DECEMBER 2017 WST NEWS

 

SPECIAL EVENTS/ CLOSINGS

CLOSED for Holiday Break December 25-January 2

 UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS 

CHINA TRIP 2017

The 130th Anniversary of Wu Yi Hui’s birth was celebrated in Huangshan China and Paul Ramos, and his son Michael, attended the event- The International Liu He Ba Fa Conference. Wu Yi Hui brought the art out of secrecy and made it available throughout China. His son Master Wu keeps that spirit alive and well with this yearly conference. Also known as Water Boxing, the conference brought in people from around the world. Some representatives were from Sydney, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, 2 teams from the US, and representatives from other countries as well. Over 400 persons attended the conferences and many demonstrations of the various branches displayed their art. GM Liu Xiao Lin headed up the DC/MD group and 13 of us attended. GM Liu led a group demo performed by 10 of us and it went off well to rousing applause.

The group met in Shanghai, where we met up with GM Liu’s KF brother GM Gao Tie Niao (he is also Paul’s co-Wudang Sifu). Some were there early enough to work out with this great master. Paul and his son Michael arrived shortly before the trip to the conference and met with some of GM Gao’s students and some of Paul’s 2nd branch of Kung Fu brothers and sisters before having a lavish lunch with the US group in Shanghai.  The following day we bussed to Huang Shan Mountain to participate in the conference followed by sightseeing and many martial discussions with Senior Kung Fu brothers, uncles and great uncles.  Everyone was very welcoming, friendly, and sharing of their knowledge and experience. Most nights we had 8-10 course banquets with much toasting and revelry. Everyone had a great time. The sightseeing included Taoist temples at Huang Shan, Ancient cites in Hui Zhou, fishing and farming displays at Shen Du, visiting the Huang Shan Tea Factory, and of course shopping and dining. Shanghai is a modern city with all the current amenities combined with 19 th century European architecture from the time of attempted colonization and small pockets of old Shanghai rewired for the 21st Century. We highly recommend anyone to visit there if you have a chance. The mountains were beautiful and inviting as well. We look forward to attending another conference in a couple of years. Perhaps some of you can join us then.

 

HOLIDAY BREAK

WST will be closed between December 24 and January 2, 2018. We wish everyone to have a good Holiday season and we hope you can spend quality time with friends, families and other loved ones. We look forward to seeing you back in January- rested and ready to progress to the next level and we will be there to help you with that!

 

PRESSURE POINT THEORY AND APPLICATION IN TAI CHI WORKSHOP- JANUARY 21, 2018

Any martial art can be made to be more effective and combat ready if one is aware of physiology and meridian theory. Dim Shui also known as Point spotting has been studied for centuries. This workshop will look at how these points may be addressed from the perspective of common Tai Chi postures. Instruction will include an over view of the 36 major martial striking points, the hand positions best used to access these points and the proper angles of execution. These concepts will then be addressed with the idea of how to actually use them via common Tai Chi movements.

This 4 hour intensive will take place at Roda Movement Center at 7014-A Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park MD. The event  date is Sunday January 21, 2018 from 10am -2pm.  No experience is necessary since the essential fundamental principles will be addressed and we will expand our view from there. The cost is $120 up to one day prior to the event and $150 at the door. Feel free to reserve your spot ASAP since attendance is limited to 20 participants.  Also to reserve your space or if you have any questions or concerns call Paul at 301-651-3617.  We look forward to seeing you there!

 

VIDEO SERIES BEING PRODUCED FOR INTERNET

Paul Ramos has decided to increase his internet presence through the creation of 3-5 minute videos which shall be available on You Tube, Facebook, the WST website, and other internet locations. The purpose is to expand the depth and content of available info on the internal Martial and Health Arts. Many have cited that there is much misinformation, disinformation and flat out erroneous information available which is then taken as truth by the general public. In an effort to combat these problems these videos will be made in short but informative packets so that other options and understandings may be shared by the general populace. A Wu Shen Tao free subscription page will host old and newer videos which will start with Tai Chi fundamentals and then slowly progress to more subtle and advanced concepts of health and other internal martial arts. Comments and questions are welcomed and hopefully we all can gain more knowledge and understanding from the videos and the comments that they elicit.

 

DECEMBER  SWORDPLAY CLASS

We will meet for sword basics and application class this month on Wednesday December 13, 2017 from 7:30-9 PM. Bring a sword, eye protection and groin protection (optional). All students are encouraged to attend regardless of experience.

 

WEB SITE CONTACT PAGE IS UP- PLEASE SIGN IN!

Our web site is up and running at present. Although most of the information has been set up; small additions to text, video, and pictures will be added to make the school’s curriculum and goals more accessible.  New elements to the site include a sign up contact page for those wanting to receive our newsletters and announcements, we’ve also added more videos to give examples of the various arts that we teach. Schedules of our Takoma Park as well as our Gaithersburg locations are now online.                                                                                                                                                        We also humbly accept suggestions as to how we may improve the site so that it may be easier and more usable to current and future members. 

 

FREE COMMUNITY PUSH HANDS -

Our weekly Community Tai Chi and Push Hands Open workout is alive and well (25 years and counting). We hold the Free Community Workout, 3 blocks away, at the Roda Movement Center which is located at 7014 Westmoreland Avenue (just off Carroll Avenue) in Takoma Park, MD.  It is located just behind the Gazebo located on Carroll Avenue and across from the House of Musical Traditions.  The workout takes place on Thursdays from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.  Feel free to contact us at longmen987@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns.

 

 

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.

-Thaddeus Golas

 

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

-Harry Truman

 

Failure is success if we learn from it.

-Malcolm Forbes