Spring 2007

Master Wang Fu-Lai, Chairman of the International Cheng Ming Association, visitedCharlottesville from Taiwan to bless the new Hiromi T’ai Chi Dojo and welcome the school as amember of the Association.

On Saturday, January 27th Master Wang was at the center of a magical night of demonstra-tions of T’ai Chi, Ch’i Kung, Hsing-I and Ba Gua. Master Wang demonstrated the 14- Step T’aiChi form, the Hsing-I Spear, Hsing-I Saber and the Ba Gua “Swimming Body form.” Eric Hungbrought three students from his Cheng Ming Dojo in Plano, Texas and James Lee brought fourstudents from Fairfax, Virginia. They demonstrated a number of Cheng Ming forms, withemphasis on Hsing-I. Hiromi demonstrated T’ai Chi Sword, Hsing-I Sword, Hsing-I Staff forms,as well as a standing meditation set.

On Sunday, January 28 Master Wang taught four inspiring seminars on the Cheng Ming 99-Step T’ai Chi form. He discussed such topics as Ch’i flow and the health benefits of individualmovements. Master Wang also demonstrated numerous martial arts applications related to theT’ai Chi form. He inspired the students of Hiromi T’ai Chi and other participants in the seminarsto practice the form with a new sense of purpose and understanding. Thank youMaster Wang!

Master Wang poses with participants in the Cheng Ming 14-Step T’ai Form Seminar. photo: Martin Johnson

Still Moving 2

In September 2006, we started classes andworkshops for at-risk youth and the physi-cally/mentally challenged community. Weoffer heartfelt thanks to the donors associ-ated with the Charlottesville Area Commu-nity Foundation, as well as private donorswho made this program possible. Your gen-erous gifts made it possible for us to offer theclasses listed below.

2006Post High

9/14 to 10/19, 10/26 to 12/7Carver Center, Charlottesville Parks &Recreation

9/11 to 10/16Independence Resource Center

9/19 to 10/24Cale Elementary School

10/11 to 11/17

Jackson-Via Elementary School9/20 to 12/20

Saturday, December 9T’ai Chi & Ch’i Kung demonstration andworkshop for the hearing impaired at CarverCenter.Thursday, December 28T’ai Chi workshop for the individuals withdisabilities at Hiromi T’ai Chi Dojo.

2007Independence Resource Center

1/16 to 2/27, 3/6 to 4/24Blue Ridge House, Region Ten

1/17 to 3/7, 4/11 to 5/16Post High

1/25 to 3/15, 4/12 to 5/17Mary Williams Senior Center

3/6 to 4/17Cale Elementary School

4/11 to 5/16Jackson-Via Elementary School

3/21 to 5/2JABA

Starting in Spring

Saturday, March 10Ch’i Kung workshop for the CharlottesvilleParks & Recreation, Anger Managementgroup at Tonsler Park.

Friday, March 16T’ai Chi demonstration at JABA.

Cale Elementary students practice the Sea Lion.photo: Jack JC Zhu

Post High students practice 14-Step T’ai Chi.photo: Jack JC Zhu

Cale Elementary students practice the Flying Crane.photo: Jack JC Zhu

3 Spring 2007

The students and teachers of Hiromi T’ai Chiwould like to thank the Little Mountain T’aiChi Ch’uan Association for their generousdonation of $4,560.83. Part of the donationwill be used to have a weapons stand madefor the Hiromi T’ai Chi Dojo. Many of usenjoyed a long and very rewarding time withLittle Mountain. Thank you!

Hiromi T’ai Chi will be presenting the InnerPeace Variety Show at the Paramount Theaterto help make the public more familiar withT’ai Chi. Please join us for an eclecticmulticultural extravaganza featuringacclaimed musicians and performance artistsas well as a T’ai Chi demonstrationaccompanied by bamboo flute.

Performers will include:The Curtis Institute of Music of Philadel-phia trains exceptionally gifted youngmusicians for careers as performing artists onthe highest professional level. We are honoredto have a quartet of students from theacclaimed school perform for us at this event.

Robert Jospe & Kevin Davis of Charlottes-ville will present their World Beat Workshop,an exploration of West African clave rhythmsheard in Caribbean, South American andUnited States music.

