MMTCA May Newsletter 2021

 

   “T’ai-chi expert Zhang Qinlin Laoshi takes a group photo to commemorate his students, April 30, 1941.”

                                                                          

"By creating space in our homes, we put the focus back where it should be: on what we do, rather than what we own."

-Francine Jay

Happy May! May the 4th be with you! Finally we can train outside and meet for classes!

Starting May 7th, I'll be holding outdoor classes at the East River Flats Park. I have an alternate for rain. Bring your swords, sabers, staves, canes, and masks! Covid responsibility is on you whether you want to stay far apart or wear a mask. I am only asking you don't do hand to hand training just yet. I will be reviewing and teaching Wu-Dang Sword fencing, Tai-Chi Saber fencing, and Tai-Chi 13 Spear throughout the Summer for partner work. Here is the basic schedule, Taoist time and care being applied!

Friday 600-830PM

Review =Hsing-Yi Spear, Karambit, Man Chiang Hung.

Learn =64 Mother Palms, Tai-Chi Saber Fencing, 

Saturday AM 900-1000= Medium and Fast Form review and refinement

               1000-1100 =Weapons including solo and two person sword, saber, spear, cane, double saber, fan, catapult, blowdart, etc                  

                1100-1200 Hsing-Yi Lightening Hands, 64 Mother Palms, Pa-Kua Sword

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks__destinations/parks__lakes/east_river_flats_park/

Book suggestion- Peking Story by David Kidd

https://www.amazon.com/Peking-Story-China-Review-Classics/dp/1590170407

All my books are now available at Lulu.com

Thank you to all my students, classmates, and friends who supported me and this art throughout the pandemic. There have been some dark days but I feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I just don't know how LONG that tunnel is!

As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat, call, text, or email me.

-Ray

"There is a saying in the (armed forces) community-slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."

-John T. Mainer

Here is a note from Julie Cisler who is now teaching all new and beginner Tai-Chi students,

Hi-

It's time to move some of my classes to an outdoor setting. I am also opening my classes to new students. Exciting!

At first, I thought that I would do the same as last year, and simply move the Monday class to the park. But to give new students more options, I am going to teach two classes outdoors, and continue my indoor class at the Black Forest Inn's Banquet building. TAKE NOTE: Saturday's class time will change slightly. Here's a complete schedule:

Monday: 11:30am-1:00pm Outdoors in Thomas Lowry Park, on the west side of the park. I will include a Zoom option for this class.

Tuesday: 6:30-7:30pm, Black Forest Inn Banquet Building. This will also have a Zoom option. Please wear a mask for indoor practice.

Wednesday: 11:30am-12:30pm Zoom class

Friday: 3:30-4:30pm Zoom class

Saturday: 1:00-2:00pm Outdoors in Thomas Lowry Park, on the west side of the park. I will include a Zoom option for this class.

Thomas Lowry Park is just south of the Walker Art Center. There is plenty of street parking, and a porta-potty on the east side of the park. Here's a link:

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks__destinations/parks__lakes/thomas_lowry_park/

If you attend the Black Forest Inn class, there is parking available on Nicollet and 26th Street, as well as in the restaurant's parking lot.

This new schedule won't start until Monday, May 10.

Thanks!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Julie Cisler

juliecisler13@hotmail.com

612-876-7915

Thanks!
Julie

Zhang Zhirou, daughter of Zhang Qinlin demonstrating a perfectly single-weighted Single Whip.

(Zhang family photos courtesy of big brother Danny Emerick)