Anjing Taiji

ART OF YANG & WU STYLE TAI CHI

2010-06-25T00:26:00.035+10:00

Traditional Tai Chi Workshops

11-20 NOVEMBER 2011, Sydney

with

MASTER ZHANG JUNFENG

from Beijing

Scope

Learning Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Long Sequence
Understanding Martial Application and Push Hands
Learning a new standardised form of the Traditional Wu Style Tai Chi
Comparative Styles and the Philosophy of Tai Chi
Suitable For Experienced Tai Chi Practitioners

Any questions please e-mail to: workshop inquiries
Bookings NOW Open - download form below.
To download documents: click links below, document opens in Google Docs;
select File - Download Original, to download to your computer:
Booking Form - PDF format
Booking Form - MS WORD format (you can fill in on computer)
Workshop Information Pamphlet (All you need to know)
Article: Master Zhang Returns to Sydney (as promised)

VENUE
Jow Gar Kung Fu - Head Academy
6, 71-73 Lords Road, Leichhardt NSW 2040
map: www.jowgar.com.au/contact-us.asp

Workshop Dates & Times
Preparatory Workshop (Traditional Yang) with Angela Cantafio
Sunday 6/11/11 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Workshop 1: Traditional Yang 85 Form (Section 1 & 2)
Friday 11/11/11 9:30am – 4:30pm
Saturday 12/11/11 11:30am - 5:30pm
Sunday 13/11/11 10:00am - 4:00pm
Workshop 2: Yang Style Push Hands
Friday Evening 18/11/11 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Workshop 3: Traditional Wu Style 12 Form
Saturday 19/11/11 11:30am - 5:30pm
Sunday 20/11/11 10:00am - 4:00pm

Click Read More below, to find out more about Junfeng, or to read feed-back on the 2010 Workshop

Master Zhang is a renowned teacher of Traditional Yang and Wu styles Tai Chi. He is the disciple of Master Zhang Yongtao and hence the Sixth Generation disciple of great-grand Master Yang Chengfu. Master Zhang has also studied under the famous Grand Master Li Bingci of Wu Style. He is a member of the Traditional Wushu Committee of China Wushu Association, as well as a selected committee member of Beijing Wushu Association (BWA) and Vice-Director of the Competition Committee of BWA.

For more info on Master Zhang Junfeng see website: http://www.jackytaichi.com/

Past Events
September 2010 Sydney Workshop

The 2010 event was held in the format of weekend workshop plus three evenings. Many thanks to our hosts at the following venues:

Jow Gar Kung Fu - Head Academy

6, 71-73 Lords Road

Leichhardt NSW 2040

Forestville Uniting Church Hall
9 Darley Street (next to Forestville Primary School)
Forestville NSW 2087

Happy participants (sorry, not everyone is in this photo):

Workshop Video:

Workshop DVD can be ordered from:
http://angelacantafio.blogspot.com/search/label/-Trad.YangDVD

DVD Feed-back
Yes, yesterday evening in between burning my DVD for my students for this morning, I watched your DVD on Junfeng's last year's Workshop, and it was really, really interesting. I couldn't bring myself away from the TV to go and check on my burning and label printing. You did a marvellous job and the question and response format is really engrossing. It was an invaluable exercise as there was so much stuff that I had already forgotten that he said. It was fun seeing everybody on the DVD and remembering their interest and enthusiasm at the workshop. Thank you so much for your initiative and effort in filming the workshop so diligently as it benefits us all. Angela C.

thanks for the dvds. great job! you captured the whole workshop and it is so good to be able to see the details of the forms and applications again. can learn a bit of the long form from Junfeng's performance because it is so clear! Paul C.

Workshop Feed-back

I very much liked the martial arts focus of the training and the emphasis that was placed on the applications of each movement. (James G.)

I like Master Zhang's teaching style - step-by-step instructions. The explanations of the applications of each move were particularly enlightening. I can now understand why each move is done in a particular way and can appreciate why "yi" should be used. I fully appreciated Master Zhang's encouragement, feedback and correction of my moves - to me that is the most important and useful aspect of my learning process. (Lilin L.)

Enjoyed demonstration immensely. Enjoyed Junfeng's teaching style and explanation of martial art form... gave the training "sense" and made it easier to remember. Sheer professionalism, much appreciated. (Alison K.)

As I do not speak Chinese, the fact that the workshop was delivered in English by a high level Chinese Master. Master Zhang's detailed explanation and breakdown of each form. His ability to clearly show the martial application of each element of each form. Master Zhang's approachability… as qualified and superbly skilled as he is, students are very comfortable in talking and working with him. (John G.)

