SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWS

SPECIAL EVENTS/ CLOSINGS

CLOSED Labor Day Monday September 4, 2017

 Autumn Moon Festival- October 4, 2017

THE SYMPOSIUM FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH TAI CHI RETREAT

On the weekend of September 8-10, 2017 this Symposium is being held at the Maris Stella Conference and Retreat Center in Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island, New Jersey. This year is the inaugural event which seeks to examine the literature, scientific documentation, and peer reviewed studies on the connections between a wide range of health benefits and the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. On Friday published literature, study results and published research papers will be presented. On Saturday and Sunday, the days begin early with qigong and moves throughout the day, working various elements of Tai Chi form, energy cultivation, theory application, push hands, and self- defense.                    

              Experienced teachers from all over the US will be presenting the various mini-workshops with push hands being a central point of connection throughout the weekend.  Si Fu Paul Ramos will be teaching one segment on Wudang Qigong as well as a second block on Internal Self-defense Technique.  It promises to be a fun and informative weekend of Health, Tai Chi, and camaraderie. Those of you who cannot make it should check next month’s Newsletter for a piece on how it went. Info may be obtained at http://syihtq.org/

 

US OPEN TOURNAMENT IN NYC SOON

The US Open Martial Arts Championships will again take place at Queens College in Queens NY, this year on October 1, 2017. The event is sponsored by the World Fighting Martial Arts Federation. The event is open to all styles of Martial arts from every country and displays forms, weapons, and multiple person divisions. As its name implies, it features a multitude of different application and sparring events to include point fighting, continuous contact fighting, ground fighting, weapons sparring, Wing Chun Chi Sau, Tai Chi Push Hands, and Mass Attack divisions.  Paul will return as a judge in various internal forms and weapons divisions as well as in Pushing Hands.  A few of the WST family may go to judge, compete, or to spectate although a list is not available at present. We will report back next month to give the review.

More information may be obtained at www.wfaf.org/en/championship/

AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL

This year on October 4, 2017 the asian celebration of the Autumn Moon Festival takes place. Traditionally a holiday period of about a week that commemorates the end of growing season and a chance for people to get together and eat, drink and be merry. It also celebrates ones ancestors and the friends who have passed on. Customs include parties, banquets, family gatherings, Moon watching, eating Moon cakes, and making and flying paper lanterns.  We at Wu Shen Tao generally have a Saturday afternoon lunch gathering where we gather to talk, tell stories, and to enjoy each other’s company outside of class time. We will inform students when the date, time and location are finalized.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS

Symposium for Integrative Health Tai Chi Retreat- September 8, 9, and 10 held at Maris Stella Retreat Center, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island, NJ        

   http://syihtq.org/index.html

US Open Martial Arts Championships – Sunday October 1, 2017 -Queens College NYC www.wfaf.org/en/championship/

US Challenge Tournament.  Saturday October 7th from 8:30 AM to 5 PM at the Marriott Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg MD http://www.uswushuacademy.com/index.php/en-us/events/us-challenge/schedule sponsored by US Wu Shu Academy

 

SEPTEMBER  SWORDPLAY CLASS

We will meet for sword basics and application class this month on Wednesday September 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 newly designed 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 plan to get the members only page set up soon. This page will allow members access to areas of the site where one may find articles, videos and archival information concerning the programs taught as well as historical information related to internal martial arts.   Active members may obtain password to Vimeo account in class only.                                                                                                                                   We also plan to have online payment options available for those persons seeking to sign up for introductory classes, or to buy uniforms, books, or to pay for classes.                   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

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly.

-Marcus Aurelius

Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action.

-Benjamin Disraeli

Education is the mother of leadership.

-Wendell Willkie

August 2017 NEWS

 

WU SHEN TAO 3RD ANNUAL PLAYFUL DRAGON COOKOUT    

35-40 participants came and enjoyed a sunny day with the Wu Shen Tao folks in Silver Spring at the Indian Springs Creek Park facility.  There was plenty of food, drink, conversation and camaraderie at the event which took place from 2-6PM on July 16th. The participants enjoyed a demonstration which included demos by students and teachers in several styles of Tai Chi, Bagua Zhang, Xing-I Chuan, Tai Chi Sword, Push Hands, Push Sword, and Tai Chi applications. We’d like to thank the teachers who came and participated &/ or demonstrated. Teachers who participated include CP Ong, Dante Gilmer, Joanna Chang, Charles Cashell, Katheryn Yasioka, and Edward Pratt and we appreciate their support and contributions to the event. We also want to thank the students who helped to set up, cook, and close down after the cookout. It would have been much more difficult without the support and efforts of our Wu Shen Tao family. We thank you all so much!

US KUOSHU CHAMPIONSHIPS

On the weekend of July 28-30, we, once again, took part in these yearly competitions that were held at the Hunt Valley Marriott in Hunt Valley MD.  This year’s event is the national qualifying event which selects the team which will represent the US at the 2018 Kuo Shu World Championships which will take place at the same venue in July 2018. Paul Ramos again taught part of the judges training program on Friday before working as a Chief Judge on Saturday and Sunday. Several students competed for the school and did a fine job of representing us. We thank Julian Weaver, Evan Colton, Toba Adewusi, Michael Daryabeygi, Daniel Nightingale, and Steven Genus, and my Kung Fu brother and WST children’s instructor, Terance Nicholson, for representing our school.  I also want to thank Eric Putney, Bob Burmeister, Meghan Jackson, and Paul Morgan, for coming in to root on their classmates as well and those who watched the event on live stream.  All of our competitors did very well and almost all medaled in various events. Honorable mention goes to Terance Nicholson for winning Advanced Sword and being first alternate for the US team in Xing-I as well as taking home another Silver in advanced empty hand. Most forms divisions had 15-25 competitors so competition was strong. Finally we wish to congratulate Steven Genus for medaling in 6 out of 7 events and qualifying to be on the US team for next year’s World Championships in both Bagua Zhang and Xing-I Chuan. Make plans now to attend next years’ Kuo Shu World Champion Tournament to be held the last weekend in July 2018 in Hunt Valley MD.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS

Capitol Classics / China Open- Saturday August 5, 2017 at the Gaylord Resort and Hotel, National Harbor MD.  

