GPYTCA CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

October 3 - 5, 2025

Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center, Lewis Center OH

“The Heart of Our Practice”

Workshop content and Presenters are subject to change

9 String of Pearls and the Turtle Emerges from Water - Randy Elia

Find and understand the joints of the body and how they articulate, eventually combining them all to move like a string of pearls. Stationary exercises will be taught to strengthen tendons and bones and clear stagnation of qi.

Shi Li Muscle Testing / Fa li  / Spring Boxing - Randy Elia

Understand the principles of Yin-Yang and how to apply these forces within the vessel of your body all directed from Yi (your mind).  Start out with training the body how Yin-Yang applies to movement with arms and legs. Using repetitive moves your mind will listen to your body enough that the process changes as your body will listen to your mind.  Please note Spring boxing will be 2 person drills.

Explore the Healing Power of Taiji Movement and Qi - Erlene Chiang, LAc, DAOM

Guang Ping Yang taiji is a unique set practiced not only for martial proficiency but also for its profound medical and energetic benefits.  In this workshop, we will dive deeply into the internal landscape of the form, focusing on acupuncture points activated through the taiji movements and explore directing qi flow through “Yi Nian”, Conscious Intention. Suitable for all levels, beginners to advanced practitioners. 

You’ll learn:

• Key Acupuncture Points: Discover the major points utilized in the GPY taiji set.
• Anatomical Location and Functions: Learn where these points are on the body, their Traditional Chinese medicine uses, and how they relate to the internal organs, its medical functions related to the movements.
• Directing Qi Flow: Through mindful practice of individual taiji movements, learn to direct the flow of qi to targeted points and understand how it moves within.

Mind-Body Taiji: Honoring the Legacy of Grandmaster YC Chiang - Erlene Chiang, LAc, DAOM

The late Grandmaster Chiang Yun Chung, co-founder of the GPYTCA, devoted his life to teaching the profound connection between Yi Nian (Conscious Intention), taiji movement, and the art of nurturing life (Yang Sheng).  Over the course of his lifetime, he gave more than 100 lectures on how taiji is more than martial art- it is a way to harmonize mind and body, to live with vitality, clarity and grace.

Before his passing, Grandmaster Chiang recorded a Mind-Body Taiji video- his personal transmission, never before released to the public.  In this special lecture, we will view selected parts of this unrevealed video and explore the wisdom within it.

What You Will Experience: 

1.  Application of the 19 Principles of Taiji: Learn how these core principles guide both movement and daily living.

2.  The Role of Yi Nian:  Understand how focused intention transforms movement into Qi and into power.

3.  Unifying Movement, Mind and Body: Experience how internal gongfu (Nei gong) and external form come together in one seamless flow. 

4.  Legacy in Practice: Witness rare footage of Grandmaster Chiang sharing his insights and presence.  Learn how to bring his teaching to life in your own practice.

All levels welcome. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned practitioner, you will leave with tools to deepen your practice and bring taiji’s life-nurturing power into everyday life.

NO INDIVIDUAL TAPING OR RECORDING OF ANY PART OF THIS LECTURE IS ALLOWED

Fluid Movement: Fascia, Interstitium, and Your Taiji Practice - Lucy Bartimole

This workshop is an immersive exploration into the revolutionary realm of fluid movement, where the latest research on fascia and the interstitium unveils keys to preventing injury, healing tissue, and enhancing overall movement quality.  Through a mix of current research, insights, and practical exercises, you will be guided through understanding what is currently known about this inner network and the tools to keep it fluid, rather than frozen.

Exercises performed both lying down and standing, will help you to integrate fluidity into all planes of movement. You will also learn how the Guang Ping Yang warm-ups specifically benefit fascial tissue to maintain freedom, and promote a healthier, more dynamic body for years to come.

Mastering the Kua in Taiji: Harnessing Core Power and Alignment - Lucy Bartimole

This workshop will explore the vital region referred to as the “kua” to harness its energy for more effective and grounded Taiji practice. By learning how to engage and integrate the kua, you can enhance your power, stability, and fluidity in every posture and transition.

Through guided exercises, partner work, and solo drills, participants will gain a deeper connection to their body, movement efficiency, and internal energy, all while building a stronger foundation in their Taiji practice. This workshop is perfect for both beginners and experienced practitioners looking to refine their understanding and execution of core Taiji principles.

Kicks from Grandmaster YC Chiang – Sophie Nichanian

In this workshop, we will concentrate on the leg movements and weight transition with walks that determine all of our movements during a taiji set.  Building on what we learn from the walking exercises, we will practice the 6 lines of kicks from YC Chiang’s Basic Exercises to reinforce our leg muscles and structure.

Improving Your Taiji: all the time at all levels- don’t think, sink! – Sophie Nichanian
We will review the basic principles of taiji and concentrate on applying the principles to a few movements of the set.  Then we will work to integrate them again and again since it is all about practice. Some corrections feel uncomfortable but we have to remember them until we don’t remember them anymore. And get back to it again. As a beginner, we practice to feel it in our body; as an advanced practitioner, we try to be carried by the energy.  By doing so, we deepen our set and our understanding of it to enjoy the flow of the qi.

Wuji Sword Parts 1 & 2 - Pakinee Sukwattana

Those who are practicing Tai Ji know the difference in meaning between Tai Ji and Wu Ji. Tai Ji is the Supreme Ultimate, while Wu Ji is the Infinite, Unlimited and Boundless. 

Wu Ji sword form takes only two minutes but it's two minutes that is full of action and drama.  It will push you to your limitations and challenge your balance. Learn Wu Ji sword- a great big sword form that is packed into a small package!  The first half of Wu Ji sword will be taught in Part 1 and the second half in Part 2.  Please note that Part 1 is a pre-requisite for Part 2.

The Fundamentals of Taiji Body Structure and Movement - Bradley Schwartzseid

This workshop  will consist of building the Wuji posture from the ground up to the top of the head, teaching different methods to move from the hips while keeping the shoulders aligned (Wuji Circles), finding and feeling your center of balance by taking 1" steps, and recognizing and releasing tension in the body.  The final- and important- exercise will be a stepping/walking drill which teaches you to have much greater control of your center of balance while improving your fluidity of movement.

Proper Body Mechanics and  the Breath in 5 Elements of Xing Yi - Bradley Schwartzseid

This workshop will consist of learning how to correctly push off of the back leg while keeping the body relaxed and moving from the lower dantian, and using the correct method and timing of the breath (exhalation). There will also be exercises that show how to release tension when applying force, how to use the breath correctly when performing a strike, and the body mechanics and timing of 5 element strikes (time permitting).

A Flavor of Baguazhang - Sylvia Ma

Baguazhang is one of three Chinese internal martial arts. While Taijiquan and Xingyiquan use fists (quan), Baguazhang uses open palms (zhang).  Emphasizing circle walking and twisting and turning of the body, the practice of Baguazhang strengthens our lower bodies. The twisting and turning movements not only help hands and feet coordination, it also massages internal organs while enhancing spiral energy.

In this workshop, you will get a flavor of Baguazhang by learning the high stepping practice walk and four different kinds of circle walks. We will practice movements corresponding to the eight Bagua palm positions and the four stepping positions.  We will experience the twisting and turning of the Bagua Palm Changes handed down by Kuo Lien Ying and Henry Look. This workshop is suitable for all experience levels.

Yiquan:  Sitting, Standing, Moving and Walking Meditations - Sylvia Ma

To enhance our internal martial arts practice, we need to relax more and build up Qi (internal energy). Yiquan, originated by Wang Xiangzhai, is a meditation exercise which helps do just that. Grandmaster Henry Look studied Yiquan under Wang Xiangzhai’s students Yu Ping Shi, Han Hsing Yuen and Kuo Lien Ying. GM Look required all his students to practice Yiquan on a regular basis.

In this workshop, we will use the basic 8 Yiquan postures to practice sitting, standing, moving and walking meditations. We will also explore some of the stances (including the Universal Post) and moving meditations passed down from the Yiquan masters. This workshop is suitable for all experience levels.

5 Yang Michuan Push Hand Patterns - Nathaniel Tisdale

The simplified patterns will be taught as solo drills as well as practiced with a partner.  Through these basic movements, sensitivity and awareness are developed, allowing the practitioner to safely practice push hands by themselves or with a partner.   The patterns can be used for fixed step and moving step push hands as well as self-defense purposes.  These are universal movements capable of being used for light, compliant partner practice as well as unscripted, fully resistant pressure testing. 

Principles of Push Hands - Nathaniel Tisdale

Taijiquan Push Hands is a spectrum.  Starting with light, compliant two-person drills, Push Hands practice gradually becomes more resistant and more martial as you develop skill.  We will talk about the philosophy and mindset of Push Hands (Tui Shou) and participants will have an opportunity to practice both fixed and moving step push hands.

After the session, participants will have an understanding of:

• Why push hands is necessary to develop Taiji abilities
• Push hand etiquette (How to safely push hands)
• Push Hand rules in various settings

Workshop topics may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances