Finding Function in Form

Expanding Taiji principles through Non-Competitive Interactive Exercises

Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30.  Ongoing. 
Intermediate level.  Beginners welcome if concurrently learning a form

This class uses two-person work with simple, choreographed postures pulled from empty hand forms and short paired choreographed training forms to explore function and fundamentals of taijiquan. This allows students to execute postures with classmates but avoid the more improvised competitive interactions found in our more traditional push hands class.  Students work together to explore the bamen (eight gates), wubu (five steps), and other subtle Taiji principles.  Understanding the functions and applications of many movements in the taiji solo forms helps us perform the movements correctly, giving us an understanding of how our posture, frame and whole-body movement may be used to interact with other people. Students will experience why whole body movement, empty stepping, knee control, and overall structure are vital to the practice and understanding of taijiquan.  With a deeper intellectual and physical understanding of these taiji principles, a practitioner’s solo routine can take on a new meaning and begin to come alive and daily practice can be enhanced. This class is safe and welcoming for students of all skill levels as function will be taught slowly and with an eye towards cooperation. 

This class will draw from the many different styles that are taught in Black Bamboo and Magic Tortoise classes.  Students will not need to know all styles and teaching will not be form specific.

Location: Laughing Mountain Pavilion, 2621 Princeton Ave, Durham.

Fee: $20 per class, $15 per class with a 4-class pass,
$12 per class if two or more classes per week or if there are multiple students in the same household
First class is free - try it out to see if we’re a good fit for you.

Co-Teachers: Violet Anderson (919-923-4464), James Sutton (919-724-2167)
mountainlaughing@gmail.com

Contact an instructor to register (text, phone or email).  Open to all styles.
Fees can be paid via cash, check, Venmo: @violet-may-anderson, PayPal: @blackbamboopavilion

Jointly offered by: