2014 Int'l Tai Chi Chuan Symposium

Blog

  • Directions from the Airport

    Travelling from Louisville International Airport to the Symposium
    The Louisville International Airport is located less than 10 miles south of Spalding University and the Seelbach Hilton Hotel. Some travel options include taxi, hotel shuttle, or car rental. When you pick up your baggage in the baggage area of the airport, you will see signs for these services.

    Shuttle: The Seelbach Hilton Hotel has a free shuttle to and from the airport to the hotel up to twice per hour. However, you must call the hotel to pre-book a ride. Do not wait in the airport’s shuttle area without calling the hotel to arrange a ride. Seelbach Hotel phone #: 502-585-3200.

    Taxi: Taxis are available and cost approximately $20-$25 one-way.

    Car: There is only one road out of the airport, making it fairly easy to find one’s way onto major freeways. Here are your driving directions:

    To Spalding University: Start out going east on Terminal Dr. toward Administration Dr. Turn slightly left to stay on Terminal Dr. (0.5 mi). Take the I-65/I-264 E/US-60 Byp E ramp toward Downtown (0.6 mi). Merge onto I-65 N/ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Expy N via the ramp on the left toward Louisville/Indianapolis. Drive about 5 miles on I-65. Take Exit 136A toward Broadway/Chestnut St. (0.2 mi). Merge onto S Brook St. (0.04 mi). Take the first left onto E Broadway/US-150 W/ US-60. Turn left onto S 3rd St (0.2 mi). Both 3 rd St. and 4 Street go through the Spalding University campus (see campus map).

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    (Note: If you miss freeway Exit 136A, follow the directions to the Seelbach Hotel. When you get to the hotel, continue to drive south down Fourth St. In about 1 block turn left on W Chestnut St. After 1 block, turn right on 3rd St.)

    To the Seelbach Hilton Hotel: Start out going east on Terminal Dr. toward Administration Dr. Turn slightly left to stay on Terminal Dr. (0.5 mi). Take the I-65/I-264 E/US-60 Byp E ramp toward Downtown (0.6 mi). Merge onto I-65 N/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Expy N via the ramp on the left toward Louisville/ Indianapolis. Drive about 5.4 miles on I-65. Take the Brook St. Exit, Exit 136B (0.2 mi). Merge onto S Brook St. (0.10 mi). Take the first left onto E Muhammad Ali Blvd. (0.3 mi). Turn left onto Fourth St. The hotel is on your right.

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    (Note: If you miss freeway Exit 136B, take the next exit 136C (Muhammad Ali Blvd exit). Drive about 5 blocks west on Muhammad Ali Blvd. turn left on Fourth St. The hotel is on your right.)

  • Fundraising Events

    Symposium_journal_page18_image2wA number of Yang Chengfu Centers and affiliated schools have had or are planning fundraising events to help support the 2014 Symposium. Thank you to those who give their time and costs freely to fundraise to help our Grandmasters continue to spread the art of Tai Chi Chuan throughout the world. Know that you are contributing to a large, special vision of building a world where all people can experience health, longevity and vibrant lives. We are so fortunate and grateful to generations of Masters who have shared their art. We recognize the incredible value we have gained from their teachings and in return, not only pass their teachings on to our students, but also give back support to our teachers in their efforts to further spread their art in a world that needs the benefits that Tai Chi Chuan can provide.

    We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following schools and people for their support. We are very grateful for all efforts and contributions of all sizes. It is inspiring to see the results of working together.

    • The Milano-Italy Yang Cheng Fu Center raised $500.

    • The East Brunswick Yang Cheng Fu Center raised $2500.

    • The Seattle Yang Cheng Fu Center raised $3000.

    • The Louisville Yang Cheng Fu Center raised $200.

    • Cambridge Yang Cheng Fu Center ($450 from seminars taught earlier during the year).

    • The Ottawa-Canada School ($540 from a t-shirt fundraiser.)

