King's Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Wellness

At the start of summer we had some students test and graduate to new levels as shown in the picture below. We recently had Jim Morris test and move up to orange sash. You guys all have done, and continue to do, great jobs. I set up hard tests for you all. I found things to target on each of you but you all met the challenges. And you all made it through the endurance portion of our tests, which varied for some of you, so congratulations on that as well! I'll be sure to post Jim's picture later. He tested and passed towards the end of summer. And Jim got worked over pretty good on his test as well, congrats Jim!

Happy Independence Day! And Happy Birthday to my son Michael!! Double celebration! https://www.archives.gov/foun/declaration/how-did-it-happen... https://wallbuilderslive.com/tbn-independence-day-special-/

World Tai Chi and Chi Kung Day is around the corner. Be sure to order your shirts or other items and mark your calendar so you are at the upcoming World Tai Chi and Chi Kung Day in Lakewood, Saturday, April 27th, 9 am to 2 pm, at the Lakewood Youth Center. It will be a great day. If you go to the website at www.KingsTaiChi.com and go down the page where it says World Tai Chi Day, click on that and you can see some pictures from past events. Here is a link to World Tai Chi Day shirts and other items - https://teespring.com/2019-world-tai-chi-day

Mark your calendar, Saturday, April 27th, 9 am to 2 pm, will be World Tai Chi Day in Lakewood. Don't miss it, it will be a great. Elisabeth Wales will demonstrate and teach her straight sword form, which, by the way, is great. Also, bring a stick or straight sword if you have one, with the stipulatioin that it not be sharp as there may be a lot of people and I don't want to see any accidents, or horseplay with weapons. I will be teaching some Chinese wand/hobo stick, health b...atons, and Chinese low to zero impact aerobics, so be sure you have a 48 inch stick (similar to a broom handle), and 2 baton length sticks, 24 to 28 inches in length. I'd also suggest bringing some water and a little snack for yourself. And, of course, we will do our tai chi together, and some chi kung! "All who pass through these doors,enter as equals. Each knowing that on life's journey, we are always learning. The rocks at the top of the mountain are only there because of the rocks at the bottom of the mountain, and must thank the rocks at the bottom for their support. Enter, attend, train humbly" See more

World Tai Chi Day in Lakewood! We are having our World Tai Chi Day in Lakewood on Saturday, April 27th, from 9 am to 2 pm. We will cover a lot of material, it is not just a demo, it is classes as well. And not just classes where you have to rush to follow along and are lost in the crowd. You get instruction and correction where needed. It's not just a free class for 5 hours, it is a real class for 5 hours. It's a fun day and great opportunity. We have been doing Tai C...hi day here and there in Lakewood since 1999 So, this 2019 will be our 20th year. Here is a little clipping from the Lakewood catalog. I'll be posting more info as it becomes available. I'll also post some pics from our very first Tai Chi day back in 1999 in Lakewood. Mark your calendars so you don't miss the day! See more

We have our martial arts, tai chi seminar this weekend -Saturday, March 9th, 9 am to 2 pm. It is always a great event so try to be there for it. NOTE, THIS IS AN EDIT: If you want to attend then you will need to come to the event and register there. Online registration is closed now, so you cannot register online. This is for over all accounting purposes. I have received a list of all registrants who have signed up online. So, if you are coming to the event, you wil...l need to register at the door. This is open to any all all participants. You do not have to be a student of the school, just interested in learning. A flyer is attached, and, again, register at the door. You can show up just a little early if you like so you get your registration taken care of right away. We look forward to seeing you all and having a great time with you! See more

