The Tai Chi Gala

[Boston Bagua]

Brothers and sisters,

I wanted to get this out to you all as there is a new Kung Fu event that is going to be held in Albany, NY next early summer.

The Tai Chi Gala: http://www.taichigala.com/index.html

For more information click on the link.

I will be teaching there as well as my teacher Dr. John Painter.

This is a brand new event.

Lets get together and celebrate Kung fu!!

[GeneChing]

What am I doing? Braiding Jenn's hair? Wtf does that have to do with tai chi?

Unfortunately, I can't attend this year. I've let Loretta know. It's too close to our own tournament, TCKFMCII, June 12, 2010.

[Boston Bagua]

Dear Folks,

Just a little news - If you were planning on going for the June 4-6 weekend at Tai Chi Gala, the super deep 20% off discount ENDS in 3 Days - DECEMBER 25!

www.TaiChiGala.com

Reg. $199, but this email special gets it to you for $159.

I hope I can also ask you to kindly spread the word about the Tai Chi Gala and Dr. Painter's long tradition of the Gathering of the Baguazhang Circle that takes place afterwards. You see, if you help us spread the word, I can keep the costs as low as possible for YOU since I won't have to spend it all on expensive advertising and marketing. I'd rather pass the discounts to you, but it will ONLY work if YOU HELP. THANKS!!!!!!!!!

ALSO: I managed to get your room and board costs very very low, with EXTRA lowered prices for the Bagua Circle June 7-11.

Get all the info at: www.TaiChiGala.com

And no, you don't have to become a member or anything like that. And the registration is NOW easiest it's ever been in years. I really like all of you - the internal arts community - and I want to continue to do the best possible for you. So... ENJOY!!! :-)

Hope to see you in June at the Tai Chi Gala and/or Dr. Painter's Gathering of the Baguazhang Circle.

Take care and have a GREAT day!

-Loretta Wollering
www.TaiChiGala.com

[Dale Dugas]

brothers and sisters,

I will be presenting a selction of workshops at the Tai Chi Gala 2010 which is hosted by Loretta Wollering, who was the last lineage student of Master Jou Tsung Hwa.

The Tai Chi Gala will be held in Albany, NY.


Come out and support Chinese Martial Arts!!

I will be teaching these workshops at the Tai Chi Gala:

Iron Palm Power Standing Power -- w/ Shifu Dale Dugas
Shifu Dugas is known for his iron palm & iron body skill, as well as for his potent “dit da jow” iron palm liniment. But many people don’t know the right ways to go about training for iron palm/iron body power or how to use the special herbal medicines and qigong that go along with the practice. Other people are mistaken that this is a practice only reserved for martial arts combat practitioners. Truth is, that iron palm/iron body methods are also phenomenal for bringing endurance and vigor to one’s health, and that massage therapists or other body workers can make their hands, body and energy much stronger, thus greatly improving their healing practice. Come see how the rarely seen qigong methods of iron palm can be added to anything you practice. Learn how this can develop your internal connection, strength, speed and endurance.


How to Make and Use Your Own Dit Da Jow Liniment -- w/ Shifu Dale Dugas

Many Chinese herbalists, bodywork healers and iron palm practitioners recognize Shifu Dugas’ dit da jow products as being the best and most potent available, both in the US as well as across the globe! This is because Dugas hand-selects all the herbal ingredients and bases his recipes on years of study and secret formulas from this branch of Chinese medicine. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to make one of the secrets of Chinese medicine that helps heal injuries and condition the body. Shifu Dugas will share one such highly guarded formula. He’ll dissect it and explain how you can make it even stronger. If you wish, he will have these rare supplies available for your purchase so that you too, can make your own potent bottle of dit da jow for martial or healing use.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Come say hello!

The week after the Tai Chi Gala sees the Jiulong Baguazhang Association hosting its annual Gathering of the Circle weeklong training camp.

Jihaoma Qigong and Earth Palm will be presented in an intense weeklong camp.

