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Trip to China for the 10th WKFC: An Overwhelming Experience
In the US Challenge Championship in 2023 I qualified for the US Kung Fu Team giving me the opportunity to compete in the 10th World Kung Fu Championship at Emei Mountain, China in October, 2025.
2 min read
Applying the 10 Essences of Taiji to Piano Playing
The 10 Essences in Taiji, an essential part of this ancient discipline, can also be applied to piano playing.
3 min read
Do I want to come to class today?
It is the first Saturday in November, and it is 35℉ when it is time to go to the bus stop for class. It is too cold this early in the...
1 min read
Confessions of a Student. Can I change my destiny?
Have you ever known that tweak of shame when you’re feeling impatient and do something you know is unkind but do it anyway? A sharp word? A loud sigh? Perhaps an intimidating look designed to quell another person’s words? My confession. Recently I’ve been doing all those things. It’s becoming a habit. Not promising for someone who aspires to the Warrior Spirit as described by Coach Pei in this article . One stanza makes this all too clear: ‘The stronger spirited one [the W
2 min read
Discovering Yang Zhenji's Traditional Taiji
In August of 1998 Christopher Pei and his wife Zhang Guifeng, senior instructors at the U.S. Wushu Academy in Falls Church, Virginia, took a group of students to Beijing to study at the Beijing Sports Academy. Some of us studied Wushu and others studied traditional Yang family Taiji with Yang Zhenji and his wife Pei Xiurong. The Taiji group included Charles Peters, Pat Wilson, Richard Carnes, Mark Walters, Carol Breitner, and Mark Waldman.
10 min read
Introduction to Qigong
Qigong translates as energy combined with skill. Our effort is focused on moving energy within the body. In the Chinese language, energy and oxygen are the same word. The Chinese symbol shows fire at the bottom burning something that is empty. Qi is thought to be the basis for all the energy in the universe. This energy has no shape and cannot be seen or touched. However, the force is very real and with practice it can grow and become stronger.
6 min read
"Let me see your neck" (The Beginning of Ten Essences)
"Let me see your neck," Coach Pei instructed, as we prepared to do the form in our Saturday morning class. I thought to myself, my neck, see my neck, this is not one of the Ten Essences Coach had talked about and it definitely was not part of what I thought I needed to work on today.
4 min read
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