The SYM Trio is composed of two ofCharlottesville’s most highly acclaimed highschool musicians, Marvin Brown (cello) andShankar Srinivasan (violin) playing with YumiWomack, a former concert pianist (BaltimoreSymphony, Tokyo Philharmonic) andcomposer of Free Union, Virginia.

Jonathan Paul Walton is an author andspoken word artist raised in rural southernVirginia and now attending ColumbiaUniversity as a Kluge scholar.

Hiromi T’ai Chi students will perform variousT’ai Chi Forms accompanied by bambooflutist, Rob Sanducci, who has played thebamboo flute and practiced T’ai Chi since1979.

All performers are donating their time toparticipate in this event. Event co-sponsorsare committed to presenting an affordableshow. K-12 students Admission Free Adults:$7.00

For more information, and for sponsorshipopportunities, please contact Lyndele vonSchill at 434-295-4481 or emailLyndele@mac.com.

On Friday, October 27, 2006, Hiromi gave afree workshop on T’ai Chi for the 10th gradeHealth class at the Tandem Friends School.As a result of interest generated by theworkshop, students and faculty invitedHiromi to teach a class as part of their after-school program. The class focuses onlearning the 14-Step T’ai Chi as well ashaving fun with medicinal and self-defenseaspects of T’ai Chi.

Hiromi T’ai Chi congratulates Naomi Iharaand Nancy Richey, who completed oursecond six-month Teacher Training Programin March 2007. Nancy was certified to teach14-Step T’ai Chi, and Naomi was certified toteach the 24-step T’ai Chi Form.

Naomi Ihara (left) and Nancy Richey (right).photo: Martin Johnson

Still Moving 4

On September 1st Hiromi T’ai Chi startedpractice in a new space, Suite 110 in the OldMichie Building. Beautiful new bambooflooring had been installed, and the interiorwas painted a refreshing green. Practice wasfacilitated by the large wall mirrors thathelped students better see what they weredoing right, and what needed someimprovement. In preparation for the officialopening of the new dojo, students andteachers worked together to clean away thedust of construction, hang shades, install anew fountain, and hang our 1,000 cranes in

memory of John Hollo.We thank Gabe Silverman for his

assistance in creating our space that suitedour needs, and for the donation of one of ourpractice mirrors.

On Saturday, September 9th the publicwas invited to participate in the opening thenew Hiromi T’ai Chi Dojo. Students andteachers demonstrated various T’ai Chi andCh’i Kung forms. For more photos of theopening, please have a look at What’s New?on the HTC web site.

Barbara Feldman of Blue Heron Martial and Healing Arts in Charles Town, West Virginia helda workshop on Self-Defense for Women on Saturday, October 28th. Barbara taught variousself-defense techniques that can be effectively used against an attack by larger and strongeropponents. In addition, she stressed tactics for avoiding the appearance of vulnerability whichcan invite attack. Psychological aspects such as the manner of standing, walking andspeaking can be used to prevent an attack from occurring in the first place. Participants saidthat the workshop was informative and fun, and they came away with more than they hadexpected.

Hiromi Johnson gave a workshop on Incense Ch’i Kung, Part I on Saturday, November 18th.Based on Buddhist Ch’i Kung, the movements are relatively simple but have a powerful effecton the internal movement of Ch’i. Music was used to help establish a calm state of mind andprovide a gentle rhythm for the movements.

5 Spring 2007

Jeff McCormack

Five Animal Ch’i Kung, also called FiveAnimal Frolics, is believed to be the earliestset of martial arts, based on the movements offive animals: crane, bear, monkey, deer, andtiger. Hua T’o (110 to 207 A.D.), a greatChinese physician, created these forms bycombining elements of folk healing withancient Chinese healing exercises. Some ofthese had their origins 4,000 years ago in theTang Yao Era as a form of shamanic dancingwhich included imitations of animalmovements. Later, certain animal movementsand breathing techniques were refined topromote strength, the vital flow of Ch’i, andhealing.

For me, the idea, that such an ancientmartial art can be traced back throughvarious lineages for several thousand years,suggests that there is a great benefit to thepractice. In our hurried world it is convenientthat you can practice just one form for a fewminutes, or you can take an hour and do thewhole set, consisting of 43 individual forms.In addition, it is a great foundation forlearning T’ai Chi.