[kfson]

From the site:


"Welcome! Join Us!
Tai Chi Gala: June 4-6, 2010
Gathering of the Baguazhang Circle with Dr. John Painter: June 7-11, 2010

"The Tai Chi Gala: An Internal Arts Convention in Memory of Jou Tsung Hwa and Zhang San Feng"

Held at: The Best Western Albany Airport Inn; Albany, NY

This event is named after the original founder of the event, Tai Chi Master Jou Tsung Hwa, and for the legendary founder of the art of tai chi chuan from ancient China, Great Grandmaster Zhang San Feng.

Whether you are completely new to tai chi and the Chinese healing or martial arts, or if you are very experienced, you will find amazing, fun and practical information to enrich your life. Come alone and make new friends, or bring a bunch of friends and celebrate.

It's so easy to relax and enjoy - once you are registered, you can take any and all the workshops you want, whenever you want!"

[Dale Dugas]

Thanks for those of you who contacted me about my workshops and others offered at the Tai Chi Gala.

It is going to be great as this is a new venue for the memory of Master Jou Tsung Hua.

[Dale Dugas]

This is going to be the inaugural year for the festival which started as the Tai Chi Farm with Master Jou Tsung Hwa.

His student Loretta Wollering is hosting a new and improved festival in which workshops on various arts will be offered as well as hosting the annual gathering of the circle.

For anyone interested in attending visit http://www.taichigala.com/index.html

I thank you.

[Dale Dugas]

Hey everyone,

Im off to Albany for the Tai Chi Gala.

I have my kilt, tons of dit da jow, some most excellent Got Qi? 3 xl shirts from our fearless leader, Gene Ching.

I will be be reporting for Gene at this event. I will be writing up a little article on what happens.

If you are in the Albany area come visit and say hello, and get your photo taken with the Big Bald Skirt Wearing KFO Member.

Be well,

Dale

[Dale Dugas]

Gathering of the Circle 2010


The Annual Jiulong Baguazhang Gathering of the Circle with Dr. John Painter

This week-long post-convention workshop follows the Tai Chi Gala. Led by one of the most famous teachers of baguazhang (pa kua chang), Dr. John Painter. This powerful Chinese internal art is known for its sophisticated spiraling martial applications. Grab a cup of tea, relax, and read below what incredible treasures are in store for you...

"AN AMAZING PROGRAM FOR THE GATHERING OF THE CIRCLE 2010"

MORNING QIGONG TRAINING: JI-HAOMA QIGONG
After the success of our 2009 program featuring qigong, bagua palm raining and instructors workshops, we've decided to continue this theme into the 2010 Gathering.

Morning Training will be devoted to Quiet Sitting Meditation and the powerful Ji-Haoma Qigong ("Lucky Number Direction" in English). This is an art of personal feng shui for mind and body that allows you to draw the most powerful earth and sky energy. Ji Haoma Feng Shui helps us order our lives to live in harmony with nature’s laws.

This art is a method designed by the Li family of Sichuan Province, China, to tap into what the Chinese call "Dragon Veins" (magnetic energy of the earth) for the absorption of qi energy. Students learn how to orient in a direction of personal power for meditation and standing qigong and special circle walking holding postures designed to harmonize the body with the electromagnetic energy of the earth and the natural energy from the sun and moonlight that affects hormonal and chemical balance. Some of this knowledge is based on common sense and on ancient philosophy found in Daoism and the Yijing (I-Ching) as well as the Chinese lunar and solar calendars.

This method is a section of the late Master Li, Ching Yuen’s practice of qigong known as "Long Wudao Qigong" (Dragon Dancing Vital Energy Skill) from his personal baguazhang tradition. The complete Dragon Dancing art was passed down to the Li family of Sichuan province China where it came to be know as "Ba Gua Wu Xian" (8 Trigram Dances of the Immortals). The art was in turn passed from Master Li, Long-dao to Dr. John Painter. The Ji-Haoma program will be presented complete with you, the student, receiving your personally customized feng shui directions and baguazhang qigong postures for heightened internal healing and longevity energy.

