Chinatown Tai Chi Center

I remember exactly when I started tai chi: I visited my first tai chi school the day after I was awarded my second black belt in karate. I knew instantly tai chi was what I was looking for, so I stopped karate and started my tai chi journey.

My first teachers were senior students of a world-renowned Master who lived in Minnesota. I was also exposed to other Chinese martial arts, and I am glad for the experience, but tai chi was what I truly wanted to master. I also met and became friends with several people, including Phyllis and Ed Calph. Unfortunately, due to several unforeseen changes, I left the school.

I spent the following years starting a family, changing jobs, and looking to get back into martial arts. Then in 1996 I met april zvan, who was starting a 24-form class in Cottage Grove close to where I live. We got along great from the start, and I found out my friend from before was april's teacher and now "Sifu Calph." Later that year, I went to an open house at Sifu Calph's school and was amazed at how much better she had gotten. I started and have been with Chinatown Tai Chi Center since then.

That fall I met Grandmaster Wong. Through the seminars he taught, I was impressed with what I was learning. But then came the applications demonstration and Grandmaster chose me to demonstrate on. As he went through several applications, I realized that although he was not hurting me, he had total control and could put me anywhere on the floor and in any position he wanted, and there wasn't much I could do about it. I was hooked (pardon the pun).

I have, through the years, been a willing "victim" to Grandmaster and Sifu as a reminder of how effective our art is. You learn a lot being on the receiving end.

Through the years I've been at Chinatown Tai Chi Center, my focus has evolved with less emphasis on the martial and more toward the health aspects, although it all ties together. Because of this, I recently became an acupuncturist. I now bring Traditional Chinese Medicine into my tai chi and tai chi into my acupuncture practice, and I try to pass these on to students and patients.