Taoist Tai Chi Society

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The International Taoist Tai Chi Society (國際道家太極拳社) is an umbrella organization for the governance of its member associations around the world, which are dedicated to the teaching of internal martial arts. Its primary endeavor is Taoist Tai Chi. As of 2007, the organization has 40,000 members, including 15,000 in Canada, and is present in 26 countries. [1]

Contents

[edit] Society aims & objectives

The Taoist Tai Chi Society has four aims and objectives:

  • To make Taoist Tai Chi available to all.
  • To promote the health-giving qualities of Taoist Tai Chi internal arts and methods.
  • To promote cultural exchange (specifically: ...to make the richness of Chinese culture more accessible...).
  • To help others.

[edit] Structure

Member associations are incorporated as non-profit organizations in their own countries and many are also registered as charitable organizations. For example, the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada is registered as a charitable organization in Canada. [2] and the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization in the United States. [3]

The Society operates on a membership basis rather than a fee for service basis. Payment of membership dues permits a member to participate in any class offered by any member association.

[edit] History

The Taoist Tai Chi Society was founded by Moy Lin-shin (梅連羨). He arrived in Toronto, Canada in 1970 to start teaching wushu. [1]

The primary style Moy taught was a Tai Chi Chuan form. He also taught a Lok Hup Ba Fa form,[4] which he felt was too difficult for most students. Therefore, he modified the orthodox Yang style Tai Chi Chuan form that he knew and called it Taoist Tai Chi. Over the years Moy trained many of his students to become instructors/teachers of Taoist Tai Chi. In order to coordinate these people and their activities a formal organization was necessary. After expansion into the United States, and later into Europe, New Zealand and Australia the International Taoist Tai Chi Society was formally established in 1990.

On a 42-hectare rural property near Orangeville, Ontario, the Society has built its residential Health Recovery Centre and Quiet Cultivation Centre, where members from around the world can gather and train together. The Quiet Cultivation Centre includes a large temple of Chinese design dedicated to Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist teachings, which was opened on 2007-09-08 with the participation of some 2500 members. The construction was funded entirely by donations. [1] [5]

[edit] Instruction

Classes are taught by volunteer instructors accredited by the Society. In order to become a volunteer instructor one has to express the desire to do so, and be able to show the elements of the form to new students. Criteria against which to judge the suitability to be an instructor are set by the Society itself. An instructor is required to contribute monthly membership fees and attend a number of workshops every year.

A teacher of Taoist Tai Chi is encouraged to live by what Moy called "Eight Heavenly Virtues":

These principles are rooted in traditional Chinese Confucian ethics.

Moy's stated goal for Tai Chi was to help people regain their health. His curriculum features no martial content or any of the terminology of traditional Chinese medicine. In the way his form is transmitted is unlike traditional Tai Chi forms transmission since there are no self-defence applications, or mention of the martial theory of traditional Tai Chi. Neither is there a focus on the traditional energy concept of qi. Which criteria are used by the Society to judge the correct way a move should be carried out is unclear, except for the movement principles that give some limited guidelines about the structure of a position.

Moy encouraged students to think of Tai Chi in relation to Western physiology[citation needed]. The reasoning for this may be found in the ways of traditional schools: "to provide a level playing field for all students by instilling respect and care for one's seniors, peers and juniors, so that everyone, not just the physically gifted, has an opportunity to benefit from the training provided in a martial art school."

As a Taoist meditative practice, Moy also considered Taoist Tai Chi a method that would lead practitioners towards "taming the heart" i.e. developing an attitude of calm and compassion when dealing with stress.[citation needed]

[edit] Sister and subsidiary organizations

Since the death of Moy Lin-shin in 1998 the Taoist Tai Chi Society has been amalgamated with the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism and The Gei Pang Lok Hup Academy.

The Academy was established by Moy in 1988. It was established with the intent to teach the internal martial arts other than Tai Chi, mainly Lok Hup Ba Fa (Liuhe Bafa). Instructors there teach a 66 posture form derived from lineage of teachers at the Chin Woo Athletic Association in Shanghai whose teachers were of Wu Yi Hui lineage. The Gei Pang Lok Hup Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the U.S.A. through the Society.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Scrivener, Leslie. "Marshalling praise for art of Tai Chi", The Toronto Star, Sep 09, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 
  2. ^ Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada/La Societe de Tai Chi Taoist du Canada. Canada Revenue Agency. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  3. ^ Griner Leavy, Pamela. "The gentle art of health", The St. Petersburg Times, October 8, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 
  4. ^ The Taoist Tai Chi 108-Move Set
  5. ^ Reinhart, Anthony. "New Taoist temple rare and unique in North America", Globe and Mail, Sep 01, 2007, p. A15. 

[edit] External links