Northwest T'ai Chi Ch'uan Association
UCR Student Recreation Center Weekend Workshops

All workshops are held on Sundays at the University of California Riverside Student Recreation Center from 1:00 to 3:30.
The cost is $24. for UCR students and $36. for all others.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Sword

This will be the Tchoung version of the Yang Style Chien, Straight sword, Form. Grandmaster Tchoung taught a very intricate and subtle form which reflects the concepts of the T'ai-chi ch'uan. This is the traditional length, which some call the long form. Some practice swords will be available for purchase at the workshop. If a student wants to buy a sword they should leave a message for me so that he will know to bring enough swords. If a student wants to substitute a dowel rod, or yard stick that is fine. The stick should be no longer than from two inches below the navel to the ground. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.

A light practice stick is recommended. Escrima or Arnis sticks would work fine for the workshop. As you already know, No real swords are allowed, practice swords should be dull and not have a sharp point.

Beginning Students will work on the Chien Sword form from the beginning. Those who have studied the form previously but don't know the whole form will work on the section that they need to learn. So we will have different groups at the same time. You will learn the correct way to do T'ai-chi chien.

Advanced students who already know the long form will work on precision of the movements, applications and then those who want to work on sword sparring will work on sword sparring.

If you don't want to do sparring you don't have to. It is for those who really want to do that and willing to get some bruises.

Anyone who wants to practice the sword sparring should have had the sword class in the past and know the basic sword techniques. For safety, only students who exhibit control over the sword will be allowed to spar. They need to bring a safe sword, that is a padded safety sword, eye protection and hand protection. Body armor is recommended but not necessary. Students will assume total responsibility for their own safety. The University and instructor will not assume any responsibility for injuries or deaths that may occur during the class.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push Hands

T'ai Chi Pushing Hands is a method of training with a partner to learn sensitivity and centering.  Students will learn about the energies of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.  Pushing hands is practiced as a health promotion exercise, for Stress Reduction, as well as to learn the meaning of T'ai Chi Ch'uan energies.  This workshop will help you gain competence at pushing hands.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan San Shou

T'ai-Chi San Shou is an advanced form which is done both solo and with a partner. This form come from the Old form of Yang Style T'ai-chi ch'uan as taught by Yang Shao-hou. The form teaches the applications of the t'ai-chi ch'uan movements including strikes, throws and joint locks. The form is practiced as a health promotion exercise, for Stress Reduction, as well as to learn the meaning of t'ai-chi ch'uan movements.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Walking Stick

This workshop will teach the T'ai Chi weapon form that uses a straight waist-high, walking stick.  The powerful and practical form is popular as an exercise for developing mind and body coordination.  The focus in on techniques, applications, and the partner T'ai Chi Walking Stick form.  Taught by Sifu Kurland who studied this form with the originator.  

Pa-Kua Chang (Bagua Zhang)

Pa-Kua Chang also written Bagua Zhang, "Eight Trigrams Palm" is one of the three main internal styles of Chinese martial arts, T'ai-chi ch'uan and Hsing-I ch'uan being the other two. Similar to T'ai-chi, it shares a philosophy of circularity and "Neigong" Internal energy, Intent, breathing and relaxation. Bagua helps develop agility, coordination, grace, and power. It is popular among dancers, serious internal martial artists and alternative health seekers. Bagua's uniquely spiral, helical, spherical and coiling movements are based on intricate and specific body principles. The Traditional Cheng Ting Hua Style Bagua including: Circle Walking, Energy Palms and Single Palm Changes will be taught.

Ch'i (qi) interpretation and treatment methods of Indonesia

Lecture and demonstration of Chinese and Indonesian Chi methods and Indonesian Ch'i diagnosis techniques. This is a theory class. No treatment of illness will be done.  Stephen Bay learned this method in Indonesia. Kurland will discuss Ch'i in t'ai-chi ch'uan.

Canemaster Self Defense with a hooked cane

Sensei Toma Rosenzweig Certified Canemasters Instructor from Aikido Daiwa and Harvey Kurland from UCR.  1:00 until 3:00.  This workshop will focus on the self defense techniques using the hooked cane and as taught by a certified Canemasters Instructor and then a contrast to tai-chi cane by a certified Tai Chi cane Instructor.  Open to all students.  Canemasters Canes will be available at the workshop for workshop use. Catalogs to buy cane will also be available Reservations suggested, please reserve your space.  2 hours  $25 for non students. Discount for UCR students. suggested.  November 16th at University Of California Riverside Student Recreation Center Studio A. Only registered students will be allowed to attend.

Knife Edged Weapon Self Defense

This two-hour block of study and hand-on's training provides the essential building blocks of surviving an edged weapon attack at close ranges (approx. six to eight feet) with your bare hands. This is this 'no man's land' where you cannot access your own weapon and are faced with sudden confrontation with hand-held edged object. There is no time to deploy other options. This workshop provides the immediate and optimum solutions to worse case sudden assaults. Scope of study includes basic stances, grips operation and defense against the edged weapons in the event of actual altercation. Topics include anatomy of engagement, reactive defense for low and high-line attacks, escape, evasion and the ugliest of them all the extreme close quarter tactical defense against the edged weapon. Street survival techniques to solve some the worst edged weapon scenarios out there today. This outstanding workshop provides answers to the most difficult altercation range of hand-to-hand combat.

Soaring Crane Chi Kung

This two-hour block of study and hand-on's training provides the essential building blocks of surviving an edged weapon attack at close ranges (approx. six to eight feet) with your bare hands. This is this 'no man's land' where you cannot access your own weapon and are faced with sudden confrontation with hand-held edged object. There is no time to deploy other options. This workshop provides the immediate and optimum solutions to worse case sudden assaults. Scope of study includes basic stances, grips operation and defense against the edged weapons in the event of actual altercation. Topics include anatomy of engagement, reactive defense for low and high-line attacks, escape, evasion and the ugliest of them all the extreme close quarter tactical defense against the edged weapon. Street survival techniques to solve some the worst edged weapon scenarios out there today. This outstanding workshop provides answers to the most difficult altercation range of hand-to-hand combat.

Tibetan Five Element Breathing (Pranayama)

Dr. Prakash is a 4th Dan in Aikido, Director of the Center for Scholarship in
Spirituality and President of the Asian Faculty Staff and Student
Association CSUSB. He is President of the Yeru Bön Center, established in
Los Angeles by Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche to preserve and disseminate ancient
Tibetan traditions in the West.