When students first learn and practice theFive Animals, they often find that they aredrawn to certain animals or just certainforms, and are disinclined to practice otherforms. At first, I really enjoyed the Bear, theDeer, and only certain Crane forms. Hiromisaid it was also important to practice certainforms that I didn’t like as much. She wasright. I now enjoy all the Five Animal forms,and though I still have an affinity for certain

ones, that affinity changes based on weather,time of year, my mood, stress level, and how Iidentify with each animal on any particularday.

For example, I have learned that if I amfeeling down I can practice several playfuland mischievous Monkey forms and oftenimprove my mood. I can depend on certainCrane movements to calm me, and to help mefocus on my breathing. One of my favoriteforms is the Flying Crane, which both calmsand strengthens while building balance. I lovethe Bear forms for building strength, forfeeling grounded, and for building flexibility inmy back and legs. Some of the Deer andCrane forms help me move through the daymore gracefully mentally and physically,while other forms of the Deer are good forstretching and strengthening. Other Deerforms promote awareness of my surround-ings. The Tiger form helps me to dissipatenegative energy, to strengthen my lower body,and to focus.

Over time, and through practice, thequality of each animal form has changed forme, and I continue to make discoveries aboutmyself through each one, especially when Ikeep my intention pure. I believe thatstudents who are interested in any of the FiveAnimals would benefit by making acommitment to learn all 43 forms if they wantto get the most out of this rich and rewardingpractice.

Jeff had been practicing with Hiromi for 3years. He will resume teaching the 5 Animalsin September 2007.

Tiger photo: Martin Johnson

Bear photo: Martin Johnson

Still Moving 6

Nancy Richey

When I began taking T'ai Chi and Ch'iKung from Hiromi four years ago I knew nextto nothing about it. I was not expecting anyhealth benefits other then those that comefrom just getting off the couch and doingsomething.

Over these four years I have seen a greatdeal of improvement in flexibility and bal-ance, as well as an increase in core musclestrength. And there have been other bene-fits.

For years I have suffered low back painwhen I stood or walked for very long. I wouldbegin to get uncomfortable after about a halfan hour. Two years ago I volunteered to helpat a big meeting. For three hours I greetedpeople as they came in and opened the doorsfor those who were carrying things. When Igot in the car to come home I realized that Ihad stood all that time and I had NO pain!T'ai Chi and Ch'i Kung had taught me how tostand correctly and keep those back mus-cles relaxed, and it wasn't something I hadto think about. It was just the new way I washolding my body.

Last Fall my husband and I were walkingthe Rivanna Trail and he told me to let himknow when I started getting tired so wecould turn around and head back to the car.When I finally decided I was ready to go backhe was so relieved. He told me that he hadbeen waiting for a long time for me to be readyto quit, that he was worn out. I have neverbeen able to outwalk him before.

I have gained also some mental benefits.When I am in a stressful situation I practicethe T'ai Chi forms I have learned and every-thing calms down. Even when I am in aplace where I can't physically do the forms, Isit and do the form in my head and even thatrelaxes me.

I am 63 years old. To be able to bend overand touch the floor, to stand on one leg andkick out with the other - to just be able to dothe things I want to do without pain - bringsme such joy, not to mention the great fun andwonderful feelings that come from doing T'aiChi with a group of others and sharingthe Group Ch’i. I can't imagine my life with-out T'ai Chi in it.

Nancy has been studying with Hiromi for 4years, and teaches in the At-Risk program.

Grayson Butterfield

When I was twelve years old, I loved walkingthrough the cow pastures and down the riverpaths near my home while counting my stepsand breathing to their rhythm. In high schooland college hiking and backpacking became myrefuge. Like the earlier walking, these es-capes into nature created in me a sense of calmconnectedness to the world that helped me findbalance in my daily life.

My actual introduction to T’ai Chi wasn’tuntil after college. In my first class I recog-nized in T’ai Chi a familiar emptying of mymind and natural flow of the movements andbreath that reminded me of my love of hiking,but without the gear and need for a day and aplace to go. With T’ai Chi I could access thatcalm, connected feeling anywhere, anytime. Ifound a new love.