Junfeng is an exceptionally gifted teacher. His instructions are crystal clear and his way of explaining a movement is absolutely amazing. He conveys power, strength and serenity in his form, always executed to perfection. I have enjoyed the workshop immensely and have gained a lot of knowledge. Thank you.... (Sybil W.)

The applications of the different movements and how this is demonstrated by Master Z. It gives me a better understanding of what I am doing. (Alex N.)

The presence of a genuine Master, who treated everyone with respect - and as an equal. Extraordinary! The enthusiasm of the group. The extremely good organisation. I was pushed to my limits but hope my limits were extended as a result. Thank you all so much! (Richard W.)

Excellent balance of theory, application and practice. Master Zhang is such a wonderful teacher, great patience, and passed on his knowledge in a gentle and friendly manner. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate. (Marion H.)

Master Zhang makes me fall in love with Traditional Yang style all over again. He has this subtle way of teaching that helps me to understand the execution of certain movements that I have been struggling to grasp all my years of TC training. Love it! Would love to complete the whole form of Traditional Yang. (Serene H.)

.....we were all made to feel as if we had achieved a lot and indeed did achieve a lot....I would like to do a week long workshop 10:00 4:00 everyday. (Fiona B.)

A big thank you to you and Master Zhang for the workshop. If I lived in Sydney I would have attended everything....well prepared and well presented. Master Zhang is very professional....it was a great idea to have the book as well as his DVD... I loved the friendly atmosphere of the workshop. (Brenda H.)

I am most impressed with Master Zhang. He is really good in what he teaches. He is the most hardworking Sifu who constantly gets the students to practice. His English is excellent and he is so helpful to everyone. He is a polite and encouraging person. I will recommend him to anyone and will definitely come to more of his workshop. (Andrew T.)

News

2010-06-24T23:48:00.003+10:00

New Tai Chi Workshops:

ART OF YANG & WU STYLE TAI CHI

11 - 20 November 2011, Sydney

with

MASTER ZHANG JUNFENG

from Beijing

For more details go to the "Events" space!

In the meantime we have released the 2010 Workshop DVDs, an excellent tool for preparing for this year's workshop. Click below to
Order 2010 Workshop DVDs

Watch a 1 minute DVD video trailer below:

News

2009-10-20T01:04:00.001+11:00

May 2011 New Release: New DVD:
Combined 48 Forms

The 48 Form is a modern sequence, created in PR China in the seventies and is based on the Yang style, combined with movements from the other three major styles: Chen, Wu and Sun. It is a beautiful, complex form, uniquely fitted to help you refine your skill and develop balance, suppleness, and coordination.

Click here to order this DVD

DVDs

2009-10-20T01:02:00.003+11:00

Our DVDs are filmed outdoors in uniquely beautiful scenery. They offer full Tai Chi practice sessions including warm-ups, front/back/side view and cool-down qigong. They are excellent for practice and refinement, once you have basic knowledge of the form and the principles of the art. While a brief walk-through instruction segment is also supplied, this does not replace study with an instructor. It is our belief that true Tai Chi cannot be learned from a video, and that the art is a life-long learning endeavour" Dan Stefan, director

To purchase any of the DVDs, or for more information, click on following link:
ANGELA's TAI CHI DVDs

A selection of the DVDs are also showcased below:

1. Tai Chi: The 24 Form (80 min)

The Beijing 24 Forms is the most popular modern form.

Yang style, modern standardised Tai Chi. A staple of the serious students' practice.

DVD covers design & photography by Raimondo Cantafio

Click on pics to enlarge

Front Cover:

Back Cover

2. Tai Chi: The 42 Form (75 min)

The Combined 42 Form is the standard for modern competitions. It is beautiful and more complex, combining elements form the main four styles of tai chi: Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun.

DVD covers design & photography by Raimondo Cantafio

Click on pics to enlarge

Front Cover

Back Cover

3. Tai Chi: The Practice of the Sun Style 30 Form(85min)

This beautiful form, also known as TCA (Tai Chi for Arthritis) was arranged by dr Paul Lam of Better Health Tai Chi Chuan, based on the SUN style, the most recent of the major styles. It is gentle, soft, easy to practice especially for beginners.

DVD covers design by Raimondo Cantafio
Click on pics to enlarge

Front Cover

Back Cover

Articles

2009-10-20T00:55:00.001+11:00

Watch this space for future articles on Taiji and Qigong!

Tai Chi: Stillness in Motion – Motion with Stillness
with Tai Chi instructor Angela Hsu Cantafio
Interview and photos by Christiane Klinner

Reproduced by permission from:
THE JOW GA-ZETTE
Volume 2 No. 2 June 2005
published by the Head Academy Kung Fu & Health

Born in Taiwan, with a Hong Kong family background, Angela Cantafio, born Hsu, first came to Australia to do high school and university and has since lived here. The tiny, fine-boned and unassuming Tai Chi teacher, who wouldn’t reveal her age until she’s 70, is married to an Italian and has two grown-up sons. Her mother calls her Anjing, which means peace and tranquillity.

Angela belongs to the Better Health Tai Chi Chuan school in Hurstville lead by Dr Paul Lam, whose renown Tai Chi program is endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation of Australia, America and several other Western countries.

Angela meets up regularly with her masters around the world and is involved in Dr Lam’s program. She teaches Tai Chi at the Leichhardt Kung Fu academy on Saturdays at 12.15pm.

C: It is said that Tai Chi is an internal martial art. What does this mean?
Angela: There is a lot of philosophical discussion about what internal means. For one, there are the internal organs. Tai Chi is a form of internal massage. Internal also means bringing your mind to guide your movements. You’re very focused - as in the external forms. But Tai Chi is at all times soft, loose and relaxed so that you’re able to breathe deeply, which enhances the meditative aspects of Tai Chi. What I try to achieve with Tai Chi is stillness in motion. That’s why practising Tai Chi in a hall or in nature has a different feel. Ideally, you should be in nature.

C: Why is it important to practise Tai Chi in nature?
Angela: Tai Chi is mostly practised for health. It has a very long history of using the mind to think of the Qi flowing in the body along the meridians. You are to be in touch with this aspect of your health and of how you interact with the Qi outside. Naturally there is more Qi in nature.

C: What is Qi?
Angela: Qi has several meanings. In Tai Chi, Qi means life force or internal energy and also breath or air. There is also Qi outside in the cosmos and Qi essence that we are born with. One Chinese idea of health is that your life force needs to flow freely through a relaxed body and deep breathing. Blockages
of Qi are what contribute to illnesses. You need to observe certain principles in terms of posture, your joints being loose and your spine being elongated so that you enable the Qi to rise to the top of your head. This central point, Bai Hui, at the top of your head is a very important meridian and acupressure point.

C: So, what does ‘Tai Chi’ mean?

Angela: ‘Tai Chi Chuan’, the Wade-Giles phoneticisation of Chinese, does not reflect its meaning as clearly as ‘Taiji Quan’, the Pin Jin form of phoneticising the Chinese characters. Tai means great, supreme, Ji means ultimate and Quan means fist. Many people don’t worry about the Quan, because they are not doing Tai Chi for self-defence but more for health reasons.

C: Is Tai Chi related to Qi Gong?

Angela: Tai Chi is a form of Qi Gong. Qi Gong means ‘the art of breathing’; Qi is breath and Gong is art. If we think of Qi Gong as a continuum, Tai Chi is the dynamic end of Qi Gong and at the other end you have the static form of meditation. In-between is a range of semi-static forms of Qi Gong.

C: Can you tell us a bit about the historical roots of Tai Chi?

Angela: Qi Gong has been practised in China for well over 2000 years as part of Chinese medicine and health care. Its philosophical roots are grounded in Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The kind of Tai Chi that we practise today has evolved fairly recently and has been credited to the Chen family from around the 18th century. Yang Lu Chan, who learnt the technique from the Chen family, is credited with founding the
present most popular Yang-style Tai Chi. In 1956, the Chinese National Sports Committee in Beijing decided to standardise Tai Chi, based on the Yang-style. So the ‘24 Simplified Forms’ came into existence,
which is regarded as an ideal Tai Chi form for beginners.

“Tai Chi is at all times soft, loose and relaxed so

that you’re able to breathe deeply.”

C: What are the health benefits of Tai Chi?

Angela: One of the important things when practicing Tai Chi is the tongue position. The tongue has to be
slightly curved and in touch with the front of your palate right behind your teeth. That stimulates saliva. In Chinese medicine saliva is very necessary for health as it nourishes the body. I have a friend, who has cancer of the salivary glands. His glands have largely been removed and he can normally not produce any
saliva. The only time he can feel saliva flowing is when he practises Tai Chi.

Also Tai Chi stimulates the internal organs and the hormonal production. There are heaps of other health benefits. It enhances your body posture, your balance and your internal and external strength. That’s why Tai Chi is very good for the elderly and disabled and for people with arthritis. The beauty of Tai Chi is that it can be done at pretty demanding but also at very gentle, basic levels.

As opposed to pure static meditation, Tai Chi incorporates mind and body, thus brings into play other effects on health. It helps your joints; it’s good for flexibility and helps release tension. Your body follows your ‘mind-intent’. One of the messages you’re constantly giving your body is to sink your shoulders, sink your elbows and extend your joints.