Symposium for Integrative Health Tai Chi Retreat- September 8,9,10 held at Maris Stella Retreat Center, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island, NJ   http://syihtq.org/index.html

US Open Martial Arts Championships – Sunday October 1, 2017 -Queens College NYC

US Challenge Tournament.  Saturday October 7th from 8:30 AM to 5 PM at the Marriott Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg MD

 

AUGUST SWORDPLAY CLASS

We will meet for sword basics and application class this month on Wednesday August 9, 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 newly designed 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 plan to get the members only page set up soon. This page will allow members access to areas of the site where one may find articles, videos and archival information concerning the programs taught as well as historical information related to internal martial arts.                                                                                                                                      We also plan to have online payment options available for those persons seeking to sign up for introductory classes, or to buy uniforms, books, or to pay for classes.                   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

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.

-Washington Irving

Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration.

-Evan Esar

Sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character, sow a character and you reap a destiny.

.-George Dana Boardman

Questions for Master Paul Ramos

Sifu Paul Ramos is working on a video series where he addresses a variety of questions and issues related to Tai Chi, holistic health, and the internal arts. Got any questions you've been mulling? Share them here and maybe it can become a video for the whole community. 

July 2017 News

SPECIAL EVENTS/ CLOSINGS

CLOSED MONDAY JULY 3 for Independence Day Holiday

Saturday July 8- Class location changed to Sligo Creek Park (Piney branch Rd East to Dale Drive, Park entrance 100 ft. on right after Piney branch and Dale Drive intersection in lot on Dale Drive.  (Change related to DX Summer Intensives).

No Children’s Kung Fu class on Saturday July 8 and July 22 (r/t DX Summer Intensives. Children will be billed at ½ rate for July.

PLAYFUL DRAGON COOKOUT- Sunday JULY 16, 2-6 PM- Everyone invited

 

DX SUMMER INTENSIVES

The Annual Summer Dance Intensives from July8-23 will utilize the entire space. Therefore all daytime classes during this time period will not take place. NO Monday or Thursday noon classes are available from July 8-22nd.

On Saturday July 8 classes will be moved outside to the park just off Piney Branch Rd. on Dale Drive. There is a parking lot available and a field to workout in on the left about 200 yards after the turn onto Dale Drive from Piney Branch Rd. On Saturday July 22, all Tai Chi and self- defense classes will all take place in Studio 2.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will resume normal scheduling after July22.

 

WU SHEN TAO 3RD ANNUAL PLAYFUL DRAGON COOKOUT            

We are looking to have this year’s celebration at our usual place in Silver Spring at the Indian Springs Terrace Park facility.  It is located at 9717 Lawndale Drive, Silver Spring MD 20901. We will meet at 1:30pm -6 PM on Sunday July 16th

Feel free to invite friends, families, students and teachers from the area. Join us for food, demos, games, stimulating conversation, and an impromptu live music jam performed by the attendees. There is usually a push hands group, a discussion group, and a play area nearby for children to climb and run around in. There is an indoor facility with bathrooms and a kitchenette and open areas outside for cooking, playing, and enjoying the weather. It is always a lot of fun and we encourage you to keep the 3rd Sunday in July available to come join us.  We will still have AM classes that day so come work out and then join us for fun in the sun!  Please RSVP so that we can prepare properly! A somewhat accurate headcount helps us make sure we have enough fun for everyone!

We also seek volunteers to help with assorted set up and break down tasks such as help with barbequing, transporting food to the venue, etc. A signup list will be brought to the school soon and those in attendance will be asked to help during the announcements at the end of class.

See you all then!!

 

WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS!

We’d like to welcome new members Patricia Vrabel, Holly Vaughn, James and Ellen Salkeld, Christin Melendez, Rex Durairg, Yonas Le Baron, and Gerald Lucas to the Wu Shen Tao family. Speaking of families, we send belated congrats to Emily and Hieu Duong on the birth of their son and congrats as well to Andrea and Kevin Koo on the birth of their daughter Abigail. Hopefully we’ll see you all at our cookout on July 16th.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS

Playful Dragon Gathering- Indian Spring Terrace Park, SS MD -July 16 2-6 PM

Kuoshu International Championships –Hunt Valley Marriott, Hunt Valley MD -July 29 & 30th.

Capitol Classics / China Open- Saturday August 5, 2017 at the Gaylord Resort and Hotel, National Harbor MD.  

US Challenge Tournament.  Saturday October 7th from 8:30 AM to 5 PM at the Marriott Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg MD

 

JULY SWORDPLAY CLASS

We will meet for sword basics and application class this month on Wednesday July19, 2017 from 7:30-9 PM. Bring a sword, eye protection and groin protection (optional).

 

NEW WEB SITE UP- PLEASE SIGN IN!

Our newly designed 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 plan to get the members only page set up soon. This page will allow members access to areas of the site where one may find articles, videos and archival information concerning the programs taught as well as historical information related to internal martial arts.                                                                                                                                       We also plan to have online payment options available for those persons seeking to sign up for introductory classes, or to buy uniforms, books, or to pay for classes.  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

Self-trust is the first secret of success.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

If there is no struggle; there is no progress.                  

-Frederick Douglas

Success doesn’t come to you…you go get it.

-Marva Collins