Class of 2018
Front : Mrs. Zhang (Simu) and Master Zhang (Sifu)
Back standing from left to right : Godwin, Phillip, Michael, Tommy, Donny
Front : Mrs. Zhang (Simu) and Master Zhang (Sifu)
Back standing from left to right : Godwin, Phillip, Michael, Tommy, Donny
Donny Wibowo
Student since 2016, Previously study Northern/Southern Shaolin. Completed first routine 83 and second routine 71.
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Before I took this class, I only had a very basic idea on Tai chi having learned contemporary Tai Chi forms for few months.
Unlike other Tai chi classes that only teaches forms, in this class, form is only one third of the curriculum. We also practicing Hunyuan Qi gong as well as Silk Reeling practice which is equally (or more) important. The focus of the class is not to learn many forms, but to be able to master the form with the principle as well as the methods and applying the correct energy. Learning Tai chi is a lifelong journey, even though laoshi teaches qigong and taichi, it’s still up to us to practice daily to be able to apply the principle into the form. Everybody has their own challenges depends on the individual. For me especially, coming from external martial arts, it is hard to let go the Kongfu gained from previous practice, and adapt to the new method. However with the guidance from laoshi, I’m practicing to let go to gain more. |
Michael Pyo
Student since 2018. Previously study Wing Chun. Completed Chen Tai Chi first routine 83 form in this class.
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Since I was young, I've had a strong interest in martial arts. After leaving the Navy and moving to the bay Area, in 2015, I took up Wing Chun. It was a great introduction to Kung Fu and internal martial arts.
Wanting to learn more about internal martial arts, I started learning Chen Tai Chi from Michael Laoshi in 2018. The similarities and differences became clear between the two. After practicing for a little while, I realized old injuries would start to heal and aches were no longer present. I had more energy throughout my day and started to feel less burnt out by the bay area work/life "balance". I began to realize how powerful Tai chi is. Since then, I realized the more I practiced Tai chi, under the guidance of Laoshi, my Wing Chun would improve in almost every aspect. Overtime my practice shifted more and more to focus exclusively on Tai Chi. Michael Laoshi, curriculum is excellent to work through. He teaches us chi-gong, chansigong (silkreeling), and forms - paying careful attention to detail helping us work towards mastery and quality instead of quantity. Mixed in with lectures on theory and philosophy. His teachings are very holistic, comprehensive, and effective. I've learned so much from Laoshi and I feel fortunate to find a teacher of such high skill and knowledge, let alone in the east bay. This practice seriously has the potential to change anyone's life for the better. |
Ken Tobin
Student since 2018. Previously study Yang Style Tai Chi and Tai Chi competition form, Completed first routine 83 form in this class
Student since 2018. Previously study Yang Style Tai Chi and Tai Chi competition form, Completed first routine 83 form in this class
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The process of Tai Chi development is determined by the system you are trained with. So what should a training system do? It should explain to the student basic theory, show them training routines that will develop fundamental skills, teach them the Tai Chi forms, and then combine everything together. This must be accomplished before you can even learn to fight.
Many instructors only teach the Tai Chi forms without the theory, the fundamental skills training or any application. This is healthy exercise but it does not help you develop your chi and it is not really Tai Chi. Before coming to train with Laoshi Michael I had 1-1/2 years of Yang Style Tai Chi training and 9 years of Competition Tai Chi training with three different instructors. Only forms were taught with no theory, fundamentals, or application. Laoshi Michael is a Chen Style Tai Chi 20th Generation Disciple with over 20 years of training. He teaches a complete system of theory, fundamentals, Tai Chi forms, and application that was handed down to him by his teacher, 19th generation Chen Tai Chi Master Zhang XueXin. Under Laoshi Michael’s tutelage I feel I’ve learned more about Tai Chi in one year than in all my 10-1/2 years of previous training. |
