TERRY DUNN'S TAI CHI FOR HEALTH & QIGONG FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Fourth of July issue; Ongoing Tai Chi Short Form Classes; 3-day Tao Tan Pai 31 Meditations Workshop--July 28 to 30;
Hilma af Klint
THESE TWO together emerge: The nameless and the named, The spiritual and the material. Although we give them different names, in origin, they are one and the same. This sameness is a mystery —more profound than the profound. The gateway of all subtleties.
– LAO TZE (604 B.C. - 504 B.C.)
WEEKLY COMMUNITY CLASSES (Zoom)
I. TAI CHI FOR HEALTH: 60-part Short Form and Tai Chi Sword Form of Grandmaster William C.C. Chen—plus form refinement and applications for self-defense.
Sundays 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Classes No. 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 = July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.
Graceful in movement, slow in tempo, relaxed in perfectly natural postures, Tai Chi form practice improves circulation, respiration, metabolism, flexibility, and the neuromuscular function—agility, balance coordination, and proprioception. This weekly 90-minute class teaches you the 60-posture Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form created by my teacher, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen—along with applications of the form for self-defense. The class will provide basic to intermediate instruction in Push-hands (fixed step sparring) for students at all levels. Once properly learned, the Short Form will serve your throughout a lifetime.
In addition to learning Master William C.C. Chen’s subtle Tai Chi body mechanics that develop muscle-free, “toes-to-fingers” energization that leads to the high-level skill that our style calls the “slow fa-jing”, you will also learn different ways of perfecting each of the 60 postures in the Yang Short Form--that I first learned from my teacher’s classmate, GM Abraham Liu from 1980 to 1992, which I have practiced and taught for 30 years. My step-by-step instruction in the Short Form and refinement of each posture will be supplemented each week by a warm-up module at the start of each class comprised of selections from a wide repertoire of classical Tai Chi conditioning exercises that I’ve acquired over the past 49 years. This 20-minute module will utilize time-proven methods such as:
1. The Silkweaver’s Exercise - an excellent classical Qigong exercise that’s easy-to-do and develops 4 basic and essential stances for Tai Chi, wonderfully opens and closes the chest and back, relaxes the back, does a superb job of relaxing the intercostals with one knowing it, promotes toes-to-fingers energization, and even prepares one for reverse breathing.
2. 3 foundational Yang-style exercises – as taught by the late Master Abraham Liu A. “The Gentle Bear”exercise— the “Wave Hands Like Clouds” pattern done in bow stances and ma-bu followed by the “Brush Knee” pattern in the same; B. Alternating Play Guitar and Lifting Hands exercise with 90º steps; C. the Left-right Alternating “Snake Creeps Down” Figure-8 Exercise. (As seen in the first 40 minutes of my Tai Chi For Health DVDs made in 1989)
3. Qing Dynasty Imperial Guard Exercises - Practiced by the Qing emperors’ palace guards from 1644 to 1912. (As taught by Master George Xu in the 1980’s at his workshops at the Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego.)
4. Master James Lau King’s 5 Loosening Exercises. Master King is a senior student of the late Grandmaster Huang Sheng Shyan and teaches his teacher’s five loosening exercises that not only develop Tai Chi body mechanics, but each exercise trains a powerful set of Tai Chi kung fu applications.
5. Chen Style Chan-Su-Jin (“Silk-reeling”) exercises—originally by Master John Fey.
Joining the Livestream Session
Zoom Meeting ID: 893 1017 7261
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89310177261?pwd=alZSanFDdXdHTUxZNC9rTzNMMFlEZz09
FEE: $30 per class; $210 / 8-class series; or $450 / 16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com)
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My background in Tai Chi Chuan: 43 years of experience in the Cheng Man-Ching lineage of Tai Chi Chuan, having previously studied with Master William C.C. Chen's two classmates from Taiwan, the late Masters Abraham Liu (1980-1992) and Benjamin Lo (13 summer workshops in La Honda, CA, 1980-1992)—learning the Professor Cheng’s 37-posture Short Form and his 108-posture Long Form. I taught Tai Chi form and push-hands on my own for 20 years starting in 1993. Then I met GM William C.C. Chen in 2012 and have training and teaching under his auspices to this day.
[See my martial arts bio. at: http://www.taichimania.com/tdbio.html ]
With Grandmaster William C.C Chen at a Los Angeles workshop.
II. QIGONG FOR HEALTH FOR 1st RESPONDERS: TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD + FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG
Sundays 4 - 6 pm EST. Classes No. 145, 146, 147, 148 = July 2, 9, 16, 23. (*No class on July 30 because of TTP Workshop in Catskill.)
Our 139th Livestream of Qigong For Health For First-Responders is set for this Sunday, May 7 from 3pm to 4:30pm Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada), with 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A immediately following.
Each class immerses you in two (not one, but two) authentic and powerful ancient Taoist monastic systems of Qigong that impart tangible, visible, repeatable, and verifiable health benefits on the way to self-empowerment.
