The Inspired Teacher

Sunday, March 1, 2026

MMTCA March Newsletter 2026

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

~Jimi Hendrix

Happy New Year of the Fire Horse! Hang on, we’re in for an interesting ride…

What an amazing Chinese New Year Demo and celebration this year! The demonstrations were spectacular and the energy was powerful! (I’m already planning for next year, my 50^th!) A huge thank you for the set-up crew: Margo, Mark, Paul I, Rondi, and John S. Programs by Julie and dinner reservations by Fred. Thank you to the demonstrators, some of the best forms and demos I’ve seen in a long time. I bow to all of you for your generosity and respect with gifts and red envelopes. I had a great time!

Now that the new year is behind us, it’s time for an update on the year’s curriculum. Here’s what I have planned, with some changes possible, and teacher's whim always an option.

Taiji-

Solo Form refinement and review

Left Taiji Sword

Sanshou section 3, then start with 1 again

Wudang Sword Fencing section1

Willow #4, and Willow #3 review

Taiji Saber with KERCHIEF!

Double Saber

Bagua-

Swimming Dragon (Yao Long) Form and applications

Two Person sets and Sensitivity

Bagua Sword

XingYi-

5 Elements

Spear

Sensitivity

8 Styles

5 Element Linking Form

The Book Club will be meeting on Zoom Monday, March 9^th, 630-730PM. We are reading The Skills of Yang Style Taiji Boxing by Huang Yuanxiu. You can join this discussion whether you have read the book or not, the discussions are where the fun is! Here is a link to the Paul Brennan translation,

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

There is a version on my Patreon page with no ads or Chinese characters,

https://www.patreon.com/posts/book-club-gift-151730656

Speaking of Patreon, check out both my Patreon and YouTube pages for new posts, I’m filming and writing again!

The Monthly Zoom Pushing Hands class will be Monday, March 23^rd, 630-730 PM. We are going to cover Willow #3 and developing your personal defense techniques.

You can get school t-shirts and hoodies at Zazzle.

https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

My books are available at Lulu, and where you’ll see my new Pushing Hands Book soon…

https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Ray+Hayward&page=1&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00&sortBy=PRODUCT_SALES_90_DAYS

Thank you all for your continued support and appreciation, I’m the luckiest guy in the world!

-Sifu Ray

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

~ Anne Bradstreet

Contact info

my phone- 1-218-341-9894

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

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

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

School shirts- https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

My address,

5140 W. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437

#rayhayward#taiji#taijiquan#taichichuan#bagua#xingyi#sword#qigong#yichuan#wudangsword#qinna#standingmeditation#taoistmeditation#taoistlove#semenretention#masterttliang#wailunchoi#mindfulmotiontaichiacademy#rayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#rayhaywardblog#sanshou#prayingmantis#karambit##pushinghands#fajing#imsak#rosslynchapel#druidry#lulubooksrayhaywardauthor#patreonrayhaywardtheinspiredteacher

Saturday, January 31, 2026

MMTCA February Newsletter 2026

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.”

~ Bruce Lee

February brings with it the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse, on the 17^th. We will be celebrating Sunday, February 15^th at 100PM at the church. Our demo, altar ceremony, and ritual will be at the church, and a banquet at Yangtze restaurant in St Louis Park after. I’ll send out a finalized email for you to RSVP for the banquet. May the Horse be a great year for us all!

New curriculum will start after the demo, but we are also beginning our Willow # 4 journey and Wudang Sword 1^st section now. More to come!

The monthly zoom Pushing Hands will be Monday February 2^nd, 630-730. An email invite is on the way.

I also want to invite you for a zoom book discussion of the chapters from last month’s newsletter. You don’t need to be current to join the discussion. I’m thinking the 16^th, who’s in?

One of my Northern Praying Mantis teachers, Sifu Tony Chuy has died. And on the same day, one of my oldest friends and students, Craig Dawson, also passed to the celestial dojo above. Rest in peace…

Goodbye Snake, welcome, Horse! Peace, blessings, health, wealth, joy, and calm to us all.

-Sifu Ray

“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Contact info

my phone- 1-218-341-9894

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

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

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

School shirts- https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

My address,

5140 W. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437

Friday, January 2, 2026

MMTCA January Newsletter 2026

Splitrock Lighthouse, North Shore, LK Superior

“I am a lighthouse rather than a lifeboat. I do not rescue, but instead help others to find their way to shore.”

~ Anne Lamott

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 is a spectacular year for us all! Speaking of new year, Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, falls on a Tuesday, February 17^th. I’m planning on celebrating two days earlier on Sunday the 15^th. I’ll have more info for you in the next newsletter, but mark down the 15^th for our annual demo, ceremony, and banquet.

Our curriculum stays the same until after Chinese New Year, then we will be changing a few things. We will continue with section 3 of Sanshou, and then teach/review sections 1 and 2. Our Pushing Hands will focus on Willow #4, bring your notebooks! We’ll start Wudang Fencing, and continue with Double Saber drills until we go outside where we will learn the Double Saber form. Taiji Knife (Saber) with Kerchief, and Left Side Taiji Sword are on the docket. Xingyi will continue with 5 Elements and the Spear, plus Master Choi’s two person sensitivities. Bagua will continue with Swimming Dragon, Bagua sword, and begin two person sensitivities. That should keep us all busy!

Check your Patreon subscription, I’ve changed some of the Tiers. Let me know if you are in any financial hardship, I can always accommodate.

Book Suggestion= Something new! For 2026 I’d like to do something different for books, I’d like us all to read the SAME book, all year long. This year I’d like us to read The Skills & Essence of Yang Style Boxing/Martial Discussions by Huang Wenshu. You can get this from the Paul Brennan website. https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/martial-arts-discussions-by-huang-yuanxiu/

Let’s read from the beginning up to chapter 3, “Understanding How to Practice the Thirteen Dynamics.” As we read, let’s look for new information, confirm past information, look for something we can use in our practice, and what is the takeaway from this part of the book. Let’s see how it goes and try to do a zoom book club next month to discuss.

Li Jinglin, Wudang Sword Grandmaster.

I’m hopeful for another year filled with great health, new skills, deeper understanding, and outside classes! Thank you all!

-Sifu Ray

“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.”

~ Mary Davis

Contact info

my phone- 1-218-341-9894

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

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

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

School shirts- https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

My address,

5140 W. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437