    • The Mendoza-Argentina Yang Cheng Fu Center ($7500 from a push hands seminar to be taught in May 2014.)

    • PAU Affiliated School, Toulouse Affiliated School, Jean Claude Beaudufe, Claudette Jarnolle ($2500 from a seminar taught in the Toulouse Affiliated School in France.)

    • The Yang Cheng Fu Centers in Berlin and Cologne, Germany opened a fundraising account exclusively for the deposit of donations to help with the Symposium. Contact johannes@yangfamilytaichi.com for more information if you would like to donate.

    • The Cologne, Germany Yang Cheng Fu Center is planning a 2 day Push Hands seminar in June. All fees collected are being donated to the Symposium. Contact Frank Grothstuck at : frank@yangfamilytaichi.com, www.taichi-chuan.de.

    • The Detroit Yang Cheng Fu Center is doing a t-shirt sale to raise funds.

    • The New York City Yang Cheng Fu Center has 3 events planned. They are making tai chi shoe bags to sell. They are doing a raffle at their May 18 Tai Chi Potluck event in which the director will share his recent experience in China as well as showcase objects from China. In early June they will run a Tai Chi –Thon at Sherwood Island State Park with a potluck picnic. Contact Mari Lewis at: mari@yangfamilytaichi.comfor more information.

    • The Montreal Yang Cheng Fu Center ($7000 from upcoming seminars).

    • Grandmaster Yang Jun will donate 20% of funds raised from his Push Hands seminars to the funding of the Symposium.

    • We have received individual donations from Marco Gagnon from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Iraima Rincones from Venezuela, Carolyn Fung from Seattle, Nicole Long and Sue Singleton from Montreal.

    • The Yang Family Association has also greatly contributed to fundraising.

    • We have also received donations from various donors who wish to remain anonymous.

     

    Sergio Arione of Tai Chi Montreal and many of his students are donating their time and travel expenses for the events listed below. All funds collected will be donated to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation which is hosting the 2014 Symposium. We hope you are able to come out and support these events:

    Montreal, Canada
    April 26 & 27, 2014:
    Sword seminar
    May 31, 2014:
    Friendly tai chi competition
    June 14, 2014:
    Push Hands seminar

    Mendoza, Argentina
    May 2-4, 2014:
    Push Hands seminar

    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    October, 2014
    Push Hands seminar

    If you would like any information about the above seminars, please contact Sergio Arione at sergio@yangfamilytaichi.com.

  • Evening Events

    Symposium_journal_page16_image3Symposium_journal_page16_image2There are many entertaining evening events planned for the 2014 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium.

    Here’s an overview:

    Grand Opening Ceremonies

    Sunday July 6, Spalding University Center Building Ballroom. Join us for an evening of introductions and Dr. Daniel Shulz’s opening keynote: “The Learning Brain”. Dr. Shulz is the Director of Research at the National Center for Scientific Research, France. The Grandmasters will introduce the traditional styles of Tai Chi Chuan. The Symposium program and schedule, including the Certification program will be introduced. Meet Symposium staff and volunteers.

    Welcome Banquet

    Monday July 7, Seelbach Hilton Hotel. This banquet is a nice opportunity to take the time to be together with fellow Symposium attendees and Grandmasters and enjoy a fine-dining experience, toasts, and presentations. We hope you will join us!

    Academic Keynote/Panel Discussion

    Tuesday July 8, Spalding University Center Building Auditorium. This evening event features well-known speaker Arthur Rosenfeld and his keynote: “Tai Chi Brain, Tai Chi Mind”. There will also be a panel discussion with the Grandmasters and researchers engaged in fascinating questions and answers examining the traditional Chinese and modern scientific points of view regarding tai chi chuan and its effects. Time will be made for an open forum with questions from Symposium participants.

    eventsGrand Showcase

    Thursday July 10, Spalding University Center Building Auditorium. This is an evening of not only great performances, but also cultural exchange among nations. Join us for a rare and extraordinary exhibition of inspiring performances from the Grandmasters, individuals and groups and more! An entertaining evening of tai chi chuan, music, and fun.

