MMTCA July Newsletter 2021

 

Yang Cheng-fu, 3rd generation

"What you focus on determines what you miss."

-Brian McClaven

The heat and sun are definitely here! Outside classes and practices have been wonderful. Not only the weather, but to practice together has been so healing and unwinding from the past year .

This is what the classes are working on for now;

Friday 6-8PM Medium Form, Applications, Tai-Chi Spear, Tai-Chi Sword, Hsing-Yi Spear, 64 Mother Palms

Saturday 9-12 Medium Form, Applications, Fast Form, Tai-Chi Sword, Tai-Chi Saber, Saber Fencing, Wu Dang Sword, 64 Mother Palms, Pa-Kua Sword

Cheng Man-ch'ing, 4th generation

I am now offering private classes. (If you are a Patron , check your tier.) $40 for 45 minutes, or $75 for an hour. Email or text to set up a class.

I'm going back to Colorado for a month!  I'll be there July 15 to August 15.I will be sending lessons so keep checking my Patreon and YouTube pages. Classes and practices will continue with my senior disciples and students sitting in as guest instructors and guides.

Yang Chien-hou, 2nd generation

Book suggestion= Presence by Amy Cuddy

https://www.amazon.com/Presence-Bringing-Boldest-Biggest-Challenges/dp/0316256587/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Amy+Cuddy&qid=1624971981&sr=8-3

I had the honor and privilege of initiating three new disciples into the 7th Generation of Yang Style Tai-Chi Chuan:

Rondi Atkin

Stephen Peterson

Robert Wozniak

Margo and Mark hosted at their home in Roseville, and we had perfect weather for a lovely outdoor ceremony. Wanda and Rick came from Northfield and joined other classmates to witness this rare ceremony. Congratulations! Now it begins...

Our Altar for the ceremony

Robert, Rondi, Steve

We are looking for an indoor space for the Fall. I am planning on teaching outside into the Fall. I will keep you posted on our new Kwoon, Tang, Mo Goon, Studio, Academy, Home!

Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement this past year. As we emerge from the pandemic, let's put our health, well-being, and practice, firmly in a place of priority and gratitude. So many people told me their Tai-Chi kept them healthy and sane this past year. Why wait for a pandemic? Let's be healthy and sane all the time with our daily practice.

A bow from the waist,

-Ray

"Dance is kinetic sculpting of space."

-John O'Donahue

contact info:

my phone (new)- 12183419894

address= 1721 Jefferson St, Duluth, MN 55812

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

blog= rayhayward.com

website=  mindfulmotiontaichi.com

facebook= Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

                Ray Hayward Enterprises

Youtube= Ray Hayward, the Inspired Teacher

                 Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

my books at Lulu= lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward

my books on Amazon= amazon.com/author/rayhayward

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

Liang Tung-tsai, 5th generation

A Long Meditation

 Master Choi asked me one time what is the longest time I do the Tai-Chi Long Form. I said between 25 and 35 minutes. He asked me me how many times in that half hour do I do Fist Under Elbow. I said once. He asked how many time did I do Twin Winds Pierce the Ears? I said once. He asked about some other one time postures. 

He then said, "How can you make those any good? Even two forms is only two repetitions in an hour." 

He went on to say that to master a posture or technique required thousands of repetitions. He told me that he puts 30 minutes on a timer and then does one of the shortest Hsing-Yi form, the 5 Element Change Form. Choi said, " In half an hour I do hundreds of the five fists." He went on to say that at the height of Muhammad Ali's career, Ali did 3-5 THOUSAND left jabs a day!

This is when Master Choi showed me how to do single movement training in Tai-Chi. He said take just one posture or technique, and do it for half an hour. Now at the time, I was a full time teacher and needed to be sharp. For most people, you could take a movement and try 20 times, 50 times, or 100 times if you have the time, energy, and motivation.

Over the covid break, I had lots of time to train. And it hit me one day. If I do a 30 minute solo form, what am I practicing and perfecting? What am I working on for the whole time? What skills am I developing?

So I ask you, what are we training during that  time if it's not a single technique or movement? I have my answer, and would love to hear yours, or at least get you thinking and pondering and meditating!

I'll post my answer in a while.