Chinese Healing & Movement Arts

The 4th World Taijiquan Championships are happening now in Singapore. Grandmaster Su Zifang (here in Olympia in June to teach a weekend seminar) is busy there as Vice Chair of the LOC (Local Organizing Committee). Check out the activities and participants on Instagram at

我国三名女运动员在世界太极拳锦标赛荣获一金两铜 我国派出13名运动员参加第四届世界太极拳锦标赛，三名女运动员荣获一金两铜。由新加坡武术龙狮总会主办的2024年第四届世界太极拳锦标赛今天（24日）在华侨银行体育馆举行。我国的13名运动员一共参加了26个项目，其中八名...

It has been an honor, privilege, and pleasure to host Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Zhao Yun in seminars in Olympia. We so appreciated their emphasis on basic principles and structure for health and martial arts practice, then how they are necessary for more advanced practice. Thank You to everyone who came and participated in the seminar. And a big Thank You to all who volunteered to help make it a success - it truly took a village.

Seminars with Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Zhao Yun, June 21-23 In Olympia, is almost full! The enthusiasm for the seminar is amazing. It was a hard decision to limit the Ba Duan Jin (8 Brocades) qigong (registration is now closed for this class) and Taiji Power Generation classes to 50 people, but I felt it necessary to give everyone the best experience. Master Zhao’s Friday night lecture is still open and people unable to attend in person can livestream the lecture he will give in North Carolina the following week (https://jungtao.edu/event/25th-anniversary-homecoming-weekend/). Registration for the Olympia lecture is at https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

Check out this video of Grandmaster Su and Master Zhao challenging the host of the tv show, Super Seniors.

https://youtu.be/SqDIUVJ5U94?feature=shared

苏自芳老师专访视频第3段。Su Zifang video P3 太极女皇苏自芳老师于2016年接受“超级长者”节目专访的视频第3段。

Grandmaster Su Zifang and her successor and son Master Zhao Yun will be in Olympia for their seminar in just a few short weeks! Registration fees increase after June 7. Registration info is at https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

Just a year ago, she told my small cohort of weekly Zoom class students about this performance she did with an orchestra. She performs Yang and Sun style Taijiquan and Baguazhang.
https://youtu.be/SVQBZ7XC7VE?si=QIfpF0qGbQEfu5i8

Taijiquan with Chinese Orchestra - Master Su Zi Fang 蘇自芳老师 Taijiquan with Chinese Orchestra - Master Su Zi Fang 蘇自芳老师28 April 2023 Please SUBSCRIBE to my Channels. I'll Subscribe back to all :TAIJI & WU...

Learn from the best - lifelong, full time practitioners of Chinese martial arts who learned from masters in China in Taiji, Bagua, and XIngyi. Join us! Seminars with Grandmaster Su Zifang & Master Zhao Yun, June 21-23 in Olympia, WA.
For more info and to register: https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

Registration is now open! Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Zhao Yun, her successor and son, will be teaching in Olympia, WA, June 21-23. For bios, workshop descriptions, schedule, registration information, and comments from participants of past seminars, visit https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Yun will be teaching in Boone, North Carolina after they teach here in Olympia.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=930488802416802&id=100063670715191

Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Zhao Yun will be teaching in Olympia June 21-23. The Friday night lecture is not to be missed. Master Yun will tie together the principles of qigong in Ba Duan Jin (8 Brocades/Treasures) to be taught with Grandmaster Su on Saturday and power generation in Yang Taiji on Sunday with Chinese medicine, health, and longevity via martial arts. For more information, visit https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

Grandmaster Su Zifang and Master Yun, her successor and son, will be in Olympia, WA on June 21-23, and Jung Tao School in Boone, NC on June 27-30! We’re excited about the possibility of Master Yun offering a lecture on Chinese culture and philosophy as they relate to Chinese medicine, maintaining health, and longevity. It’s likely they will teach Ba Duan Jing (8 Brocades/Treasures) and cultivating power and control for Yang style Taijiquan applications. Everyone is welcome! Save the date! More details to come.

Master Su Zifang is coming back to Olympia, WA! She will be teaching with Master Yun, her successor and son. The weekend seminar will be the later half of June. Watch for details!

For more information on her and past seminars, visit https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/seminars-with-master-su-zifang.html

“We are still learning about starting a late-life exercise program,” he added, “but the evidence is pretty clear that the human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age.” He started exercising in his 70’s!

At 93, he’s as fit as a 40-year-old. His body offers lessons on aging. The human body maintains the ability to adapt to exercise at any age, showing that it’s never too late to start a fitness program.

Friday the 22nd is the last day to order Year of the Dragon shirts! Contact me if you want one.

2024 will be the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. T-shirt orders are being taken now until the end of next week. They will only be available through pre-order. Details are in one photo. The other photo shows the dragon graphic that will be on the shirt and the background color is an approximation of the Irish Green color. Let me know if you’d like one (or more!).

