his old German language books by the Kobayashis and enjoying their clarity, wishing they were available in English too.
For students who in the meantime 'must have' a set of pictures of the whole form which we study, there is a book available. Angus Clark's 'Illustrated Elements of T'ai Chi' shows our whole Form, and as a reference for posture order and general shapes it is fine. However, the Kobayashi book is much closer in spirit and in detail to what we teach.
19 October 2008
November visit to Scotland
Mark and I had a wonderful time in Scotland, thanks to all the students for their good work, and putting their whole hearts into their T'ai Chi. It's been my favourite week so far. Thanks too for al the delicious food and to those students who put up the visitors from London. I will post some pictures soon.
08 October 2008
Tattie holidays and week after in North Aberdeenshire and Moray
Classes during the week beginning 13 October are all running as normal.
Classes for the week beginning 20 October will run as normal apart from Thursday 23rd morning class at the Red Shoes Theatre which is cancelled.
Classes for the week beginning 27 October will run as normal apart from Tuesday 28th morning class at Huntly Resource Centre which is cancelled.
Classes for the week beginning 20 October will run as normal apart from Thursday 23rd morning class at the Red Shoes Theatre which is cancelled.
Classes for the week beginning 27 October will run as normal apart from Tuesday 28th morning class at Huntly Resource Centre which is cancelled.
05 October 2008
London classes this fortnight
On Thursday 9th October there will be no class at Derinton Road Community Centre as the floor of the Hall is being refurbished. All classes will continue as normal from Monday 13th, where David will be looking after the classes whilst Mark is in Scotland teaching the week-long workshop. There is no Sunday class on 12th October at Mark's.
Hackney Round Chapel 15th October and Amnesty International 16th October classes will continue as usual with Dave teaching.
The Round Chapel Class on 8th may well be next door in Powerscroft Road again, I will put posters on the door and email all students if it is likely. BBC's 'Question Time' will be in the hall on the Thursday, and they may need to set up in advance the day before.
Any queries, please do get in touch.
Hackney Round Chapel 15th October and Amnesty International 16th October classes will continue as usual with Dave teaching.
The Round Chapel Class on 8th may well be next door in Powerscroft Road again, I will put posters on the door and email all students if it is likely. BBC's 'Question Time' will be in the hall on the Thursday, and they may need to set up in advance the day before.
Any queries, please do get in touch.
03 October 2008
02 October 2008
I had a great time teaching in Aberdeenshire last weekend and well done to all the students who came to workshops, I was very happy with everyone's progress. Mark and I are looking forward to next week's week-long workshop in the peace of Fetternear Hall. 4 or possibly 5 London students are coming up, thanks to all those who'll be putting them up. For regular students, come along to as many classes as you can, even if work means you'll miss some of the day time sessions, it shouldn't be a problem for the 'old hands'! If you know that any of the less experienced students are interested, remind them that it's fine to come just for the weekend, or even the Saturday, if they can't bunk off work for a whole week... Friday evening will also be the usual mix of Ta Lu, Wabu and knocking, etc. We will also revise 'Ta Lu 1B' that you learned last visit. Bring all your good energy and sense of adventure with you to share, as well as food.
We had a beautiful morning picking fungi in the Braemar area just before going home. I'll post some pics when I get back from classes later today.
We had a beautiful morning picking fungi in the Braemar area just before going home. I'll post some pics when I get back from classes later today.
Aberdeenshire Long Form class 9th October
The Thursday class next week - 9th October - is in the Friendship Room, Kemnay Hall from 7:30pm. There is no class on the 16th and we're back in the Masonic Hall from the 23rd.
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