San Shou

New Yang Style T'ai Chi San Shou class (The Dance)

This is a new San Shou course. It is sometimes also known as the Yang Style 88 Partner Form, The Dance of Vitality or simply The Dance. It is the pinnacle of Yang Style T'ai Chi and is a superb arena for exploring all the T'ai Chi principles, engage in real partner work, learn countless applications and deepen our understanding of the art. A minimum of 2 years' previous study is needed, please apply for suitability. Each week we will progress with the solo A and B interlocking forms, as well as putting them together, working on the applications, variations and qualities of each movement. This will be a long-term course. The Long Form is used as our 'warm up' each week, and after the session there is the option of staying on for 1/2 hour weapons training at no extra cost. It is also possible to arrive early to take part in the intermediate class any time during 6-8pm, where we cover Long Form, Short Form, warm ups, Chi Gung, push hands, and so on. Traditional Jasmine Tea is served at 8pm when we move from the more junior sessions to advance study.

Please feel free to get in touch with any queries. New students may join any week during October, and by arrangement in November.

 

 

Aberdeenshire workshops 22-24 February

The next Aberdeenshire workshops with Caroline are next weekend. All sessions are at Balvack, except for Weapons which is at Fetternear Hall as usual. Great River students of any level are welcome to the Saturday sessions.

Friday 7-10pm: Weapons
Saturday 2-5pm: Short Form, and related study.
Saturday 6.30-9.30pm: Partnerwork.
Sunday 2-5pm: Long Form, Heartwork, One Posture.
Sunday 6.30-9.30pm: Dance, etc.

 The price is £15 (concs available) per 3 hr session. Please bring food to share on Saturday and Sunday. Get in touch with your instructor if you need travel directions or feel free to contact me with any other questions.

The Dance / San Shou / Yang Style 88

The Dance / San Shou / Yang Style 88 Move Partner Form

This is (very) advance notice of my plans for the Autumn at Hackney. The Senior group are currently studying their 2nd time round the Long Form with in-depth applications, silk-reeling, open-close, etc. after tea-break each session. When we return after the Summer break in September I intend to start teaching the Dance forms, leading to studying Dance both solo and as the interlocking partnerwork. We will still do a Long Form every week to begin the session, and I will answer any Long Form questions, should they arise. Sword and Sabre will continue at 9.30-10pm as before. This Form was taught at the behest of Yang Shou Chung (Yeung Sau Chung) by Chu Gin Soon (Gin Soon Chu) to John Kells in the United States, who taught it to Mark Raudva in London, who taught it to me.

Any students of Yang Style T'ai Chi from other schools who wish to come and learn the Dance from September, are invited to get in touch with me regarding suitability and experience. Sessions will begin at 8pm with tea and last until 9.30pm, costing £13 per week, or less if paid termly.
The evening of study may be lengthened by arriving earlier for push hands and other partnerwork at 7.30pm at no extra cost. You will need to have studied the Long Form, push hands and talu (or other stepping partnerwork) for at least 3 years. Some 121 lessons with me may be advisable in the mean time. Our emphasis is on complete non-resistance and the absence of blocking, as explained clearly in the T'ai Chi Classics. Applications to every posture will be taught and practised as this is a complete and effective fighting Form. We will also use the solo forms to further our study of peng, song, internal softening and moving meditation. The study of the Dance Forms A and B sides, plus learning how to put them together with a partner takes a long time, between 2-3 years of weekly study. The rewards and benefits to our T'ai Chi and life are numerous and the delight of working on these forms solo or with a partner cannot be over-stated. Lively stepping (wabu) and appropriate response are two of the many desirable side effects of this excellent study. I can be reached at caroline at greatrivertaichi dot co dot uk.

Thanks to all the Scottish students newish and regular who made this weekend such a great mixture of laughter, sincere work, good study and information download (hopefully not overload...) Thanks too to Dave for his address to the haggis. Next year, let's do a proper Burns supper with neeps and tatties too, maybe minus the whisky until at least after the San Shou.

Back in London I have had PC hassles as well as HMRC deadlines today, but though somewhat depleted on the pecuniary front, I am otherwise recharged after spending 3 hours crocheting with my sister in law, while she's in hospital with a bun in the oven...

Sweden is all set too. Details to follow.