Taijiquan & Qigong classes are for all levels of students. This class focuses on cultivating and increasing internal strength through the practice of the Baduanjin (八段錦 - Eight Pieces of Brocade) and a Taijiquan (太極拳) set from Master Yin Qianhe's (Yin Chian Ho - 尹千合 - 1903-1988) lineage.
The Baduanjin practice is a series of exercises that increase flexibility and strength through the use of postures (static and dynamic) and breathing, or Qigong (氣功). Qigong is a meditative breathing exercise or a dynamic posture stretching and movement exercise meant to increase lung capacity, vital energy and overall health.
The Taijiquan practice is working on a Taolu (prearranged postures linked together through motion) in a slow, relaxed and focused manner. Guest Intructor Olive Albanese teaches Wú Jiànquán (吳鑑泉) style of Taijiquan that she began studying with Michael Fricke in 2001. Michael Fricke studied with Master Yin Qianhe at the Chinese Kung Fu Center in Milwaukee for 13 years before Master Yin passed away in 1988. This style has upwards of 108 postures, and it is a unique esoteric form quite unlike many of the common Taijiquan forms practiced today. In addition to Taijiquan and Qigong, Master Yin also developed his own unique sword form, called Rainbow Sword (驚虹劍).
Even into his seventies and eighties, Master Yin was skipping around and laughing like a little boy, demonstrating advanced kicks and postures. Master Yin always told his students to strive for the ultimate goals of health and enlightenment, after acquiring the initial skills of impeccable posture, strength, endurance, balance, and fluidity. Olive tries to instill these same values in her students, emphasizing excellent posture first and foremost, and improving strength, root, and balance while learning the form. During and for many years after memorizing the form the student is reminded to relax more and more, to allow for greater Qi cultivation, in order to strive for those ultimate goals of health, long life and enlightenment, or "becoming one with the Dao."
