TAI CHI YANG AS TAUGHT BY DA LIU

UPCOMING EVENT

Sifu William C. Phillips of Patience Tai Chi presents
Push hands, learning to understand and play
May 16 & 17
Historic Fredericksburg, VA 

Sifu William C. Phillips of Patience Tai Chi (Patiencetaichi.com), one of Professor Cheng's students in NYC and the most junior student to be given teaching duties at the NY Shr Jung in Professor Cheng's lifetime, is offering a seminar in push hands in Fredericksburg, VA, Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17 from 10 AM to 2 PM, both days.  Sifu Charles R. Riley will be hosting the event at the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation facility.

Saturday's instruction focuses on Push Hands neutralizations. It will include:

• Neutralization exercises necessary to develop softness, flexibility, leg strength and listening skills
• Common neutralizations to certain types of pushes
• Neutralizations hidden in the Cheng Man Ching form

Sunday's schedule focuses on pushing and more advanced techniques. It builds on what was learned on Saturday, and will include:

• The three basic pushes
• Counter-pushes which arise out of the neutralizations
• The structure and relaxation required for pushing and foothold
• The geometry of a successful push

Also, if you have ever attended one of Sifu Phillips' seminars, you know that a lot of individualized attention will be given, and questions are very much encouraged.

n addition to the push hands seminar, all are invited to practice the Tai Chi and meditation of Master Da Liu at the same location from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th with Sifu Riley.   Sifu Riley began his study of Tai Chi with Master Da Liu in 1980 and has practiced and taught since that time.  Although time will not allow for an exhaustive study of the psychic channels and centers in meditation the session will include a basic understanding of the following:

• navel and tan-t'ien breathing/meditation;
• breathing from the brain to the kidneys meditation;
• standing meditation with the eight psychic channels and  twelve psychic centers;
• explanation of slight variation from Professor Cheng Man Ch'ing's short form;
• explanation of system of meditation in Tai Chi and how to incorporate it in any style;
• instruction in Master Liu's form.

List Price: $200.00
Early bird price: $150
You Save $50.00 25%

For information on things to do and places to stay in Historic Fredericksburg, click here.

What Is T'ai Chi Ch'uan?

Tai Chi is a meditation or prayer that uses an appreciation of breathing, movement, and balance instead of words.  St. Patrick's prayer says, "May the Way of God guide you."  In the slow, gentle, meditative movements, we discover the Way that flows throughout creation.  Creation is total giving without regard to return on investment.  St. Patrick prayed in cold streams to find union with God.  The long flowing movement of Tai Chi is entering a stream of prayer.

Tai Chi is an exercise to develop the whole person in mind, body, and spirit. The movements are done slowly and smoothly. First developed in ancient China to enhance meditation, it was carried to this country and popularized by Master Da Liu. The instructor, Charles Riley, studied directly with Da Liu for five years and has been practicing since 1980.

My Instructor, Da Liu

Master Da Liu was a noted author and a pioneer of Tai Chi Chuan in the USA. He authored 7 books on Taoism, Chinese Culture, Tai Chi Chuan, Meditation, and the I Ching. As a long time student, I was fortunate to be allowed to tape his form and self-defense techniques in 1985 at Columbia University. Da Liu demonstrates and explains the form. There is also a section without sound in which he demonstrates the effectiveness of self-defense techniques. He was about 80 at the time, but he could easily handle young men much larger and younger than he was. He was the perfect example of how Tai Chi maintained a peaceful mind, healthy body, and enlightened spirit. More on Master Liu's life can be found on the Tai Chi History page.

To request a video in DVD format of Da Liu Teaching the T'ai Chi Ch'uan Form, Push Hands, and Self-Defense Applications, please use the link below to link to the Amazon.com reseller store at CreateSpace.  Da Liu demonstrates and explains in detail the 50 movement form he developed.  It is a Yang Form, the most popular form practiced, and it contains all of the Yang movements in a compact form.  It is split into two sections.  The first section is easier for the beginners and less physically fit.  Da Liu also demonstrates the sport of Push Hands and Self-Defense Applications.  He taught them for a better understanding of the form. 

Group Class Information in Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Virginia

For group classes at the Fredericksburg, Virginia Parks and Recreation Facility, please call (540) 372-1086 ext. 204 or go to  http://www.fredericksburgva.gov/uploadedFiles/Parks_Recreation_and_Public_Facilities/GeneralContent/2009%20vol%201%20fitness%20dance.pdf?n=8233.  Classes for all levels are Mondays from 6:30 pm to 7:30.  Sessions are quarterly.

Private Instruction

For private instruction at $40/hr, please call the instructor, Charles Riley at Criley1038@msn.com. The classes are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Click image above to order prints or clothing with prints.