Continuity of movement is another important principle of Tai Chi. Tai Chi believes that you have to constantly keep your body in motion like water flowing down the stream. It has rhythm but it is for ever flowing until the whole form is finished. The 24 Tai Chi forms merge into one soft movement.

C: How often should one practice so as to benefit from Tai Chi?

Angela: If you’re dedicated, every day! Because I teach so many classes, I am practising every day. On Sundays, when I don’t have a class, I go out to my roof-terrace and practice by myself for at least an
hour. I tell my students, “When you practise, find a nice patch of grass where there are trees, even if you can only do 10 minutes a day.”

C: Is there a particular time of the day that is best suited to do Tai Chi?

Angela: In the morning is best. One of my Qi Gong masters said to me, “Just at dawn is best because the cosmos, the Qi, the Ying and the Yang are in balance at that hour”. Some of the instructors get up, practise
and then go back to sleep for a little bit.

C: How long have you been doing Tai Chi?

Angela: I dabbled in it 15 years ago and started practising seriously from only 10 years ago. Back then, my mother invited me to Beijing to attend the 3rd World Conference of Tai Chi Training and introduced me to her masters. That set me on the path to doing it more passionately. Now, I believe so much in Tai Chi that I would like to spread the message about its health benefits and how wonderful it is to bring tranquillity and serenity to the spirit.

C: What is your professional background?

Angela: I’m an educational psychologist and work part-time as a District School Counsellor.

C: Can you integrate Tai Chi principles into your counselling activities?

Angela: Tai Chi is very good for [hyperactive] children to slow their metabolism down, help them focus and be calm. In Hong Kong they have introduced mother-daughter, father-son programs in schools where they
encourage parents to do Tai Chi together with their children. There’s more togetherness, sharing of experiences, which helps children with behavioural or learning difficulties. Without parents, it is hard to get young people to do slow forms because their bodies are so hyped.

I want to bring these ideas to Australian schools. I’ve yet to find out more about them.

C: Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to talk to you, Angela.

Events

2009-10-20T00:54:00.001+11:00

Past Events

June 2006 Workshop in Kahuna Valley, Hawaii

"Angela Cantafio is an award-winning, master level Tai Chi instructor and senior student of the world-renown Paul Lam. She lives in Australia and travels around the world teaching 'Tai Chi For Health', a Tai Chi practice focusing on health benefits for everyone, with a focus on arthritis."

Go to Kahuna Valley website to read entire article about the workshop

Watch this space for future events, such as workshops, lectures and retreats.

Qigong (chi kung)

2009-10-20T00:53:00.002+11:00

Qigong (Chi Kung) is part of the ancient traditions of Chinese medicine, healing arts and personal self improvement. It consists of various physical exercises, breathing technique and meditation practices for the cultivation of life force or "qi".

For more info see "Articles"

Taiji (Tai Chi)

2009-10-20T00:52:00.003+11:00

Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is a gem of ancient Chinese cultural heritage.

It is a slow, graceful and meditative form of exercise, that is practiced these days for its health benefits more than for its original martial arts aspects.

Since ancient times Taijiquan has been practiced in China to promote health, vitality and longevity.

The practitioner aims to improve mental and physical well-being through the meditative practice of slow, rhythmic and graceful movements while being attuned to the essential principles of correct posture and breathing.

With diligent practice comes the enhancement of balance, flexibility, strength, the flow of Qi (life energy), and the cultivation of a serene spirit.

See "Articles" for more info, or watch below my interview on Tai Chi and Qigong:

Curriculum

2009-10-20T00:52:00.001+11:00

Current Classes cover following curriculum:

- 24 Form
- Sword 32 Form
- TCA (Tai Chi for Arthritis - Sun Style)
- Combined 42 Form
- Combined 48 Form

Classes

2009-10-20T00:45:00.000+11:00

in Sydney NSW, Australia with INSTRUCTOR: Angela Hsu Cantafio

Monday
Forestville, Uniting Church Hall, Darley St
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm : Beginners and Intermediate
Review of TCA and Learning 24 Form
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm : Advanced 32 Sword Form

Wednesday
Farrah Street Park, Balgowlah
9.30am - 10.30am: Review of 24 Form and Learning of TCA

Saturday
Lilyfield Community Centre, Cecily Street
9:00 am - 10:00 am: Review of TCA / 24 Form / 42 Form
Learning of 48 Form

Saturday
Head Kung Fu Academy

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Learning 24 Form

ENQUIRIES
Email Contact

Qigong

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Tai Chi

2001-06-29T00:06:00.001+10:00

DVDs

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Curriculum

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classes

2001-06-29T00:03:00.000+10:00

article

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