MMTCA October Newsletter 2026

 

Master T.T. Liang and Master Hsu Fu-yuen demonstrating Sanshou in Taiwan early 1960s.

“If you stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.”

~ Maria Rainier Rilke

Beginning October 1^st, our classes will move inside to St Sahag. It’s been a great outdoor practice season, and I really enjoyed doing Taiji with you by the river, with eagles overhead, and lovely trees around.

Starting Thursday, October 8^th, I’ll be Zooming the Hybrid Taiji and Xingyi classes again. Xingyi is going to be covering the 5 Element Linking Form, and the Two-Handed Saber.

We will continue our Sanshou journey, and go back to Willows 1,2,3 and move into 4! I’m still going to teach the Saber with Kerchief, and the Wudang Fencing Section 1. In the Wednesday Zoom, I’ll finish up the remaining Guiding Principles, and then I’m going to teach the Solo Form, Right Side.

Thank you, John Stitley, for a grueling job of grinding, preparing, and painting the steel treads at the church. Don’t they look great?

Monthly Book Club will be Monday, October 12^th. We are on the chapter about Exercise & Training. Feel free to join at any time. I’ll send an invite closer to the day.

Book link-

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/martial-arts-discussions-by-huang-yuanxiu/

The Monthly Zoom Pushing Hands will be Monday, October 19^th. Instead of going on to the third method, I’m going to go over some techniques you can do, and some defenses, when practicing single hand.

Book Suggestion= Tai Chi Chuan for Health and Self Defense, Principles and Practice by Master T.T. Liang. I love when I hear from people who haven’t read this, or ask for a book suggestion. Master Liang’s book is pure Taiji gold!

 Thank you for a great Summer, outside in nature, filled with Taiji and fun!

-Sifu Ray

 

“There is another alphabet, whispering from every leaf, singing from every river, shimmering from every sky.”

~ Dejan Stojanovic

Contact Info:

My Blog- http://www.rayhayward.com

My Patreon Page- https://www.patreon.com/c/rayhayward

My YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@rayhaywardtheinspiredteach8246

Call/Text- 218-341-9894

#taiji#pushinghands#rayhayward

Tomb of Dong Haiquan, founder of Ba Gua Zhang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MMTCA September Newsletter 2026

 

Master Ye Dami, Prof Zheng's first Taiji teacher.

 

“The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

~ Wendell Berry  R.I.P.

 

What a Summer! And we are still meeting outside for classes, woohoo! Unless it rains, we will continue having class at Bohemian Flats and St Sahag backyard.

Monthly Book Club will be Monday, Sept. 14^th. I’ll send out an invite soon.

Book Suggestion= On Tai Chi Chuan by T.Y. Pang (This book NEVER leaves my top ten Taiji books list!)

Paul and Esther will be visiting from Springfield MO to study Taiji, sword, and pushing hands. Please show them a warm, Minnesota welcome!

Here is a great lesson on stances, enjoy!

https://www.patreon.com/PurpleSwallowArts/posts/whats-in-stance-158621021?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=158621021&token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyZWRpc19rZXkiOiJpYTI6NGIwZmI4ZmMtMjgyYS00OWFkLTkwNGUtOTkwNTRjZDRlZDU0IiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTU4NjIxMDIxLCJwYXRyb25faWQiOjQwMjg0OTM4fQ.Lltyxn35Sl5rEbJb6nD0HDioisYMKgnYgPeK4D3TgDA&utm_id=398c2e40-6cb5-4bc0-8824-1bc83493b914&utm_medium=email

Monthly Pushing Hands will be Monday, Sept. 21^st. We ‘ll be studying Single Hand, Vertical, with two methods. Invite will be in your email and on Patreon.

Speaking of Patreon, 9/9 is my 6^th anniversary! I have plans to expand what I’m doing with the page, and I’m planning on a Ba Gua Two-Person Sensitivity series, solo Pushing Hands practices, Sanshou instruction, and teaching an in-depth series on Pushing Hands techniques. If you are not a member you can join at any level, including free.

-Sifu Ray

 

"Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you."

~Rumi

 

Contact Info:

My Blog- http://www.rayhayward.com

My Patreon Page- https://www.patreon.com/c/rayhayward

My YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@rayhaywardtheinspiredteach8246

Call/Text- 218-341-9894

#taiji#pushinghands#rayhayward

 

MMTCA August Newsletter 2026

 

"Summer has always been good to me, even the bittersweet end, with the slanted yellow light." 

Paul Monette

What a fast July! Filled with lots of outside practices and classes. Not to mention camping! Thank you to my subs for taking classes for me.

I’m going to hold the Zoom Book Club this month, but am taking the Monthly Pushing Hands off for August.

Book Club Monday, Aug 17^th, 630-730. I’ll send out an invite closer to the date.

Book Suggestion= Xiong Yanghe, Family, Career, and Taiji Legacy by Michael DeMarco.

Classes are moving to Bohemian Flats and St Sahag backyard! Beginning Thursday August 13^th, Thursday and Saturday classes will be at Bohemian Flats, and Tuesdays we’ll meet in the church backyard.

I’m keeping this short, more to come in September’s newsletter.

-Sifu Ray

 

“I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it is true- hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.”

~ Ray Bradbury

 

Contact Info:

My Blog- http://www.rayhayward.com

My Patreon Page- https://www.patreon.com/c/rayhayward

My YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@rayhaywardtheinspiredteach8246

Call/Text- 218-341-9894

#taiji#pushinghands#rayhayward