AFTERNOON TRAINING: THE POWERS OF EARTH PALM
We will delve into a study of the spiraling palm, "Luoxuan Zhang," AKA the "Earth Palm." Like a mother who controls things with gentle power, earth energy rotates rapidly yet is stable like a spinning top. Earth energy is a spiraling energy used in the same way an arrow or bullet spinning in flight stabilizes itself. This spiraling energy (jin) can suck an outside force into its center or deflect an advancing energy from its rapidly turning surface. It can be offensive or defensive, making use of projections, throws and strikes that occur so quickly and softly that an attacker has no time to mount a defense.

Luoxuan Zhang is the way of the true gentle warrior. To become skilled in Jiulong Earth Palm we must study balance points, methods of attack and deflection, and we must come to understand the diverse ways in which the body can react, avoid, spin, flow and move. We must know our own weaknesses and formulate an invincible defense to protect them. Through this knowledge we come to know not only our enemy but also ourselves! This program is open to beginners through advanced students and new students are also welcome.


SPECIAL INSTRUCTORS TRAINING
Shifu Robert Castaldo, Jiulong Baguazhang instructor trainer of "The Gompa" in Arlington Texas, will present an instructors training program for new and established Jiulong teachers. This program will cover a wide array of in-depth methods for learning Jiulong Baguazhang basics, and curriculum & instructional methods used by our top Jiulong Baguazhang teachers. You should be enrolled in our teachers training program or be an established instructor of JBGZ to attend this program.

During the second half of the afternoon all students and instructors will join Dr. Painter's class working on the Earth Palm applications.

All instructors, students and beginners interested in Jiulong Baguazhang are invited to attend this special 5-day program sponsored by The Gompa and Alpha State Events.

The Early Bird price is only $399 for this entire week-long event! Register now to guarantee your space

FYI The "Tai Chi Gala" started out as Master Jou's "Zhang San Feng Festival"

"Zhang San Feng" (also spelled: Chang, San-Feng) is the legendary founder of the art of taijiquan (tai chi chuan) in old China. His birthday is often celebrated by tai chi enthusiasts in China and abroad with various "Zhang San Feng Festivals." In America, the Zhang San Feng Festival was founded by best-selling author and tai chi grandmaster teacher, Jou Tsung Hwa. Master Jou held America's largest Zhang San Feng Festival at his school and retreat center, "Tai Chi Farm" (Warwick, NY) from the mid-1980's to 1998. Master Jou's purpose in hosting the Zhang San Feng Festival was so that people could share knowledge, skills, opinions and wisdom about the art of tai chi chuan and its related practices. The environment was one of camaraderie and positive energy. People of all different abilities, ages, interests and backgrounds gathered peacefully at this awe-inspiring event.

During the 1990's, the Zhang San Feng Festival was directed and managed by his apprenticed student, Loretta M. Wollering. In that time she helped grow the Zhang San Feng Festival from 200 attendees to over 500, until Master Jou's fatal car accident in 1998. She resurrected the Zhang San Feng Festival and ran it with her then-spouse until their split in 2009. People had suggested that Wollering change the name of the event to differentiate it from other Zhang San Feng Festivals held by other tai chi groups, as well as to change the title to: 1) something easier for Westerners to spell and pronounce, and 2) to include a byline that was more inclusive to all internal arts practitioners as well as giving due credit to Master Jou and Great Grandmaster, Zhang San Feng. Thus, the name of the event was changed to: "Tai Chi Gala - An Internal Arts Convention in Memory of Jou Tsung Hwa and Zhang San Feng." This event, "Tai Chi Gala" is under the production and supervision of Loretta M. Wollering.