Grandmaster Wen Mei Yu (June 29, 1936 - October 31, 2023) passed into the next realm near Los Angeles, CA where she lived for over 30 years. She is originally from Shanghai where she learned Wu style Taijiquan from Wu Ying Hua, the creator's daughter, and Liangong from the creator, Dr. Zhuang Yuan Ming, among other forms.

I met Grandmaster Yu in 1992 when, as co-coordinator of PAWMA (Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists) Camp that year in Olympia, WA, it was recommended that we invite her to teach. Upon participating in her classes, I knew I wanted her to teach me the internal arts. It was an honor for her to agree to lead me down the path of internal arts practice (after an established practice of Shaolin kungfu). Liangong and Wu style Taijiquan are the foundation of Chinese Healing & Movement Arts, an official branch of her school, Jian Mei Internal Martial Arts. I will be forever grateful for her teachings, support, and leadership.

All classes this week are honoring Grandmaster Yu by focusing our practice on gratitude and appreciation. If you were unable to attend, I encourage you to dedicate a practice to these and see what you notice. Many have found it surprisingly insightful.

Studies show that Taiji is good for us in many ways. But one class once a week will not give us those benefits! “Studies also suggest two to three sessions per week may lead to improvements in depression, anxiety, psychological well-being and cognitive flexibility” says a New York Times article, “Tai Chi is a Workout for the Brain and Body.” This means that those who attend a class once a week will need to practice the equivalent of one or two more classes each week. 

It was another fabulous World Taiji Qigong Day on Saturday! We had the best weather ever. Thank you to all who helped and everyone who came. We’ll do it again next year, the last Saturday in April.

This may not seem like it relates to our training, but it does.

There is something freeing about the persistence of our bodies. No matter how much I try to tame or oppress my physical reality and its cultural giveaways, it will continue to follow the blueprint it inherited — the one written by my predecessors. When I miss my great-uncle now, I look in the mirror. There, I can see his smile. When I laugh, I can hear his laughter. It starts deep in my body and erupts from my throat — a living, breathing heirloom. (From WA Post Opinion by Ling Ling Huang)

Observing the enthusiasm people have for the many activities there, the self-described perfectionist says she learned something about herself: “I realized that I don’t have to be great, or even good, at something. I can just like the way it feels.”

Meet the residents of Sun City—where aging is actually fun In this Arizona community, retirees attend prom, join cheer squads, and shoot pool. In short, as one resident says, ‘This is not God’s waiting room.’

“… exercise by the elderly has been shown to diminish the risk of falls, increase mobility, and possibly fight dementia.”

How to take better care of your ageing brain It's never too late to change your habits and improve your brain function, researchers say—and it could be the key to a longer life.

Just a few more days to the order deadline - Dec. 16!

Year of the Rabbit Tshirts - order now! Available by pre-order only; ordering only available until Dec. 16. Order by sending a message or email, or commenting below.

The first day of the Year of the Rabbit is January 22, 2023. This design was created by our own Penny Martindale and printed locally.

Shirts:
Gildan - 6 oz. 100% US cotton
Allmade- 4.5 oz. 100% certified organic cotton
Shirt Color - Royal (dark blue, may be slightly different than shown)

Short Sleeves (Gildan) - $25 (all prices include tax)
Long Sleeves (Gildan) - $30
Organic Short Sleeves (Allmade) - $30
Unisex sizes - S, M, L, XL, add $3 for XXL

To order, include your size, short or long sleeves, and if short sleeves, organic or not. Shipping cost will be added for those not in Olympia, please include your address. DO NOT PAY now. Payment will be taken when you receive your shirt (about mid-January).

For more information, visit https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/special-events.html

Year of the Rabbit Tshirts - order now! Available by pre-order only; ordering only available until Dec. 16. Order by commenting below or sending an email.

The first day of the Year of the Rabbit is January 22, 2023. This design was created by our own Penny Martindale and printed locally.

Shirts:
Gildan - 6 oz. 100% US cotton
Allmade- 4.5 oz. 100% certified organic cotton
Shirt Color - Royal (dark blue, may be slightly different than shown)

Short Sleeves (Gildan) - $25 (all prices include tax)
Long Sleeves (Gildan) - $30
Organic Short Sleeves (Allmade) - $30
Unisex sizes - S, M, L, XL, add $3 for XXL

To order, include your size, short or long sleeves, and if short sleeves, organic or not. Shipping cost will be added for those not in Olympia, please include your address. DO NOT PAY now. Payment will be taken when you receive your shirt (about mid-January).