(1) Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) Qigong - Each class begins with a half-hour practice of the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, a classical distillation of the Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Meditations (“TTP-31”). The TTP-31 is the first of six levels in Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung—not counting the TTP 5 Animal Kung fu Forms that are foundational to the Nei Kung.
(2) Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditations (“Fei Feng San Gung”) imparts tangible energizing and rejuvenating effects—and deep meditative states of consciousness— in surprisingly swift manner—within 30 to 50 minutes of practicing any combination of the 8 basic standing meditations or 24 seated meditations. The allostatic (restorative) effects of FP Qigong practice continue long after one’s practice has ceased and often very often will set on once again as if one were practicing.
"Flying Phoenix Qigong practice significantly elevates parasympathetic tone. 90 minutes of practice of this Qigong is restorative in real time and over time afterwards."
- Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, M.D., M.P.H., IOC Dip. Sp. Med. Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Public Health Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology (December 2019)
Joining the Livestream Session
To experience the profound health benefits of these two rare and extraordinarily powerful Taoist Qigong arts that are easy-to-do and profoundly restorative holistic health practices, and join a lively worldwide community of students dedicated to holistic health, personal growth, self-empowerment, spiritual fortitude, sign up for the next Sunday session:
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 872 7703 0824
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87277030824?pwd=dXdyVHd0QnBMWVZlR2htVWtYdlF4QT09
FEE: $40 per class; $280 / 8-class series; or $500 / 16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com) before 1:00 PM on the day of he class) —or send an email to zenbearinc@gmail.com asking to be sent a Paypal money request that you can use any credit or debit card to pay.) You will then be sent the Meeting Password by 2pm
III. INTERMEDIATE QIGONG & BASIC KUNG FU
Tuesdays 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Classes No. 137, 138, 139, = July 11, 18, 25
July 11 will be the 137th intermediate-level Qigong & Kung Fu class of this ongoing weekly series (from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST). This course concentrates on the intermediate and advanced levels of the two rare and powerful Kung Fu/Qigong systems: Tao Tan Pai (Taoist Elixir Method”) Nei Kung created in the Tang Dynasty and Ehrmei Mountain White Tiger Kung Fu, created in 1644 by Taoist monk Feng Dao Deh, the latter which includes Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Qigong, its health safety “net”, a purely medical Qigong system.
Prerequisites for joining the Intermediate class have recently been adjusted—please note:
1. Proficiency in all of the Flying Phoenix standing Qigong exercises up to and including “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” moving meditation—i.e., proficiency in performing all the meditative exercises in Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of Chi Kung For Health DVD series. —i.e. you should have “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” moving meditation memorized and be able to do it and its breath control sequence from memory and with the eyes closed.
2. Proficiency in the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga—and familiarity with the overall sequence of TTP 31 Basic Meditations—as acquired through attendance of two 3-day TTP Qigong workshops at Eastover Estate over past 3 years, or 3 months of weekly community classes.
Course Agenda:
1. Warm up with the Tao Tan Pai Cane Form.
2. Instruction in the basic Tao Tan Pai Monkey, Crane, Snake, Tiger, and Dragon forms.
3. Refinement of “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” (2nd most advanced Flying Phoenix moving meditation)
4. Refinement of Flying Phoenix capstone exercise, “Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditation”, aka, the Long Form Standing Meditation (on Volume 4 of CKFH).
5. Refinement of “Monk Serves Wine” seated FP Meditations (#1 - #8)
ADVANCED TRAINING (#6 - #8) are available to students whom I have been certified as instructors in Taoist Elixir Method Basic 31 Meditations and Basic Flying Phoenix Qigong:
6. Instruction in the Advanced Flying Phoenix Qigong (9 standing moving meditations)
7. Instruction in “Monk Serves Wine” advanced seated Meditations (#9 - #24)
8 Instruction in the Bok Fu Pai “Eagle Claw Ten Hook Attack Form”—as seen here:
9. Instruction in the 8 Sections of Energy Combined (“Bat Din Gum”) Kung Fu System—as seen at the top of this section.
10. Introduction to “10,000 Buddhas Ascend To Heaven” – 54 Meditations.
11. San-shou (free sparring). Introduction to my style of street fighting that combines Crane Kung Fu, Mok-Gar “Browns” (”Splashing hands”) techniques, and Tai Chi Chuan’s body mechanics.
JOINING THE INTERMEDIATE COURSE LIVESTREAM: Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm EST
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 828 6280 6822
Registration URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82862806822?pwd=VWpGRkQ3LzN6RDNZYUhweXRYNTRuUT09
FEE: $60/ class or $440 / 8-class series or $800/16-class series
• Please send tuition via Paypal to zenbearinc@gmail.com or via Zelle to terencedunn@gmail.com (before 4:00 PM on each day of class) to receive the Zoom Meeting Password by 5pm EST.
*IV. July 28 to 30: TTP-31 WORKSHOP!!
TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD (“TAO TAN PAI”) BASIC 31 MEDITATIONS SYSTEM — taught in a three-day, 14-hour immersive workshop — Zoomable! Mark your calendars!
At Tao Retreat (Han Chinese Culture Assoc.): 33 Tao Road in Catskill, NY
A rare opportunity to the learn the Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) Basic 31 Meditations, a rare and powerful system of moving meditation and breath control that imparts good health, vitality, and athletic empowerment. The specific health benefits of Tao Tan Pai’s Basic 31 Meditations (TTP-31) practice are improved circulation, respiration, digestion, metabolism, posture, flexibility, agility, balance, neuro-muscular coordination, sound and restful sleep, and strong immunity. TTP-31 practice imparts this wide range of health benefits by cultivating concentrated energy flow throughout the body through the coordination of the eyes, mind, movement and breath according to its unique and esoteric yogic formula.
Taoist Elixir Method is an authentic Taoist monastic system of hygienics and martial arts that was created during China’s Tang Dynasty and is attributed to Lu Deng Bin, the de facto leader of the Eight Taoist Immortals (saints) and was preserved for 23 generations at the Ancient Temple of the Yellow Dragon ( 黃龍古殿 Huanglong Guguan ) near Mt. Luohu in China’s Guangdong province before Taoist priest Share Lew brought the art to America in 1948. Master Dunn trained in Tao Tan Pai from 1975 to 1983 under Master Share Lew and his senior student, the ven. John Davidson.
The TTP-31 is the first level of the immensely sophisticated, six-level system of Nei Kung that is profoundly transformative of human physiology and consciousness. The TTP-31 Meditations are the health- and stance-promoting foundation of the Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu system that cultivates concentrated energy flow throughout the body by coordinating the eyes, mind, movement and breath according to an esoteric yogic formulas that utilize Five Element Theory and Yin-Yang Theory as applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM. Practice of the TTP-31 Meditations in its classical sequence systematically develops natural body mechanics, improves balance, agility and coordination, and develops in the practitioner conscious control over the subtle energy flows of the body. Beginners after one class remark that the TTP-31 practice opens the heart, clears and focuses the mind and profoundly strengthens the body.
Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung is the secret "engine" within Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu that develops natural body mechanics, sustained high energy levels, and conscious command over the subtle energy flows of the body —so as to elevate the Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and the TTP healing arts to supernormal levels of efficacy. Because it is the foundation and core of Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu, the TTP-31 Meditations are an ideal complementary practice or ideal warm-up or recovery regimen for all aerobic sports or athletic activities in addition to martial arts.
In this well-paced 14-hour workshop, you will learn the 15 standing and 16 seated meditations that comprise the Basic TTP-31 Meditation Sequence. The 15 standing meditations are all unique to Tao Tan Pai and the ones with breath-retention couple with peristaltic contractions are not found in any other yogic system in the human history. Of the 16 seated meditations, only the three sedentary ones—”Earth Meditation,” “Sky Meditation,” and the “Candle Gazing Posture”—are found in other yogic traditions.
You will also learn the Tao Tan Pai “Short Form Power Yoga,” which is an early 20th Century distillation of the TTP-31 system consisting of five of the 31 meditations that provide substantial Qi cultivation in 40-60 minutes. Thus, if there is any such thing as "modern Qigong (that works)”, the TTP Short Form Power Yoga is it.
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Footnote A: While much older than Ehrmei Mtn. Flying Phoenix Qigong by some 900+ years and having a totally different yogic methodology (—i.e., one as different as night and day), Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung happens to be a perfect foundational catalyst for FP Qigong because of its shen-driven body mechanics. Thus is profoundly enhances and prolongs FP’s health benefits, all practitioners of both systems have discovered.
Footnote B: Practitioners of authentic Chinese, Indian, Tibetan, Persian, and Amerindian systems of yoga and meditation will find the TTP-31 Meditations will further energize, ground, and deepen their respective practices.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The 3-day immersive workshop, July 28 to July 30, consists of 7 two-hour sessions with 2 sessions on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday at these times:
Friday: 3pm - 5pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Saturday: 10am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Sunday: 1 0am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm EST
TUITION
$400 early registration
$440 day of workshop
$57 for each of the seven 2-hour sessions
• ZOOM PARTICIPATION:
$50 per 2-hour session or $320 / all 7 sessions [Zoom log-on links will be emailed to registrants the day before the workshop begins]
• Please send payment via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com •
• TO MAKE ROOM AND/OR MEAL PLAN RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT Yurong 豫容 Julia Li 李 at: jl@hancca.org or info@hancca.org Tel: (917) 828-0731
See you in Catskill.
mitakuye oyasin,
(Lakota greeting and prayer that means “All are related,” “To all my relations,” and “Help and health to all my brothers and sisters.”)
Sifu Terry Dunn
P.S. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY SONG PICK:
One of the best live performances of “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John ever—ironically, at the Royal Opera House in London.