    Friendship Party & Farewell

    Friday July 11, Muhammad Ali Center. After the Closing Ceremonies in the late afternoon and closing keynote by Arthur Rosenfeld, join us for one last evening of celebration. Your Symposium registration includes a tour of the facility and museum, courtesy of the Ali Center. End your Symposium experience feeling inspired by Muhammad Ali’s story and inspired to achieve your goals! Enjoy a light dinner, photos, and friendships that you have made during the past week.

  • Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan

    Symposium_journal_page14_image1Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan will be represented at the 2014 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium by Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan. Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan was born in the town of Guangfu, Yongnian County, Hebei Province in 1949. He became a formal disciple to Yao Jizu at the age of 13.

    He has many notable accomplishments in Tai Chi Chuan practice and theory. A prolific author, Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan has published more than 20 essays about Tai Chi Chuan, such as “On Listening Jin and Understanding Jin”, “The Softness and Hardness of Taijiquan”, “On Adhering, Connecting, Sticking and Following”, “The Mechanical Tenets of Listening Jin and Understanding Jin”, “A Brief Talk on Life Cultivation and Fighting of Wu-Style Taijiquan”, among others.

    Symposium_journal_page15_image3In 1996, he was one of the compilers for “The Contest Form of Wu-Style Taijiquan”. In 1998, he helped Yao Jizu compile “The Complete Book of WuStyle Taijiquan”. In 2006, his “Wu-Style Taijiquan” became part of “The Treasures of Chinese Martial Arts”. In 2009, he published “The Course of Wu-Style Taijiquan Duanwei”.

    Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan has won gold medals in Tai Chi Chuan contests many times. He has successively held the post of general instructor for the one thousand-person Tai Chi Chuan performances at the Yongnian International Tai Chi Chuan Conference. He was named a great Tai Chi Chuan Master in 1998 and has performed many demonstrations for various Tai Chi Chuan conferences. He continues to teach in China and abroad.

    Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan is one of the 5th generation representatives of Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan and is the 5th generation lineage holder of the style. It is an honor to have Grandmaster Zhong Zhenshan at the 2014 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium.

  • Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan

    Symposium_journal_page10_image1Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan was founded by Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880) who was a native of what is now called Guangfu Town, Yongnian County, Hebei Province. This town was also home to Yang Luchan, founder of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Wu Yuxiang and his two brothers began studying under Yang Lu Chan. Later, Wu Yuxiang learned from Chen Qingping at the Zhaobao village.

    Wu Yuxiang was a wealthy scholar. He didn’t teach many tai chi students but used his scholarly talents to write a lot about tai chi chuan theory as well as other tai chi styles. His Tai Chi Chuan was made famous mostly through the efforts of the Hao family. Hao Weizhen (1842-1920) learned Wu Yuxiang’s style from Wu’s nephew Li Yiyu. Hao Weizhen passed his knowledge to his son Hao Yueru and grandson Hao Shaoju. He also taught this style to Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun style.

    Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan is distinctive with small, subtle movements. It is slow, smooth, small, and focused on balance, sensitivity, and internal qi development. With its high postures, it appeals to those who regard the lower-stance styles as being hard on the knees. Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan is one of the major styles practiced, though it is rare compared with the other major styles and is still relatively unknown in the West.

    Today, Zhong Zhenshan and Wu Wenhan are both 5th generation Grandmasters of Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan and Zhong Zhenshan is the 5th generation lineage holder of the style.

    Wu/Hao is a term unique to the West. In China, both Wu/Hao and Wu styles are called Wu after their founders Wu Yuxiang and Wu Jianquan. However, the Wu names have different pronunciations. In Chinese:

    Wu/Hao =Wǔ

    Wu = Wú

    In English, there are no different pronunciations for Wu as in Chinese, so we have distinguished the two Wu’s by another way. Thus “Hao” has been added, named after Hao Weizhen who helped popularize Wu Yuxiang’s style, but did not develop it differently from its Founder.

