This is how we
comprehend the abstract.
Without knots or barriers in mind we see and tao easily,
reaping good harvest from our practice.
(Loy Ching-Yuen)
Teachers
There
are a number of innovative teachers out there offering thought-provoking
material:
Tony Buzan
Encouraging a more
extensive use of the human brain.
http://www.buzanworld.com
Chu King-hung
He was famous for his ability to project energy and was
considered to be the top Yang style instructor in the UK during the 1970's
and 1980's.
Nowadays, he mainly teaches in Europe.
http://itcca.org/English.htm
Chungliang Al Huang
Chungliang Al Huang encourages the tai
chi
student to feel rather than follow.
Bodily awareness and freedom of movement are his main concerns.
He believes that everyone's form should be slightly different because everyone
has their own natural rhythm.
Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain is an essential read; it views tai
chi as a journey of discovery and awareness.
http://www.livingtao.org
Edward
De Bono
Creative thinking is
his primary concern.
http://www.edwdebono.com
http://www.edwarddebono.com
Bruce Kumar Frantzis
Bruce
Frantzis uses the shape (frame)
of his posture and his relative positioning to the opponent to express
groundpath in the most effective manner possible.
He is very keen on safety and body awareness during form practice.
His tai chi uses large frame, but
small circle.
The video
Yang Style Applications is curious... Frantzis demonstrates
'large frame with small circle' tai chi against two tae kwon do
instructors.
The Power of Internal Martial Arts is worth reading.
http://www.energyarts.com
Michael
Gilman
A modest teacher who hosts an
informative website and a selection of tai chi videos.
Michael Gilman is a very relaxing influence - entirely comfortable with
himself - humorous and peaceful.
He offers a non-aggressive approach to
the practice and application of tai chi.
http://www.gilmanstudio.com
Liz Koch
Liz Koch's educational and informational resource
focused on the psoas muscle.
You will find articles, a workshop schedule and books regarding the psoas
muscle and related subjects.
http://www.coreawareness.com
Krishnamurti
Krishnamurti refused to be a
messiah and encouraged all people to find things out for themselves.
His books represent a formidable challenge to how we have been taught to
think; he was interested in facts rather than ideas, received knowledge or opinions.
Krishnamurti was a man of great dignity, peace and sincerity.
His books reflect a deep compassion for the world and a desire to free
people from the bondage of their own conditioning.
The Commentaries on Living series is particularly accessible.
http://www.kinfonet.org
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org
http://www.kfionline.org
http://www.kfa.org
http://www.kfoundation.org
Lam Kam Chuen
Standing and moving
qigong are Lam Kam Chuen's main concerns.
His book The Way of Energy is a modern tai chi classic,
covering in detail a variety of qigong exercises in addition to background
material.
He also trains tai chi and da cheng chuan.
http://www.lamassociation.org
Dr Paul Lam
Dr Paul
Lam is an expert in using tai chi
for
arthritis - he advocates a soft approach rather than 'no
pain, no gain'.
He emphasises the importance of:
A lot of qigong to improve breathing, relaxation and healing
Looking deeper into the art of tai chi in order to improve students awareness and understanding
Modifying uncomfortable tai chi postures rather than force your body where it does not want to go
Not treating tradition as being 'perfect'
Dr Paul
Lam has written an informative
book Overcoming Arthritis and has
also released a number of videos.
He has the support of arthritis foundations worldwide.
http://www.taichiproductions.com
http://www.taichiforarthritis.com
Mike Sigman
Mike Sigman offers excellent insights and tips regarding how to practice form using
internal strength/neigong.
Groundpath development and manipulation are his main concerns.
Sigman believes in adjusting form postures to improve peng - making
everyone's form slightly different.
He is very well-organised and presents his material in an incremental
fashion that makes it very accessible.
Mike Sigman offers
workshops periodically.
mikesigman@bresnan.net
Yang Jwing-Ming
Yang Jwing-Ming specialises in
chin na - the tai chi method of seizing the opponent in very damaging ways.
Amazingly loose and free in the joints, Dr Yang is supple.
He trains both internal and external kung fu.
He wrote some excellent books including Tai chi Theory and Martial Practice and
Tai Chi Secrets of the Ancient Masters.
His Taiji Chin Na video was an excellent supplement to his workshops.
Dr
Yang offers workshops throughout the world.
http://www.ymaa.com
Page created 1 June 2000