Our seminar is coming up on March 9th in Lakewood, 9 am to 2 pm. It will be a lot of great information. I will be starting 2 forms for people. If you are only interested in techniques, then you can focus on remembering that instead of the form, but a form is a good way of cataloging those techniques in a sequential fashion. I will teach part of a form called the big knife. It is a big knife, almost machete sized. Lots of serious applications. People can order a knife from me,... and there will be wooden knives at the event. If you bring a knife you will need to have something to put the blade in like a scabbard or it can be wrapped in some cardboard - I have that rule because I do not want to see any accidents or any improper horseplay with blades. I will also teach part of the dragon. Also a great form with a lot of effective and serious applications. I'll post more later. For now, here is a shirt for the seminar. It comes in a few dark colors and is available as short sleeve, long sleeve and a v neck t-shirt. And a sticker is also available. It has a large back logo, as pictured, and a great pocket logo on the front, which you can see by clicking on the image below. It's a great shirt for the seminar, any workouts, casual wear, or lounging. Make time to attend, it's going to be a great event as usual. This is for students, but is also open to any other interested attendees, contact me for more details. More information will be posted. https://teespring.com/fighting-masters-seminar-2019 See more

Happy Valentines Day to everyone Tools you can love someone to death with

A couple of pictures from our Tai Chi classes. We just started a new session so this is a great time to jump on board. During our chi kung and breath work (hai kung), we explore the tangible, measurable physical benefits that take place in the body. Get into a class today to learn and benefit from these practices.

To all you students out there, and potential students, this week we start a new session of classes for all our classes. Chinese Wand/Hobo Stick on Monday Morning, Tai Chi and Chi Kung on Tuesday Morning, Kung Fu on Tuesday Evening, zero to low impact Chinese Aerobics on Wednesday, Tai Chi class followed by Kung Fu class on Thursday evening, and private instruction, guiding, and coaching by appointment. Also, coming up, we have our Fighting Masters Seminar on March 9th, 5 hou...r event at the Lakewood Youth Center, 9 am to 2 pm. And we will have our Lakewood World Tai Chi day at the Lakewood Youth Center on April 27th, Saturday, from 9 am to 2 pm, a FREE event which will include Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Chinese Aerobics, Chinese Wand, The Health Forms System, it will be a great time, lots of fun, lots of great information to learn, and free. I am also setting up some special seminars taking a focused look and giving focused instruction in some subjects, the first of which will be Chi Kung and the vast number of real, solid, pragmatic benefits that can be had from Hai Kung (Breath Work) and Chi Kung (Energy Work) - this will explore a lot of interesting information, actual pragmatic workings of it, and a broad range of benefits and how to access those benefits. This won't be hosted through Lakewood Parks and Rec, so if you are interested in this presentation you will have to contact me privately and I will put you on the notification list and keep you in the loop for developments. Have a great day and see you all in classes!! :-) See more

A Happy and Prosperous 2019 to everyone!

Here is an evening Kung Fu class. I am teaching spear on the left side. I have my son, Michael, teaching a student snake on the right. There is are others working out in the background and foreground. Come and join our classes for a great workout, training, and information! Evening Kung Fu and Tai Chi and Chi Kung. Morning Tai Chi and Chi Kung, Chinese Wand/Hobo Stick/Baton health exercises, Chinese Health Form low to zero impact aerobics. Stress Buster classes/seminars. Private and semi private trainings. Corporate classes and seminars. Practical and pragmatic meditation methods. Herbs and King's Dit Da Jow, and more.

Merry Christmas!!

To all students, this week starts a new session in our classes in Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and our various health classes throughout the week. Come in for a good workout and good training. I look forward to seeing you all there and let me know if you have any questions.

Happy thanksgiving! Get into classes to work off all the holiday calories!

Double broadswords, cern daos. Not light weight, floppy blades, these are heavier, non bendable blades. They have a decent enough weight to them so that the form gives a good workout at just under 200 moves. It's a good form for concentration, keeping track of both swords, keeping them right where they belong. If they are not where they belong then they might hit you which is not what you want. So the acting set is a good for sharpening concentration as well. High kicks a...re performed for the workout, with the understanding that a well placed low kick is pragmatic, fast, and effective. With a good weight sword this form also gives the hands and fingers good conditioning as well. This also builds good bridge arms. The body gets good over all conditioning as well. And using King's dit da jow, you capitalize on using forms to aid in conditioning. I really like this form, for the concentration/discipline and concepts, the workout, and for the techniques within the form. New classes start the week of November 26th. Join us for classes. See more