Through the decades, the event hosted a sampling of some of the biggest and brightest professionals in the Chinese Internal Arts, such as (listed in random order): Dr. John Painter, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Master Wang Ren Gang, Master Tina Zhang, Master Wm. C.C. Chen, Sf. William C. Phillips, Master Henry Look, Master Jianye Jiang, Dr. Gary Torres, Master Ren Guangyi, Master Tchoung Ta Tchen, Sf. Pat Rice, Dr. Yang Yang, Master B.P. Chan, Master T. K. Shih, Master Fong Ha, Sf. Katy Cheng (daughter of Cheng Man Ching), Gene Ching of Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine, Marvin Smalheiser of Tai Chi Magazine, Sf. Pedro Cepero-Yee and "Yee's Hung Ga" award-winning Lion Dance Troupe, and many, many more...

At this convention there truly are treasures for EVERYONE to discover. From seasoned martial arts experts looking to finesse their skills with rare knowledge and techniques, to people searching for seminars that go deep ino the spiritual and meditative side of the ancient Chinese arts, to people looking for healing and energy development in workshops related to qigong (energy work) and the secrets of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some workshops are very active in nature, and others are very leisurely. Above all, the presenters at this convention are highly experienced - having taught very large groups and often having authored books and videos - and at the same time, they are very friendly - ensuring a respectful environment where everyone feels welcome and motivated. And there's a great vendors' area as well!

Some people come alone to this convention, and leave brimming with smiles, incredible knowledge, new friends and the memories of a lifetime. Others come along with a large group of friends with whom they can relax, discuss, and practice their newly learned skills. You can learn more in these few days than you would in years, and you will meet more fascinating, like-minded individuals in this one place than anywhere else. Come and soak up the positive energy - we're looking forward to meeting you!

Be sure to read the Presenter Bios and Gala Workshops Info!

[Dale Dugas]

I thank the people who contacted me about the gathering.

Looking forward to having another incredible weeklong training camp!

[Mor Sao]

Gene,

Going to miss you this year, brother.

Have a great tourney out there in CA.

I am presenting Complete Iron Palm training as well as an Herb class.

Come on out if you live in the area.

www.taqichigala.com

[GeneChing]

Please remember me to those there, Mor Sao. And have a shot of some ginseng violated single malt abomination for me.

P.S. You got the website wrong above. It's taichigala.com. Your extra 'q' is no doubt a result of too many ginseng violated single malt abomination shots.

[GeneChing]

She wrote some coverage for us too. That'll be in our next issue, the SEP+OCT 2016.

The Tai Chi Gala was too short
Use your key for the next article
Next: Andrea Tantaros fans demand Fox News bring her back: Petition signed by 13,200
June 20, 2016 6:32 AM MST
VIOLET LI



I arrived at the venue of the 2016 Tai Chi (Taiji) Gala in Albany, New York in the late afternoon of Friday June 3. With the new remodeling work, the hotel lobby had more ambiance and looked attractive. It did not matter much to me because what drew me most was the warmhearted atmosphere generated by the Gala staff and attendees who came earlier. I saw new faces among many familiar ones. It was good to see young people joined this year’s event. Some enthusiastically discussed what they learned from Sifu Richard Clear during the pre-Gala sessions on internal power (energy).

Sifu Loretta Wollerging led meditation practice during the closing ceremony
Violet Li
Originally founded by Grandmaster Jou Tsung Hwa and named the "Zhang San Feng Festival", the Tai Chi Gala is now organized by Jou’s disciple Sifu Loretta Wollering to unite Tai Chi, Bagua, Xingyi, Qigong, and other internal arts enthusiasts in a sharing spirit. This year’s Gala was held in the weekend of June 3-5 and followed by a weeklong training of Water Palm of the Nine Dragon Baguazhang hosted by Dr. Painter.

On Friday evening, Sifu Wollering kicked off the event by hosting the opening ceremony and a Daoist (or Taoist) Incense Ceremony to express the gratitude toward Zhang San Feng, the creator of the internal style martial arts, late Grandmaster Jou Tsung Hwa, and any passing teachers people wish to honor. The opening ceremony was welcoming, informative, and spiritual. It was almost 11 pm when the ceremony ended. Scores of aficionados gathered in a meeting room and practiced push hands with each other until 2 am.

