EVENTS/ CLOSINGS
CLASSES RESUME –Wednesday January 2, 2019
CLOSED – Monday January 21 for Martin Luther King Day
HAVE A GREAT 2019!
We here at Wu Shen Tao hope that everyone had a good holiday season! The holidays are usually a good time to reconnect with family, friends and hopefully make some new connections. Time goes by so quickly and before you know it- another year has gone by.
Let’s all take a moment to think about what we’d like to accomplish, where we’d like to go, and what advancement we’d care to make in our professional and personal lives. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions but I do feel that it is a good thing to set goals so that we have a direction to move towards. Once we have a direction we need to persevere, adapt, and not overly sweat the details as we progress. We should also remember to have fun along the way because time marches on regardless of whether we worry or whether we take it all in stride. We need to observe life and remember those life lessons that we encounter while not taking it all too seriously. Enjoy the ride as much as you can because life is a journey and not a destination.
Once again, have a Healthy and Prosperous 2019!!
SWORDPLAY WORKSHOP LEVEL 2
We will be hosting a level 2 Swordplay workshop. We have hosted level 1 workshops a couple of times in the past and now we are moving onto the next level.
The workshop will consist of a one hour review of fundamental skills and then proceed to more advanced skills of hand work, foot work, single person and paired training drills, feinting drills, compound reaction drills and finishes up with 60-80 minutes of rotating sword sparring matches. Although this workshop is labeled level 2 it is appropriate for anyone who has a strong interested in, anyone who has taken previous swordplay training, or those who have been in Martial arts for over a year.
It will take place at the Roda Movement Center located in Takoma Park MD at 7014 Westmoreland Ave.
On February 10, 2019, we are scheduled to begin at 10:30 am and this 5 hour intensive will end at 3:30 pm. There will be a 20-30 minute break midway through so participants may bring food to eat or call for pickup at one of the several eateries nearby and around the corner. It is also highly suggested that participants bring extra water, eye and groin protection, and whatever other protective equipment they deem necessary. The cost will be $150 per person and includes a foam sword so that we all may be equally armed during the drills and sword sparring matches.
Paul Ramos will be teaching the workshop and he has been training in, teaching, and sharing his expertise in Asian Swordplay, Medieval Swordplay (having previously taught swordplay to the street and stage performers at several MD Renaissance Festivals), and Olympic Style swordplay (having been a competitive Collegiate team member in NYC; as well as a former Nationally ranked Sabre Fencer), for the last 40 years.
If you are interested in attending you should contact us ASAP to be placed on the participant list and you will be updated as to all pertinent information associated with this event. The event is limited to 20 participants so you will need to secure your spot soon. To register or to gain more information feel free to contact Paul Ramos at 301-651-3617, or via email at longmen987@gmail.com. You may also find updates on our website DCMDTaichi.com.
NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN!!
We have a new location for the Clear Circle Training Center. It remains in Gaithersburg MD but now resides at 329 B Main Street in the lower level suite below the Rose Spa and Salon in the Kentlands’ complex.
The space is larger than our former location and is also close to two outdoor training areas when the weather permits. This space is dedicated to private, semi-private and small group classes only. Instruction available there ranges from Qigong/ Neigong, Tai Chi and other Internal martial arts, Swordplay, Meditation, Self Defense, Contact Fight training, nutrition and other skills related to those mentioned above. Feel free to set up an appointment to come visit. New clients may also take advantage of our New Year’s Special which consists of private and semi-private instruction for a limited time 40% off! Call 301-651-3617 to inquire or to register for your lesson.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Winter is here and with it comes a variety of situations that unfortunately lead to challenging transportation, health, and mindset concerns.
Realize that when Montgomery County schools close related to bad weather, impassible roads etc.- Wu Shen Tao will also be closed. Should the weather/ roads clear up by class time everyone should look to our website (DCMDTaichi.com), for updates and any changes to our normal policy. Every effort will be made to update the site as soon as possible. Announcements and changes would be found on our Home page and the News/ Events page.
Secondly, the Winter season also encourages the usual spate of colds, Flu’s and other health issues. As much as we love to see you all in class at every opportunity; please stay home if you are ill! We like to share your company but do not wish to share any viruses or other pathogens. Rest up and get back to us when you are feeling better.
Also, realize that if you sweat and train hard in class you will probably open up your circulation and pores so take a little time before your leave to cool down. Bring in a change of shirt/ clothes if you need to so that you are not walking in the frigid temperatures wet and tired. This may temporarily diminish your immune system which may lead to being more susceptible to the pathogens surrounding us. Let’s have a healthy and productive winter season.
NEW ONGOING FEATURE ON OUR WEB SITE
The next installment of “Something to Meditate On’ will soon be available on our Qigong / Meditation Page (DCMDTaichi.com). It is produced by long- time collaborator, training partner and good friend Henry Brennan. He has an extensive background in the martial and energy arts beginning about 45 years ago. His specialty is energy cultivation with a focus on passive and active work along with methods and strategies of how to apply these skills in one’s daily life.
He shares some of the concepts of the work by providing snippets of wisdom and knowledge monthly on our Qigong/Meditation page.
Interested individuals can also now begin online training with him and learn to use the distilled exercises and methods of this path. I recommend that you feel free to check in bi weekly for the next nugget along this path toward potentiating oneself.
DECEMBER SWORDPLAY CLASS
We will meet for sword basics and application class this month on Wednesday January 16 th, 2019 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 –
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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 Takoma Park 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 little things I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You can't let anyone - or any society - determine those for you. "
Morrie Schwartz-
"Physical bravery is an animal instinct; moral bravery is a much higher and truer courage. "
Wendell Phillips-
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to always try just one more time.
Thomas Edison-