Workshop Information

WORKSHOPS FOR 2023 GPYTCA CONFERENCE

October 20 – 22 in Hyannis MA

“Ancient Roots, New Discoveries”

Workshop topics may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances

INTRODUCTION TO DACHENGQUAN MEDITATION-  Wang Rengang

Dachengquan was developed during WWII by Great Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai to train civilians for combat and self-defense.  Wang extrapolated the best techniques from China's traditional gongfu styles in order to create Dachengquan ("Big Achievement Fist").  The second-generation successor, Grandmaster Wang Xuan Jie, was instrumental in helping spread the art to other countries because of his focus on its healing aspects.  He passed the art to Wang Rengang and requested that he bring Dachengquan to the US.

The foundations of Dachengquan are built through Standing Pole exercises (Zhan Zhuang).  These are a type of Qigong that correct energy imbalances and restore health.  A strong root in Zhan Zhuang will be effective in other movements which train for self-defense.  The four fundamentals of Dachengquan are: Huen Yuan Zhuang (standing for health, energy and power), Jiji Zhuang (standing for combat and self-defense), Mosabu (energy walking), and Shr Li (energy testing).  These exercises are not difficult.  There are no complexities to understand.  These exercises are completely accessible to anyone regardless of background or condition.  Dachengquan can be learned as a stand-alone art or combined with any other system to internalize it.

Participants will learn-

• Historical roots of Xingyi used by Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai
• Development of Qi cultivation for health by Grandmaster Wang Xuan Jie
• How it differs from other meditation
• Why meditate
• Using meditation to enhance gongfu, correct health deficiencies and improve life

DACHENGQUAN TUI SHOU (PUSH HANDS)-  Wang Rengang

After being introduced to the fundamentals, the practitioner can begin to test energy with an opponent through Tui Shou (push hands). Participants first practice in a stationary position, and as they advance in awareness of their Qi and root, they may ambulate.

Participants will learn-

• How Dachengquan is similar and different from taiji push hands
• Importance of understanding application and how push hands helps us test energy
• One hand technique
• Two hand technique
• Walking (mosabu) technique
  

Tapping the "Big Qi" in Guang Ping - connecting the whole - Nick D'Antoni
How do you bring together the outer form, the inner energy, and increase your qi flow while doing form? This workshop helps you connect and develop whole body movement to take your energy to the next level. We’ll use a variety of techniques to help you develop whole-body awareness, level-up the Qi in your form, and be more energetically alive in your taiji practice.

THE DAO OF TAIJI-  Shoshanna Katzmann, MS, LAc

Shoshanna will guide participants in becoming more mindful of the energetic dynamics taking place during performance of their Taiji. The workshop experience is a form of mindfulness training, empowering participants to stay focused on the energetic aspects of their body. Shoshanna will take you through several warm-ups to teach you the energetic basics and then guide you to apply these principles while performing the Guang Ping Form. This will help you to fully engage the forces of heaven and earth. And strengthen your ability to nourish and balance the forces of yin and yang within your human body. This naturally strengthens your mind intent and internal commitment to orchestrating your form at the highest level possible. It brings you more fully into the moment, builds your internal power and harmonizes the physical and energetic aspects of your being. 

ROOT, RELAX, CENTER-  Shoshanna Katzmann, MS, LAc

Shoshanna will guide you through a varied and comprehensive set of warm-ups, followed by taking you through various movements of the Guang Ping Yang Taiji Form. Throughout this workshop experience, she will be encouraging you to root more deeply into the earth, experience greater sung (relaxation) of body-mind, along with becoming more integrated and centered within your physical body. Achieving these goals culminates in greater stability, whole-body movement and increased flow of qi (vital energy) and jin (internal power) throughout performance of your Taiji.

UNIFIED EXPRESSION OF THE EFFORTLESS FLOW-  Fu-Tung Cheng

How to access, nurture, and evolve the joyful fluidity and subtle complexity of Guang Ping Taiji in our practice 

Fu-Tung brings his innovative approach to learning and teaching Guang Ping taijiquan.  His Zoom seminar series last year garnered praise for creating a simple, accessible "Rosetta Stone" for all levels of students to reach and decipher the sublime undercurrents in Taiji movement.  Fu-Tung is very excited to work in-person and coach hands-on at the 2023 Conference.

Working with relatively easy movements like Repulse Monkey, Grasp Sparrows Tail, Cloud Hands, and Parting Wild Horses Mane, Fu-Tung will demonstrate the complexity and subtlety in their sequential flow. There are spirals, vortexes, and forms expressed in the wrists, hands, and fingers, connected with the waist, weight, and feet, that you may have never noticed and skipped over.  Step by step, he will gradually reverse engineer them down to their simplest essence, to show the component movements in isolation that form the origin of the flow. And finally, he will coax the genie back into the lamp, rub it, and see what it reveals.

Everyone, including beginners, will be able to start with the simple essence of each movement as a series of single form movements, progressively adding components of complexity.  Advance practitioners will be able to see if what they have been doing really does contain the essence of flow which is a necessity to improve. Teachers can use this extremely efficient way to teach the principles of Taiji to their students at all levels. This method of exploration of the form has revealed delightful surprises hidden in plain sight. 

MIND-BODY TAIJI-  Fu-Tung Cheng
This is a method of Guang Ping practice taught to Grandmaster Y.C. Chiang by Wang Zi Chen. Wang Zi Chen learned this method from Great Grandmaster Wang Zhou Yu. Grandmaster Kuo Lien Ying did not teach this practice.   Mind-Body practice is designed to enhance the meditative state of mind and fuse it to the physical being.  While Grandmaster Chiang taught it only to students who no longer needed to think about the form while they practiced, this workshop is open to all levels as a means of deepening your taiji.

DISCOVERING YOUR FOUNDATION’S FULL POTENTIAL-  Jen Kano

The feet are the foundation of the whole body. Without strong, healthy feet, the whole body suffers. And yet our feet are often the most neglected and misunderstood part of our anatomy. Leonardo da Vinci described the human foot as “a marvel of engineering.” Come find out why, and how to get your feet functioning up to their full potential, which will in turn, improve your taiji set. We will be doing some foot exercises and massages, and will take at look at the characteristics of shoes and their role in foot health and function. We will also look at examples of health-promoting shoes with recommendations and resources for finding and selecting the best shoes for taiji and for daily living.

TAIJI ANIMALS- Diane Rabinowitz

Long ago, a Taoist sage studied the traits and movements of birds and animals, especially those of the Chinese zodiac. With the infusion of profound Chinese philosophies, this sage developed taijiquan. Over the many generations, it was transformed, and has come to us as our Guang Ping Yang style taijiquan. In this workshop, we shall explore specific movements in our form using the animals as a guide. Along the way, we shall briefly delve into the animals of the zodiac itself, and the Chinese characters for their names.

EIGHTEEN SEIZING HANDS-  Dug Corpolongo

Eighteen Seizing Hands is a traditional Chinese martial arts practice that is utilized in both Internal and External gongfu training.  It uses a combination of hand and foot strikes with seizing techniques to flow from one joint lock to another.  This set not only teaches 18 different Chin Na holds, it also teaches forceful methods of transitioning from one hold to another and effectively combining strikes and stand up grappling techniques to totally control your adversary.

FIVE ANIMALS FROLIC-  Dug Corpolongo

One of the oldest and most famous Qigong sets, this ancient exercise was created by the famous Taoist sage and surgeon Hua Tuo (c. 140–208).  He designed this set to offer a combination of exercises to help balance his patients’ Qi.  Each exercise is based on the perceived energy of each of the five animals which corresponds to one of the Five Elements.  In concert, these exercises can help cultivate overall health and enhance the potential for a long life.

APPRECIATING OOLONG TEA-  Michael Rabinowitz, PhD

What is Oolong tea? How is it grown and manufactured? Why is oolong tea considered the best tea for you? Dr. Michael Rabinowitz will give a brief history of Oolong Tea and explain how to brew the perfect cup.  Experience a sensory appreciation of oolong teas, emphasizing sight, smell and taste.  Tea tasting included!  Dr. Rabinowitz’s teachings and lectures are always open to all, making no distinction among students, supporting the Confucian precept 有教無類 "yo jiao wu lei" translated as "to teach regardless of classification."

XINGYI FIVE ELEMENTS FOR BEGINNERS-  Randy Sugawara, PhD

The Xingyi system has unique fundamental characteristics as do the other two internal martial arts, Taijiquan and Baguazhang.  In Xingyi, the linear aspect is notable, while in Taiji it is circular, and for Bagua it’s the infinity sign movements.  By visualizing these as geometric shapes it pretty much covers all angles for self-defense movements.  By acquiring the movements in Xingyi, the energy of the practitioner’s force is concentrated at a single point.  The point can be combined with other forces for penetration, interception, and twisting spirals.  Eventually, the Xingyi enthusiast can learn the whole range Xingyi components including the Five Elements and the Twelve Animal Forms.  In this workshop students will learn the basic foot pattern and hand positions of Pi Chuan (Splitting Fist).  Particular attention will be on the footwork and proper weight shift with hand-foot coordination.  Grandmaster Henry Look emphasized this first element, Pi Chuan, as fundamental to understand Xingyi force and Xingyi spirit. 

Participants will learn-

• Moving your whole body as one unit
• Basic Pi Chuan Foot work
• Pi Chuan hand posture (Splitting Fist)
• Hand and Foot Coordination
• Graduated Pace to full execution
• Introduction to the other 4 Elements

FIGURE EIGHTS:  ADDING ROUNDNESS IN TAIJI MOVEMENTS- Randy Sugawara, PhD

Among the various concepts taught to Taiji practitioners, the Yin-Yang and Peng impressions are core principles integrated into the Taiji forms.  Within these concepts, the use of figure 8’s add a dynamic element.  When the figure 8’s are rippling through the movements, the fullness of Peng and the push-pull effects of Yin-Yang take on a unique flavor.  Beginning at the feet, figure 8’s are generated then go upward through the legs, through the torso to the top of the head.  This added dimension is comparable to a gyroscope spinning while it maintains precise balance on one point.  In this class you’ll learn the effects of working both ends of the stick using the figure 8 technique.