Surprisingly, about 80 people showed up for the 6 am Silk Reeling workshop next day. This year’s program was enhanced with new classes of I-Lig Chuan, which is literally translated as “Mental-Physical Martial Art.” Lineage holder Sifu Sam Chin stated that I-Lig’s core feature is centered on cultivating consciousness as based on the philosophies of Taoism and Zen. Sifu Chin introduced the concept of balancing the Yin and Yang muscles in Push Hands that was intriguing and generated much interests from attendees and even other Sifus.

Sifu Ren Gang Wang stated that Da Cheng Quan or commonly known as “Yiquan,” is a martial arts system created by Wang Xiangzhai. It strips away a lot of the excess and gets to the “core” of martial art and a rock-solid mental stability and unshakeable inner peace. Sifu YuZhi Lu taught Tai Chi 24 and provided refinements for advanced students. Sifu Avi Schnerier offered an advanced correction class on the Chen Man Ch’ing form. Avi also introduced a segment of Sun Style Tai Chi form, that incorporated elements of Tai Chi, Bagua, and other internal arts. Dr. John Painter explained exactly what “double weighting” mean in both internal and external martial arts not only physically but also mentally. I taught Bai Si Fang, a short form with elements of Peng (ward-off), Lu (roll-back), Ji (squeeze), An (press), Qian Jin (forward), Zuo Gu (turn left), You Pan (turn right), and Zhong Ding (central equilibrium) as an introduction to Chen Tai Chi. Real Iron Palm not only does not damage your hands but strengthening them. Sifu Dale Dugas stated that Iron Palm is 80% internal with many exercises trained before hitting your hands on a bag full of medium. Sifu Ken Lo helped students to explore the use of circular forms, or spirals based on the Wu Mei Pai teaching.

There were a few sessions mainly focusing on the health aspect. Sifu Donald Wong shared Qigong and energy techniques for self-healing of low back pain and stiffness. Dr. John Painter taught how to use Baguazhang Five Circles to generate full body energy (Jin), stimulate the lymphatic system, increased oxygenation of the body, open tight joints, and improve flexibility. Sifu Jian Ye Jiang trained people with easy yet effective Chinese Yoga and Yin/Yang Medical Qigong for health purposes. Sifu Ren Gang Wang said that Yiquan is derived from the Chinese internal art of “Xing Yi Quan” and shared effective standing meditation techniques to strengthen people inside out. Sifu Steve Watson stated that the body is the crucible for the mind-heart alchemies brought into action by martial art or meditative practices. The body is the temple, and spirit must be brought in for the body to repair and rebuild.

As a Push Hands expert, Sifu Richard gave two in-depth workshops. First he talked about how to use breath work (or Qigong), Silk Reeling/coiling (Chan Si Jin), and Qin Na (grappling and joint locks) work in push hands. He also introduced the concept of Internal Push Hand by building and utilizing Qi (life force energy), Yi (intent), Jing (martial energy), and developing a powerful root. Sifu Steve Watson said Qigong and Push Hands are meant to dynamically interact and give rise to one another.

Sifu Ken Lo taught how to appreciate fine Chinese teas in a pleasant 2-hour tea ceremony. The teas were served in a set of two cups, a tall aroma cup that concentrated the tea mist to release wonderful aromas reminiscent of flowers, cream, grass, and caramel, and a short cup that cooled the tea to present rich tastes that are earthy, fresh, green, and sweet.

As a journalist, I felt exhausted to cover this event due to multiple sessions taking places at the same time. Just like many attendees’ remark that the program was rich and they were sorry that they had to make hard choices which workshops to attend. Some said that a weekend was not long enough and they are now looking forward to next year’s event.

Note: There are over event 400 photos online. You can click the link here.

Disclosure: I was a presenter at 2016 Tai Chi Gala.