Teacher and Themes
The teachers from the last meeting came from Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Italy and Australia.
Tony Ward
Biography: Tony Ward is an internationally recognized teacher with a unique experience of 30 years of study in the martial arts in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Australia. His main influence and teacher was the late tai chi Master Huang Sheng Shyan. In 1982 he began training with a Chinese student of Master Huang living in Sydney. In 1986 he traveled to Taiwan and met Master Huang for the first time, he then had regular intense training with him until his death in 1992. Tony is one, of only two westerners to have received intense personal training with Master Huang. After the Master's death he continued his study with his more senior students. His studies have also included such arts as Karate, Which he began at the age of 14. Aikido, Hsing I, Ba gua, and many different forms of tai chi, Qigong and healing arts as well as many aspects of Traditional Chinese medicine. For the past fifteen years, he has been directing and teaching full time at his school in Sydney, and also runs regular workshops and seminars throughout Australia for other teachers and their students. Since 1997, he has been traveling regularly to Europe and Japan, where he has established a following for his method.
Topic: Developing free movement through fixed pushing hands as a lead in to free pushing.
Roberto Benetti
Biography: Roberto lives and works in Vicenza, Italy. He teaches professionally and practises Tai Ji Quan, Chen and Yang style, Tai Ji sword, Nei Gong, Qi Gong, Tuishou and Xin Yi Quan. He has studied Tai Ji Quan since 1985 and has been practising for more than 10 years with Master George Xu and Flavio Daniele. He deals particularly with teaching methodologies and with the relationship between Science and Holistic Disciplines. He is the author of essays, articles and didactic videos on Tai Ji Quan.
Topic: The Eight Gates of Tai Ji Quan.
Principles, Techniques and Applications in Push Hands.
Nabil Rannè
Biography: is a direct 20th generation disciple of the founding family of Taijiquan and student of Chen Yu from Beijing, China. He practices a number of traditional Chen-Style Taijiquan hand and weapons forms and authored several articles on Taijiquan in books and magazines. Nabil did his PhD in sports science, acts as a founding member of the Chen-Style Taijiquan Network Germany (www.ctnd.de) and is a certified instructor of the German Association for Taijiquan and Qigong (DDQT).
Topic: Different Pushhands Approaches
Methods and approaches to pushhands vary from style to style and from teacher to teacher. Sometimes the different pushhands-types (competitive/cooperative, soft/hard, moving/fixed step etc.)even seem to contradict each other on quite a large scale. In these workshops we want to analyze some approaches to pushhands, thereby getting a better sense of knowing what to actually do in the individual exercises. Thus we can discover that different methods and approaches are actually quintessential for a balanced training approach and to develop good pushhands skills.
Topic 2 (Friday 17 of February): Push hands and forms at the view of competitions
Competitions own a special character of taiji, as the practice and application has to respect given rules:
fixed step or moving steps in pushing hands (Tui Shou)
Time limits and area resrictions in forms (Tao Lu).
What is the benefit for you as participant and what are the requirements to become a referee? Practicing as if you are at a competition in push hands and forms, give a sight on the German Taiji Open 2012. Be a referee and judge what you see. A workshop in practice with the chief executives of German Taiji Open being responsible for tui shou (Nabil Ranné) and tao lu (Jan Leminsky) to breath competitions air without being on a competition.
Sifu Nicolas Julien
Biography: Nicolas Julien, Jiang Rong QIao Baguazhang style and Yang Taïchi chuan syle teacher.
Topic: Baguzhang and moving step Tuishou. To introduce to the Baguazhang way of using the body, the Walking, the way of doing steps is a great peculiarity of Baguazhang. In this workshop we'll study how to combine the Baguazhang walking with Tuishou by codified abd "free" exercices. For example, we'll see the sychronisation between steps and the upper body in the specific Baguazhang spirals, how (using the Walking) to be al the time in the good situation in front of a partner, ...And other things also useful in fix step Tuishou! For all levels, even brave beginners...
Hella Ebel
Biography: has been teaching Yang Stile for 25 years and the extensive system of Huang Sheng Shyan for 14 years, in which she was trained intensively by Wee Kee Jin (New Zealand). Since many years she has been assisting regularly in some of his workshops and camps in Holland and Germany. She published and translated his book "Taijiquan Wuwei – a Natural Process" from English into German. She is head of the Taiji-school Osnabrueck, where she is teaching her understanding of Taijiquan.