  • The Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation

    Symposium-newsletter-3_page22_image1The 2014 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium is a project of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation.  The Foundation became a federally recognized 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in 2012. Formed by Grandmaster Yang Jun, the Foundation’s mission is to promote health and longevity to mankind through Tai Chi Chuan.  This mission will be fulfilled in various ways.

    One way is the promotion  of Tai Chi Chuan  through  hosting high-standard events, such as the International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium.  The goal is to raise awareness of Tai Chi Chuan in the general public as well as provide quality educational events for beginning and advanced practitioners.  The Symposium is one example of such an  event and  of how support  of the Foundation  increases awareness of not  only Yang style Tai Chi Chuan,  but  awareness of Tai Chi Chuan in general in the greater community.

    Symposium-newsletter-3_page23_image2Another  area of the  Foundation’s mission  is the  awareness of traditional Tai Chi Chuan culture. This includes education in traditional customs,  rituals,  morals,  and  protocols  for  teachers  and  students that  have historically been part  of traditional  Chinese martial  arts. In modern society, some teachers and students are not aware of these special traditions.  The Foundation offers teachers knowledge of these cultural traditions so that teachers can pass them on to students if they choose.

    Finally, the  Foundation  aims  to  create a standard  curriculum for students, one that includes a traditional direction of study yet fits with modern education.  This approach includes both a Chinese and a Western academic understanding of Tai Chi Chuan.  The Foundation seeks support for developing such a curriculum and inviting specialized experts to teach various topics.

    Donations to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation contribute to an organization dedicated to high quality Tai Chi Chuan education, the promotion of Tai Chi Chuan in the world, and ultimately the support of an art that can positively affect the health, wellness and lives of people around the world.

    yangfamilytaichifoundation.org

  • Grandmaster Yang Jun

    combine_imagesYang  Style Tai Chi  Chuan  will be represented  at  the  Symposium by Grandmaster Yang Jun, a 6th generation descendent who officially became the 5th generation direct-line inheritor of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan in 2009.

    Grandmaster Yang Jun was born in 1968 in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.  He grew up in a martial arts family, living with his grandparents and watching his grandfather, Grandmaster   Yang  Zhenduo,   train   students.     He  began  training   with  his grandfather at age five.

    In 1989, he graduated from Shanxi University with a degree in physical education. He often assisted his grandfather teaching domestically, and in the 1990s began assisting his grandfather internationally.  In 1995, he received the title of “Shanxi Province Famous Wushu Master” by the Chinese Wushu Association.   He was also active in the Shanxi Province Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association and is a former Vice-President of that organization.

    In 1999, Grandmaster  Yang Jun created the International  Tai Chi Chuan Association and moved to the US, with his grandfather’s support, to develop the Association. The Association was created to bring traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan practitioners together to promote a system that would bring the family’s standard of practice to a worldwide audience, and also develop teachers.  It has one of the most complete systems of training, allowing members to make progress from  being a  beginning  student  with little knowledge of Tai Chi Chuan  to becoming a highly qualified instructor. The Association is organized to include a ranking system, judge registry, instructor    registry,   and teacher academy.

    One of Grandmaster Yang Jun’s finest achievements has been the global growth and development of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association. Starting with no members, today the Association is the largest organized group of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan practitioners outside of China. He has grown it to thousands of members, with teachers in 22 countries and 62 Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Centers and affiliated schools. Grandmaster Yang Jun has been especially successful in spreading his family art widely in Europe to now eleven European countries and has also greatly expanded the number of countries in South America. He has also grown greatly the number of centers throughout Asia and North America. As a result, thousands of people worldwide have been able to benefit from learning Tai Chi Chuan. He has also produced a variety of training DVDs, including teaching and demonstrating the traditional 103 hand form and 49 hand form, sword, saber, and push hands.

