Cold Mountain Internal Arts

Winter sunrise through birches. 2020 ending and new beginnings in 2021. Let us hold each other in our circles of caring, love and new hopes!

The place of the Five Elements in Chinese culture and in the martial arts is profound. One member of our club, Senior Instructor Randall Templeton who has an extensive martial arts background, has investigated this in depth. He is particularly interested in Tai Chi as an agent for personal change. He outlines his findings at: https://www.coldmountaininternalarts.com//tai-chi-and-pers

As we approach the end of this terrible year it is good to consider the positives we have experienced in it. For me, one of the bright moments was this reminiscence by Joanna Szulc, who joined our club four years ago next month. Her account of what it was like to encounter Tai Chi as a beginner will bring a smile of self-recognition to the lips of many of us! Enjoy! https://www.coldmountaininternalarts.com/single-/my-journey

Doug Haas, who passed away this week, joined us at CMIA in September of 2010. It took me awhile to realize who this little jovial man with the sparkling eyes and Kung Fu background was - one of Canada's most distinguished musicians and music teachers. He had been referred to me by the late Bob Schneider, sifu of Waterloo Kung Fu Academy. Doug was in his 70's at that time and was becoming concerned about the effect knuckle push-ups might be having on his organist's hands. ...In retrospect the prospect makes me shudder! Doug was humble, humorous, generous to a fault, intelligent, open-minded, and dedicated. He encouraged us to take our martial arts further out into the community and we collaborated with him and other musicians, such as Kathryn Ladano and Jason White, in performances in the noon-hour recital series at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. Doug was an inspiration and a joy to us all. He will be sorely missed!

It is with sadness that I relay the news of the passing of my teacher Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo (; 1926-2020). Yang Zhenduo was the youngest son of Yang Cheng...fu and one the most influential figures in modern taijiquan, having circled the globe to promote his family’s art. I met Yang Zhenduo in 1990 in Winchester, Virginia, USA on his first visit to North America and had the great opportunity to study with and interview him. Assisted by Yang Jun, Master Yang gave instruction to about one hundred students on the subjects of Yang-style Taijiquan barehand form, taiji sabre, and taiji sword routines. In 1993 he came to Maryland, USA to offer another intensive, which I also attended. It was during this second workshop that I was selected as the push-hands demonstration partner for Master Yang and where I felt the articulate clarity in his ‘four-hands’ (sizheng tuishou). In 1994, after touring China as a member of the North American Martial Arts Demo Team, I went to Taiyuan, in Shanxi Province, China, the hometown of the Yangs. I took private instruction and, thanks to Grandmaster Yang's generosity, was invited to be a special guest at a seven-day certification course taught by Yang Zhenduo himself and intended only for native Chinese instructors residing in Shanxi Province. During this visit I was invited into the Grandmaster’s home to see the family altar which featured a photo of Yang Chengfu. I was also privileged to hold and feel Yang Chengfu’s wax-wood spear. Grandmaster Yang had an immense influence on my approach to Yang-style Taijiquan and I recall with fondness his thundering voice and generous soul.

I've been thinking about my encounter with the late GM Yang. One outcome was the article at Notes from G.M. Yang Zhenduo which includes his (?) poem about the linkages within his family's style. Meeting him was very influential in terms of how my own Tai Chi has developed. The 2006 Symposium was held in Thunder Bay Ontario and was the first of the subsequent Grand-masters' symposiums held in North America. Besides Grand-master Yang Zhenduo we were exposed to teachings from... GM Chen Zhenlei (Chen Village style), GM Wu Wenhan (Hao style), GM Wu (Eddie) Kwongyu (Wu style), GM Ma-Hailong (Wu style), GM Sun Yongtian (Sun style), and GM Zeng Nailang (Modern style). After a plenary session most (not Ma Hailong) of these Grandmasters taught a short 16 movement form which exemplified the essence of their styles. Many of the attendees took a session with each of the grand-masters in order to acquire a broader perspective on Tai Chi. I was focused only on GM Yang and spent the week learning the Yang family 16 Movement form from him. The Grandmaster responded to my my intentness very generously. He introduced me to GM Yang Jun as "a very serious student" and said in a formal evaluation that my Yang style form was "approaching the final goal". I took this great compliment and also an affirmation of the integrity of the transmission I have had from another of my teachers, Sifu Sam Masich. I had an opportunity at one point to push hands with the Grand-master. He felt...round. He felt firm, deflective, centered... just right. Not subtle or tricky. I have a few other stories from this episode, like when with Jack Yan and Ed Cooper we regaled at midnight a bunch of Tai Chi grand-masters with an alcohol-fueled rendition of "Unchained Melody" (they were assaulting us with Chinese opera) but, as Shakespeare said, "The rest is silence." Steve.

Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo 1926-2020 I was able to train with his for week. Brief exposure, but it opened some big doors for me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Zhenduo

A wee intro to our Bataireacht/Irish Stick Fighting class taking place on Nov. 14th. Instructor Steve Higgins established his Tai Chi club in Kitchener in 1990.... Based upon his martial arts career, his approach to these traditions always included a concern for personal self defense. In 2011 several of his students approached him with a request that he teach them how to defend themselves with their walking sticks. Steve therefore arranged for Master Glen Doyle to visit Kitchener in 2012 and teach elements of the Doyle family's Bataireacht system. This has now been combined by Steve with the Irish boxing method passed down to him by his father. The result is an effective method of self defense which is also a harmonious means of exercise. You can see the video Steve made demonstrating shillelagh exercises for general health here -https://youtu.be/IkbjKN_JIDk. This year Steve will expand on this by briefly discussing the stick as a part of Irish history and culture. He will then introduce several practical self defense methods. To sign up go to our website https://www.irishreallifekw.com/

This should be fun. I'll be presenting, after some warmups, just 3 basic techniques!

Good morning everybody...on a sunny and lovely Wednesday! Still, the temperature outside is only plus 5 degrees which reminds us we are approaching the end of what is feasible in terms of outdoors Tai Chi practice in Victoria Park. I appreciate that some of you would like to keep group practice going into the snows, but the numbers in the park have shrunk which tells the tale. I hope the following modifications will satisfy your needs. First of all, present ZOOM sessions sh...all continue with no changes: Wed. evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. -- Old Yang Animal qigongs and Crane Tai Chi. Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. -- Chen's Tai Chi Saturday mornings 9:30 to 11 a.m. -- BANG and Yang style Tai Chi. Sundays will be moving to ZOOM as predicted. Old Yang Tai Chi and and Tai Chi fan will alternate on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Nov. 1 -- Fan Nov. 8 -- Old Yang Nov. 15 -- Fan Nov. 22 -- Old Yang Nov. 29 -- Fan All sessions will be video-recorded for your reference. Remember, the outdoors beckons for our personal practice. Getting outside when possible is really important for our mental health. I appreciate the support you have shown for our club. I also deeply appreciate hearing from you about how you are doing. Knowing that Tai Chi and these sessions are helping you at this time is deeply affirming! Good health and good practice!

A photo from some years back. Just realized that with this top you can clearly see the bell shape that the old guys spoke of!