TERRY DUNN'S TAI CHI FOR HEALTH & QIGONG FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
August Hit the Beaches Issue. Zoom in for Tai Chi Form, Flying Phoenix Qigong, and Class in Advanced Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung, TTP Kung Fu, and Flying Phoenix Qigong.
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. 58, 59, 60, 61 = August 6, 13, 20, 27.
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 –– 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. 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—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)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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. 149, 150, 151, 152 = August 6, 13, 20, 27
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. 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 = August 1, 8, 15, 22, 30
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. Instruction in advanced Tao Tan Pai Qigong systems: Shen Exercises and Six Stars Qigong.
4. Refinement of Flying Phoenix Moving meditations: A. “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” — the 2nd most advanced Flying Phoenix moving meditation (on Volume 3 of Chi Kung For Health DVD series ) B. “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). Instruction in 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 12 noon on each day of class) to receive the Zoom Meeting Password by 5pm EST.
IV. Music pick for the month of August.
It’s the height of summer and I miss my beloved Southern California beaches. Besides favorite 60’s classics by the Beach Boys (“Do It Again”) and Jan and Dean (“Surf City” and “Ride the Wild Surf”), one of the greatest celebrations of the energy of sun, sand, surf, and surfing is this Surf Medley by Junior Brown, one of the finest, most humorous, and most underrated country singer-guitarists alive whose virtuosity knows no bounds of musical genre. In his three-song medley of 1960’s surf classics, Junior knocks out “Pipeline” by the Chantay’s, “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures, and an instrumental version of “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers. This fun and gassy performance is from the 1960’s, but Jr. Brown is still performing today. (Also check out Youtube : “Highway Patrol”, “My Wife Thinks You're Dead,” “Sugarfoot Rag,” and “Hang Up and Drive.”)
••> But that’s not all: PLAY THIS NEXT SONG RIGHT AWAY—especially you Scorpio’s out there.
Youtube’s algorithm just followed Junior Brown’s Surf Medley above with this favorite of mine by Wilco: “Impossible Germany” that came out in 2007. Written by Nels Cline, this song is absolutely gorgeous, rugged yet eloquent—with iconic guitar solo by Cline that smoothly devolves into a beautiful chaos with the other guitars in the pocket. One of the best guitar song of the past 20 years:
*This rather alchemic pairing—Jr. Brown “Surf Medley” followed by “Impossible Germany”— is in perfect synchronicity with my Scorpio (rising) horoscope of this past week as deftly charted by the gifted and anointed Rob Brezny:
♏ SCORPIO
Your theme for the coming weeks is "pleasurable gooseflesh.” I expect and hope you’ll experience it in abundance. You need it and deserve it! Editor Corrie Evanoff describes "pleasurable gooseflesh" as "the primal response we experience when something suddenly violates our expectations in a good way.” It can also be called "frisson"—a French word meaning “a sudden feeling or sensation of excitement, emotion, or thrill.” One way this joy may occur is when we listen to a playlist of songs sequenced in unpredictable ways—say Mozart followed by Johnny Cash, then Edit Piaf, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Queen, Luciano Pavarotti, and Yellow Magic Orchestra. Here’s your homework: Imagine three ways you can stimulate pleasurable gooseflesh and frisson, then go out and make them happen.
—Thus I came up with Junior Brown followed by Wilco!
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.”)