Practicing Butterfly Swords a couple of nights ago just before class started. Besides my workouts away from class, I cram in a little just before class as well. You should capitalize on your time, you are either actively moving forward and making your own workout a priority or your are doing nothing and falling back. Things will try to derail you, some things that come up spontaneously, perhaps activities known as "preferred activities" which you'd rather do instead of workin...g out, or people with with things and agendas that they think should come ahead of what you need to do for yourself. Well, you know, or should know, how all of that should be prioritized - all of it behind your work out, it is your health, your well being, and, the cool thing about martial arts in particular, your work out is not just an arbitrary workout, it is a combative discipline that keeps you prepared should you ever need to protect yourself or those you care about. It is a two edged sword, working out/wellness and combat skills. Two sides of a coin that can't be separated. And, how great is that! Don't let those other distractions, whatever they are, get in the way. Those other distractions can be, and should be, your "green light", your signal to practice, to get in class, to put those other things on the back burner for AFTER you have taken care of your workout and class. If you do not make it a priority, no one else well. So get on the ball and make YOU a priority for YOU. Self care is not selfish. You might find working out tedious at first. But it will become a habit and discipline, and you will feel something is missing when you do not do it. You improve by proactively applying yourself and prioritizing things. Doing nothing, or the minimum, is just the slippery slope down, for health and combative skills. Sometimes your forward progress might be small, sometimes almost imperceptible, but it is movement forward, and it will increase as you make the persistent, continued effort. A tidal wave is composed of many small drops of water. Keep sharpening and polishing that sword. This, the Butterfly Swords, I find to be a fun form to do, a good workout. Join us for class, we have a new session staring, so take the hardest step which is to get into the first class, then you'll see yourself making incremental progress, developing your health and your combative skills. See more

New Class Session Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Kung Fu, Chinese Wand/Hobo Stick, Low to Zero Impact Chinese Aerobics. This week we start a new session of classes. Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, and Thursday. We had a great class this morning in Chinese Wand/Hobo stick along with health baton work. We will also have Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and Kung Fu. We will also be doing many staff exercises to promote strength, health, and conditioning. ... So, join us in class. If you have questions contact me by e-mail or Facebook messenger. See more

Happy Labor Day!

In these classes we were transferring skills learned in a standing position to prone positions . Starting laying down, then progressively working/fighting up to a standing position. All the same techniques are used, just in prone and awkward positions. Murphy's Law, and common sense says, you are not going to be in ideal circumstances. You are not going to be in your training clothes, in a well lit environment, on level/stable ground, etc., and you may not be upright and on y...our feet. You might have to fight back up to a standing position. If you are knocked down, you will have to fight back up to a standing position. And the angles someone may come at you from might be quite different in any of these prone positions as opposed to a standing position. You could be rolled to the side, flat on your back, someone above you as in the pictures, etc. In the top 2 pictures I am using the focus mitts drilling strikes and blocks, from that top position and moving left to right. The bottom left I am throwing kicks, the kicks were strong enough that I am also getting some foot and leg conditioning :-). Bottom right I am just starting out showing some techniques for stomps coming in. And that leg kicking at me is Steve Littrell, I've got some pics doing this with us that I will post later. It was a good workout, we were really sweating, and we covered a lot of good territory. Everyone did a great job transferring their skills pretty smoothly in all the classes, good job everyone! See more

Sign up today for Tai Chi classes in Lakewood! Contact us for more information. https://www.consumerreports.org//benefits-of-learning-tai/

Note to all students and prospective students. We start a new session this week so be sure to get registered. Monday morning, Chinese Wand/Hobo Stick and batons. Tuesday morning, Tai Chi and Chi Kung, evening Kung Fu. Wednesday Morning, zero to minimal impact Chinese Aerobics Health Forms system. Thursday Evening, Tai Chi and Chi Kung, then Kung Fu. Private/Semi Private classes as already scheduled Let me know if you have any questions, see you all in class!