Topic: The more refined the perception of the changes that create the movements gets in the own body, the more we can feel how we react to the incoming force, how we neutralise it. While we are neutralising, the body can connect and the push can come back without external force. "A good taiji push is when your opponent does not feel your push, both feet are uprooted from the ground, and when he lands on the floor he is still smiling." Huang Sheng-Shyan.
Paul Silfverstrale
Biography: has studied Asian martial arts for over 25 years, and is a student of Dan Docherty since 1998. He has lived, travelled, practiced and taught extensively in Europe, China and SE Asia, and spent thorough time in Malaysia and Singapore practicing with Wu-style family. He is an international tournament winner in forms, pushing hands and San Shou,many of his students have also been successful on the international competition arena. He works professionally teaching and practicing Tai Chi Chuan, functional training and TCM acupuncture.
Topic: Bu Diu Ding - " Not oppose, and not to loose contact". Working with this concept in pushing hands and self defence scenario. Tai Chi Classics-strategies for pushing hands or for self defence. Working with some of the key principles from the Tai Chi-classic "Da Shou Ge" - The Figters Song in a pushing hands and self defence scenario.
Wang Ning
Biography: calligrapher, seal cutter, translator and Tai Chi teacher – studied German literature and language in Peking. Thanks to his experience he is able to build bridges between the Chinese and Western worlds of thought and emotion. We will receive an introduction to the (philosophical) foundations of the movement arts of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong — not through a dry and theoretical lecture, but as the calligrapher paints the image-based concepts of the Chinese world view. These concepts are hidden in the Chinese characters, and their interpretation takes us on an exciting journey through China's cultural history. This often leads to new and surprising meanings which are quite different to the normal correspondences and translations used in the West.
Topic: Calligraphy workshop. Like learning Tai Chi Chuan (one movement after another, posture by posture), we learn stroke for stroke, character by character in a perfect rhythm with full concentration. Because special materials are required ("the four treasures of the study room" = brush, ink, paper, rubbing stone), participants are asked to pay a once-only charge of 35 euros to help cover expenses. We also request all those interested in taking part to register beforehand. The number of participants is limited!
Ronnie Robinson
Biography: has studied tai chi since 1981 and regularly teaches at major European events. He is the Secretary of the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain, the Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe, Editor of Tai Chi Chuan & Internal Arts (UK) and the European Internal Arts Journal and organiser of Tai Chi Caledonia an annual internal arts event in his native Scotland.
Topic: Qigong for Tui Shou – morning sessions 8.45-9.30 hours. In preparation for the push hands training Ronnie will offer a series of morning workshops specifically designed to increase your connection to the ground, open your body, still your mind whilst creating increased energy levels.
Daan Hengst
Biography: Daan ( born 1940, Indonesia) played since his early youth already different sports like tennis, baseball, basketball before he decided to turn to martial arts. In 1964 he came into contact with boxing and also took part in several (amateur) competitions.
Since 1971 he learned Pack Mee Pai (Gong Fu) from teacher Amien Kong Ho. He learned now not only to use the hands for punching and hitting, but also how to use the feet for high jumping and kicking.
About ten years later in 1980 he was lucky to meet teacher Pak Flohr who taught him the Pencak Silat (Indonesian martial art) style. Because of the soft but forceful way of the movements in this style and after the decease (1984) of this wonderful teacher, Daan got more and more interested in Taiji Chuan. Thanks to the (most foreign) teachers who came to give workshops in Amsterdam, the practicing of Taiji was more martial art like. Still Daan is practicing the Taiji, Yang style (Master Cheng Man Ching) every Saturday with Rob and Erich Völke in Amsterdam. He also attends twice a year the workshops by Wee Kee Jin (New Zealand) when he is in the Netherlands.
Topic: Body structure
How can we train and keep an appropriate body structure in daily activities, like lifting, pulling or pushing a ( heavy ) object ?
In other words, how can we stay grounded and avoid unnecessary movements.
A way to understand the changes that take place in the physical body as well as mentally, is to imagine doing simple activities or routine actions in everyday life .
For instance:
- push a wheelchair
- lift an object weighing at least 30 % of your own bodyweight
- stand put while you cute little dog tries to unbalance you by pulling the other end of the leach .
What are we practising actually?
We try to establish a stabile body structure, e.g. align the spine in order to stay in balance in every situation.
There are exercises that we can do alone or together with the help of a partner.
In the solo exercises there will be no external pressure on our body, so we can focus on the position of the head, the alignment of the vertebrae of the neck, spine and further down the hip joints, knees, feet.
When practising with a partner an extra external force will rest on the body which makes it more complicated to focus on all the points mentioned above.