For more information, visit https://www.chinesearts-oly.com/special-events.html

Είναι σημαντικό να γνωρίζεις τις δυνατότητες σου, αλλά είναι σημαντικότερο να γνωρίζεις τις αδυναμίες σου.
Είναι σημαντικό να γνωρίζεις τον αντίπαλο σου, αλλά σημαντικότερο να γνωρίζεις τον εαυτό σου.
Είναι σημαντικό να γνωρίζεις τις κινήσεις του αντιπάλου σου, αλλά είναι σημαντικότερο να γνωρίζεις το πως σκέφτεται.
Είναι σημαντικό να δρας, αλλά είναι σημαντικότερη η ικανότητα να αντιδράς ακολουθώντας.

Απο το βιβλίο “Taijiquan Explained, workshop notes” του Master Alex Da De D**g.

Yes, read this! We start when we start and its the starting that is good, but starting before we are “old” can really improve our senior lives. This is a photo of Lydia in 1992. She is one of my qigong sisters. She lives in Greece and learned qigong with Master Wen Mei Yu, my qigong and Wu style Taiji teacher. Her Taiji is D**g style Yang which many people in Olympia practice.

Νέοι διαβάστε το.. Πολλοί νομίζουν οτι το ται τσι είναι για μεγάλες ηλικίες για να διορθώσουν τα αυχενικά και μέσες και γόνατα που πονούν. Ναι είναι και γι αυτό αλλά όμως καλό είναι να μην περιμένεις να φτάσεις σε μεγάλη ηλικία και να αποκτήσεις αυτά τα προβλήματα. Απευθύνουμε αυτό το μήνυμα σε όλους τους νέους που τους ενδιαφέρει μια εσωτερική πολεμική τέχνη. Αυτή η τέχνη θα τους δώσει την δυνατότητα να αναπτύξουν την φυσική τους δύναμη να διορθώσουν τυχόν σωματικά θέματα που θα εξελιχθούν σε πιο δύσκολα με τον καιρό και να μάθουν να συγκεντρώνονται και να ηρεμούν. Γιατί να περιμένετε μέχρι να γίνετε 50, 60 , 70 χρονών για να κάνετε ται τσι; Γιατί τότε ίσως έχετε ωριμάσει κάπως στον νου και ξέρετε οτι το σώμα σας δεν αντέχει πιά. Και καλά κάνετε γιατί είναι κάτι που θα σας βοηθήσει. Αν όμως οι νέοι μας το ξεκινούσαν ακόμα και απο παιδιά θα μπορούσαν αργότερα να έχουν μια καλύτερη ποιότητα ζωής γιατί θα μάθαιναν τις αρχές του ται τσι που είναι η τέχνη της ισορροπίας σε όλους τους τομείς. Δεν λέω περισσότερα, το ξεκίνησα στα 19 μου και ξέρω οτι μου άλλαξε την ζωή... Η φωτό απο το 1994 στην Αθήνα - ήδη είχα κάνει αρκετά χρόνια και ξεκίνησα να διδάσκω και στην Ελλάδα τότε.

Breathing exercises, whether with a breath training device as used in this study, or by practicing qigong, meditation, or even using a simulated device like a mask, is good for health in many ways!

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/09/20/1123500781/daily-breath-training-can-work-as-well-as-medicine-to-reduce-high-blood-pressure

Daily 'breath training' can work as well as medicine to reduce high blood pressure Research finds five to 10 minutes daily of a type of strength training for muscles used in breathing can help anyone reduce or prevent high blood pressure. The training can also help elite athletes.

Balance, as well as leg, hip, glute, and core strength (as the article says) are important for aging well. The qigong form I teach, Liangong, works on all that so that my Taiji classes can focus on traditional Taiji foundation and principles which are more advanced. This article talks about learning Taiji to develop balance and strength, and many people can get these benefits in many Taiji classes because they often include qigong exercises. Since I teach these skills in the Liangong classes, I suggest that people who want to learn from me for these skills start with Liangong.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/well/move/balance-exercises.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/well/move/balance-exercises.html?referringSource=highlightShare

Can You Pass the 10-Second Balance Test? This simple, often neglected skill can pay huge dividends later in life.

Interesting read. It’s all about exercise, building muscle. Practice qigong and taiji, standing meditation and horse stance!

World Taiji-Qigong Day on Saturday! It was a great time as we projected healing, health and peace for ourselves, our community, and to the world. Thank you to all who showed up and helped out in all the ways needed for the event to go off smoothly. The rain waited until we were done, packed up, and off to our next thing for the day (as it has in the past!). Plan to come next year - the last Saturday morning in April.

Tomorrow - Saturday!
World Taiji-Qigong Day is Saturday, April 30. This year it will be at MARATHON PARK by Capitol Lake, not its location in the past.

Meet at 9:30 am to practice our forms with other Taiji and Qigong practitioners in the area from 10-11 am. As practitioners all over the world practice at 10 am local time while sending healing, healthy and peaceful energy into the universe, the earth will become enveloped with health and peace.

All like-minded folks are welcome to attend and participate.

For more information and to find an event near you if you’re not in the south Puget Sound area, visit https://www.worldtaichiday.org