Why then after twelve years of commitment toT’ai Chi, after twelve years of learning torespect T’ai Chi’s mental and physical bene-fits, do I continually wage an internal struggleover my relationship with that practice? Bystruggle let me explain: there are times whenI think about T’ai Chi constantly, practicedaily, and reflect on how T’ai Chi relates to theworld. I feel confident and calm.

On the other hand, there are times when Iresent my time commitment to T’ai Chi, I cre-ate excuses not to practice, and I feel weak andinadequate and want to quit practicingaltogether. I question why I don’t practicemore regularly and with more intention. Whyif I love T’ai Chi, is there any struggle at all? Ifyou love something, it should be easy, right?

How do I resolve my struggles over practic-ing T’ai Chi? The answer is T’ai Chi. It is nodifferent than working through problemswithin my relationships to my husband, myfamily, my friends, my career, myself and theworld around me. For me answers come whenI take a moment first to recognize some innerresistance, then stop, breathe, look inside myown desires, yield, and take the first step.

Sound familiar? Simply put, my T’ai Chipractice makes me a better person and it onlytakes a moment to begin anywhere, anytime---find your center, empty your mind, and begin.

Greyson has been studying with Hiromi for 7years and teaches classes at Dojo and At-Riskprograms.

Spring 20077

I have heard it said that the only knowncure for loneliness is solitude. You would ex-pect something like that from an introvert.

I always sat in the back of the class, too. Nosurprise there.

So when I found myself beginning Tai Chiafter wondering about it from afar, naturally Ibegan with private lessons. That is how I amwired to learn.

Why Tai Chi?In June of 1993, avoiding a car on my side

of the road, I somersaulted with my motorcy-cle and became entangled in it, scatteringmyself (and it) in pieces along the roadway.There were many surgeries and hospital staysto repair a badly mangled right leg and inju-ries to my back, then long periods of excruci-atingly slow recovery. I’m not sure if calamitybuilds character, but it certainly encouragesreflection.

Upon reflection, I would say that I am nei-ther an amputee nor a paraplegic because Ionce had the best medical care our societycould provide, including gifted surgeons, ca-pable and caring nurses, and so on. My doc-tors would say – have said – that I am neitheran amputee nor a paraplegic because I was avery fit motorcyclist. Undoubtedly, we areboth right.

The truth is, when it comes to our health,we get bogged down in lots of stuff that does-n’t improve our lives. All of us are too dis-tracted by our culture’s obsession with bulg-ing biceps and bank accounts - too much ab-sorbed in filling our pantries, too little in fill-ing our lives.

The truth is, Tai Chi is lauded by both an-cient wisdom and modern science as antraordinarily effective form of exercise, im-proving strength, balance, and cardiovascularhealth, while reducing pain, stress and anxi-ety. There are many ways to get fit and stay fit.None of them has a better claim to our timethan Tai Chi.

Why private lessons?When is the last time you had one hun-

dred percent of someone’s attention. We mul-titask, whatever that means. Mostly it meansthat we are lousy at giving one anotherour undivided awareness. We talk on thephone and check our e-mail. We

watch the news on television. A few days ago,I saw someone driving, talking on the cellphone and putting on makeup. That’s the dayI took the “No Fear” bumper sticker off mycar.

Last Wednesday, I had Hiromi’s completeattention for an hour. I learned a lot. It is howI am wired to learn. I think it is how we arewired to live.

Why Hiromi?A few weeks ago, during one of my hours

with Hiromi, she thanked me for being an at-tentive and conscientious student. It seemslike a small thing, I know.

I have been a student my whole life. More-over, I have been (mostly) an “A” student mywhole life. Valedictorian of my graduatingclass, one undergraduate and two graduatedegrees in Philosophy, business and law…youget the idea. I am fifty years old. Fifty!

And Hiromi is the first of my teachers toever thank me for being a good student.

Of course that is a back-handed indict-ment of a lot of teachers, some of them verygood ones. More important, it is a testimonyto the quality of one particular teacher, apaean to kindness, a witness to mastery.

Robin has been practicing with Hiromi for 3years.

Share Your ExperiencesWould you like to share YOUR experienceswith T’ai Chi? We would be pleased toaccept articles by students and teachers forfuture newsletters. Email articles to Martin atmartindj1@earthlink.net

Robin Cordle