Here is a class photo form just a week or so ago, my son and I doing fingertip push ups in class. I think we had just pulled in our little fingers from the looks of it. This was just after my 60th birthday, so I guess this is my gift to myself, hahaha ;-) Actually, I really do like doing fingertip push ups :-). Join us in class and learn Kung Fu and how to strengthen your hand and fingers and more.

A new session of classes starting this week. Be sure to get registered and get yourselves into class. * Monday: Chinese Hobo Stick/Chinese Wand/Chinese Batons for Health in the morning * Tuesday: 1) Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the morning, 2) Kung Fu in the evening... * Wednesday: Chinese Aerobics Zero Impact workout in the morning * Thursday: 1) Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the evening, 2) Kung Fu in the evening * 1) Private, 2) semi private, 3) and other such classes - continue as normally scheduled. If you are a new student, mark your calendar and set your alarm and we look forward to seeing you as well. If you have questions feel free to contact me. I'll see you all in classes!

Well, been about 2 weeks ago I was on a slippery surface and took a pretty bad fall backwards. I know how to fall from training. We started on matts, when to hardwood floors and, eventually, I could fall and roll on concrete. However, In this fall, I feel into a tight, small area and on a solid, hard surface. I didn't fall akimbo as some people do. I know to tuck my body among other things. But, due to the tight, small area I fell into, I was not able to roll out, slap ...Continue reading

This was shared with me many years ago, still true and I still love it.

Tai Chi Day is not far off so be sure to mark your calendar. This will be a 4 hour, free event. And, as usual, it will be great, fun, and an informative event. We will cover Tai Chi, Ch Kung, and some other health and wellness practices like Chinese Wand and a wonderful form that is low to zero impact and is an aerobic form, we like to honor Tai Chi for it's benefits, but with so many other wonderful health practices, we like to touch upon as many as possible. And, as we ofte...n like to do, we will show some martial content and aspects of these health forms. That's how complete these health forms are, they help to mitigate the attack of bad life style choices, time, etc., but, the martial aspect is also health giving in that you can protect yourself and you guard yourself that way ;-). Naturally, anyone no wanting to participate in those parts of the classes can sit them out. I'll post a flyer this week. To get your Tai Chi Day t-shirt go to - www.teespring.com/world-tai-chi-day-2018 You can get long or short sleeve t-shirts, v-neck t-shirts, sweat tops in black, charcoal, and dark blue colors. And there is even a sticker available. To get a Tai Chi Day mug go to - www.gearbubble.com/taichiday2018 Microwave and dishwasher safe and in 11 or 15 ounce size The design on both the shirt and the mug commemorate World Tai Chi Day, and the Chinese New Year of the Dog, and the year 2018 on the shirts and mugs. Go check out the designs. If you have any questions let me know, and I look forward to seeing both the participants and the instructors and other guests! The picture below is from one of our last events, with Rick Zanotti leading the folks that showed up early in various warm ups. See more

The value of our health. I have had this conversation with students in various ways. Whether it be in Kung Fu, or Tai Chi, or other facets of training. We might practice as though we are preparing for real combat, which is extremely important and one essential part of what we do. But do we also practice for our health as well. Is what we do, and the way we do it, not only preparing us for combat but preparing us for the many years ahead. For our longevity, vitality an...Continue reading

Congratulations to Michael Mieir for passing his Blue Sash test. We did this test over a few classes and ended it with endurance testing. We tested his horse stance, typically a test of your ability to test the strength of the legs, your resolve, and your ability to take some hardship. Life may give us hardship, so we prepare ourself, in our martial art, both for combat and life difficulties in general. The remainder of the endurance test is individualized and is to pus...h the person to their envelope. And I did give him so difficulties and hardships, as I do all the students. And, he did take on the difficulties and passed his test. As do all of the students. Sometimes, they may not pass the first time, but they come back and attack the challenge again. It is like the old saying, the successful man fals down 8 times, but gets up 9. Everyone has to get involved in testing, so it is like we all test together, rise to the challenge together and all pass together. When I hand you your rank, you never need to wonder if you earned it, I will push you, and you will earn it. Congratulations to Michael and everyone! See more