Jan Leminsky
Jan Leminsky, Born 1965 is instructor for taijiquan and practices the art since 1996. He runs the Wu Wei school for Tai Chi and Qi Gong in Hamburg and Wentorf.
Topic: Push hands and forms at the view of competitions
Competitions own a special character of taiji, as the practice and application has to respect given rules:
fixed step or moving steps in pushing hands (Tui Shou)
Time limits and area resrictions in forms (Tao Lu).
What is the benefit for you as participant and what are the requirements to become a referee? Practicing as if you are at a competition in push hands and forms, give a sight on the German Taiji Open 2012. Be a referee and judge what you see. A workshop in practice with the chief executives of German Taiji Open being responsible for tui shou (Nabil Ranné) and tao lu (Jan Leminsky) to breath competitions air without being on a competition.
Severino Maistrello
Biographie: Has studied martial arts since 1973 and teaching for over 25 years. He is inside student of Sifu To Yu disciple of Fu Cheng Song and belongs to the 3rd generation of Fu Style. He founded the Wudang Fu Style Federation where he serves as head instructor. He has published a number of articles on tai chi chuan , On Zon Su (Taoist massage) and two DVD’s. Is chairmain of the Hong Kong Northern and the Southern Martial Arts Association and member of World Kung Fu Master Association. His syllabus includes Fu Style Tai Chi, Liang Yi, Tai Chi lighting palm, Pa Kua Chang, Tui Sao, Nei Kung and weapons….
Topic: THE TAI CHI PUSH HANDS IN CIRCLE- the training of the 13 strategies for the manipulations of energy
Michael Plötz
Biographie: Studied and teaches Yang style of Cheng Man Ching in the tradition of Huang Xing Xian, Senior Instructor of Patrick Kelly (NZL). Training in Asian movements arts since 1972, Taichi for 26 years. General practioner, doctor for Chinese Medicine (AGTCM) and Osteopath (D.O.M.). Main interest is the synthesis of eastern and western thinking focussing on Healthsport, sportmedicine and internal martial arts.
Theme: The difference in muscle activity (contraction-stretching) in push hands and Taijiquan form in relation to elasticity, alignment, timing and force will be introduced in some push hands pattern. The practical focus will be at the different states of muscle tension (“contraction”, “stretching” and “unstretching”). Main goal of the course will be developing a more understanding of a so called “elastic push” in Taijiquan.
-Expierenced practioners and beginners with expierence in push hands -
Sasa Krauter
Biographie: Sasa Krauter did a master in sports and education,Taijiquan and Qigong teacher WCTAG, sports therapeut (DVGS).From the middle of the 80's on Sasa Krauter concerns herself intensively with topics such as eastern philosophies, martial arts and in particular self-defense. Besides the martial aspect, she is particularly interested in the therapeutic and mental sides of Taijiquan. She is engaged in the formation of future sports therapeuts and also teaches Taijiquan, Qigong and Meditation. Chen Taijiquan according to Chen Xiaowang has become her path, which combines health, mental developement and martial art. She percieves Taijiquan as a possibility to educate body and mind. In her classes her objective is to transmit a part of the wealth of this art.
Theme: From standing to agile stepping
In this workshop we will work on our own structure as well as on rooted stands, and create, in this way, the base for effective acting. Push-hands helps us to find safe posture and to practice determination. Everyone has the possibility to test one’s own structure and one’s own stand in a playful way through a sequence of methodically developed exercises. This may include exercises on the spot (Dingbu) as well as exercises with stepping (Houbu) or also simple applications of self-defense. Thus, push-hands offeres a joyful possibility to explore martial aspects of Taijiquan without risk.
Bob Lowey
Biographie: Bob began his Martial Arts experience in the late sixties studying Judo and Karate. Karate was not quite his niche and he continued to seek an Art that would stretch his abilities further. This he found in a Chinese Form of Martial Arts called Wang Kung Shou Tao, which he began studying in the early seventies and attained Instructor status in 1979. Bob opened his first Taiji class in East Kilbride Scotland in September 1985. Since this time, Bob has steered the School to international recognition through the promotion of Taijiquan in Scotland and Europe, namely, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy where he has been teaching over the past 18 years. Prior the turn of the century, Bob began studying with various Teachers in China and eventually found the Teacher he was seeking in Master You Xuande who's Wudang Style in what Bob believed encompassed all the Teachings he had learned previously. In this style, under Master You's guidance, Bob has found his niche in the most Supreme Martial Art.
Theme: Exploring the Ego in Tui Shou: why do people take part in Tui Shou, why do they become
frightened or why do they feel good?
Biographie: Study of Asian martial arts since 1965;