MMTCA Newsletter September 2017

“Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”

-Hans Selye

Sept 15^th begins our Fall schedule. New classes and an additional night of classes await you! See the schedule at the end of this newsletter, and I'll be sending one to your e-mail as well.

Thank you to Fred, Julie, Margo, Kurt, my substitute teachers! I had a great vacation, including a visit with Master Choi in Chicago, a lot of fun workouts, sailing, and nature walks. Heaven!

Master Choi returns! I have the weekend of October 28^th and 29^th for more seminars including Standing Meditation, Qi-Gong, 12 Animals, and continuing the Main Form. More details and a sign-up will be posted.

I am also planning another one day in-house retreat for November. More details to follow.

Book Suggestions:

Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall

The Energy Cure: Unraveling the Mystery of Hands-On Healing by William Bengston

Tai-Chi Power Enhancement & Postures trans by Bradford Tyrey

It was a nice retreat and celebration of my 40^th Tai-Chi anniversary, and Jenny's birthday, up north. Great workouts at scenic locations, hikes, and meals together made it most memorable. I am planning a full retreat next summer with Master Choi as our guest. Stay tuned!

Our 1 Year Anniversary of Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy is September 1^st. I have a blog in the works, and one on the updates to the system.

Thank you all!

-Ray

“If you like to worry about things, you are living in a good time.”

-Bill Nye “the Science Guy”

contact

skrayhayward@gmail.com

rayhaywardblog@gmail.com

https://mindfulmotiontaichi.com/

612-404-7320

My Blog: The Inspired Teacher (rayhayward.com)

Facebook: Ray Hayward, Ray Hayward Enterprises, Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

How I spent My Summer Vacation (so far!)

 

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

-Napoleon

 

The Three Centers Revisited

 Decipher;
Succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something)
-from the Oxford dictionary 

In a previous blog (7/18/'17) I gave an introduction to the theory of the "Three Centers." This was to help students understand the practises and strategies of the three main internal martial arts, Hsing-Yi Chuan, Ba-Gua Chang, and Tai-Chi Chuan. I've had 7 teachers of Pa-Kua, 7 teachers of Hsing-Yi, and 6 teachers of Tai-Chi. After 40 years of learning and practicing these three arts, and many others, I'd like to share my ideas of the three centers more fully.

I learned Wu-Dang Sword fencing from Master T.T. Liang and Grandmaster Wai-lun Choi. Liang taught a traditional 6 sets of two-person fencing forms while Choi taught 13 techniques, with two-person drills and sensitivity, for free-style fencing.Both approaches used the circular footwork of Pa-Kua, the whole body power of Hsing-Yi, and the sensitivity of Tai-Chi.

I learned the 12 Animals and Loi Hong Bat Sai of Luk Hop Bat Fat from the lineage holder, Grandmaster Wai-lun Choi. I started the Main Form years ago, and am now back to learning that from Master Choi. I found that Liu Ho Pa Fa had techniques from the three main internal styles, as well as techniques from Shao-Lin and  other external styles. It also contains extensive Taoist Internal training methods, meditation,and qi-gong.

Yi-Chuan and Standing Meditation I have learned from 7 teachers, the most detailed and in depth study being with Master Wai-lun Choi.

I am currently cataloguing and organizing my study of the "Choi Method," the master's key to internal martial arts. This method is from Master Choi's 60 years of martial arts study and his experiences as a full-contact fighting champion, and a full time professional teacher. The Choi method simplifies and makes accessible the practises necessary for developing the internal connections and external harmonies in all martial arts, especially the soft, internal styles.

From my practice and teaching, I've updated the old saying which went;

"Hsing-Yi goes through the center, Pa-Kua goes around the center, Tai-Chi maintains the center,"

to;

"Hsing-Yi goes through the center,
  Pa-Kua goes around the center,
 Tai-Chi maintains the center,
 Liu Ho Pa Fa and Wu-Dang Sword combine the centers,
 Yi-Chuan refines the centers,
 The Choi Method deciphers the centers."