    Grandmaster Yang Jun currently lives in the Seattle area and is the Director of the Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center in Redmond, Washington, USA. Every year he travels widely nationally and internationally to teach numerous seminars. Since 2012, he has been a guest professor for the Tai Chi Chuan program at Handan University, China. Recently, he created the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting health and longevity to all through Tai Chi Chuan, educating teachers and practitioners, and preserving traditional Chinese martial arts culture and training. He is the President of the 2014 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium; a project of this Foundation.

    It is an honor to have Grandmaster Yang Jun at the 2014 Symposium.

  • Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan

    Symposium-newsletter-3_page10_image1Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan originated from   Yang  Luchan   (1799-1872). He was born in what is now called Guangfu Town, Yongnian County, Hebei Province and studied with Chen Chanxing, a 14th  generation Chen family martial arts master  from  the  Chen  Village in  Wen County, Henan. Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan began to be spread outside the Yang family when Yang Luchan moved to Beijing and became  the   head   martial   arts coach for China’s highest level military guards in the Forbidden City and also taught many relatives and attendants of the Qing Dynasty’s emperor. He noticed the health benefits that many people experienced and began to modify the foot stomping, jumping, and energy-releasing movements so that  the  form  was better  suited to people of all ages and levels of physical ability.   The movements gradually became slower with the strength  on the inside while still maintaining the martial aspects of attack and defense. He developed what is referred to as the “old frame” form.

    Yang Lu Chan’s sons Yang Banhou  and  Yang  Jianhou  and his   grandsons    Yang   Shaohou and Yang Chengfu all worked to develop and  spread Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.    Yang Banhou developed a small frame form and Yang Jianhou developed a middle frame form.  It was Yang Chengfu (1893-1936), Yang Luchan’s grandson,  who standardized  and popularized the current  large frame  form   and   travelled beyond Beijing to spread it widely. Yang Zhenduo, the 4th  generation lineage inheritor continued to spread the art throughout  China and began travelling outside of China to teach internationally. Today,  the  international   spread of  Yang Family Tai  Chi  Chuan continues  with  the  work  of  the 5th  generation lineage inheritor, Grandmaster  Yang Jun, the  first generation   to   live   outside   of China.

    Yang style is the most widely practiced style of Tai Chi Chuan in the world today.   Yang style’s movements are large, extended, graceful, simple, clear, and carefully structured. The movements are gentle, relaxed, flowing, and performed at an even pace while still maintaining martial aspects.

  • Reminder: Registration is Open

    A BRIEF REMINDER that Registration (including online registration) is open. The early discount fee for Comprehensive Packages expires after February 15, 2014. The Comprehensive Package includes the Sunday evening Grand Opening, daily Morning Sunrise Tai Chi Practice with the Grandmasters, Grandmasters Morning Keynote Speeches, Grandmasters “Tai-Chi Kung” morning and afternoon workshops, Academic Presentations on “Tai Chi and the Health of the Brain and Nervous System” each afternoon, Silk Road Bazaar featuring Tai Chi related products, and all Special Events (Monday’s Welcome Banquet, Tuesday’s Academic Keynote Speech and Panel Discussion with Grandmasters and Researchers, Thursday’s Grand Showcase and Masters Demonstrations, Friday’s Closing Ceremonies and Friendship Party.) One-Day passes and Special Events tickets are also available.

    For Registration questions please email info@2014.symposium2014.yangfamilytaichifoundation.org .

  • How to Make Your Lodging Reservations

    After you register for the Symposium, you will need to make arrangements for lodging. One possible source of lodging is Morrison Hall dormitory at Spalding University. This is your least expensive lodging option. Please note that the option of Spalding Suites previously mentioned in Newsletter Issue 1 is no longer available. There are also many hotels located nearby. The Symposium has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel located about 0.6 miles or 1 km from Spalding University. More information including costs, deadlines, and links for registering for lodging at Spalding University or the Seelbach Hotel can be found on the Symposium’s website.