THE FALL 2024 / WINTER 2025 CLASS SESSION IS OVER. THE NEXT FULL 20-WEEK SESSION TAUGHT BY SIFU MARK BERNHARD BEGINS SEPTEMBER 13, 2025.

CHING BRODSKY WILL TEACH TWO 12-WEEK SESSIONS THIS SUMMER, ONE ON MONDAYS 6/2-8/25 6-7:00 PM AND ONE ON THURSDAYS 6/5-8/28. (NO CLASS 6/30 OR 7/3). THE LESSON WILL BE THE SAME IN THE MONDAY AND THURSDAY CLASS IN ANY WEEK. YOU MAY TAKE EITHER OR BOTH. MORE DETAILS HERE

THERE WILL ALSO BE A 2-HOUR INTRODUCTORY CLASS OFFERED ON SATURDAY, MAY 10 FROM 9-11:00

ALL CLASSES ARE HELD UPSTAIRS AT THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING AT 846 FRONT STREET IN DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ NEXT TO THE US POST OFFICE

IF YOU WISH TO BE ON THE LIST TO BE NOTIFIED OF UPCOMING CLASSES OR SCHEDULE A CLASS OBSERVATION, PLEASE USE THE CONTACT PAGE 

“T’ai Chi is feeling…passion…expression.” – Grandmaster William CC Chen

                                          YANG STYLE SHORT FORM

This class explores the entire 60-posture Yang style short form developed and taught by Grandmaster William CC Chen. This is his modification of the short form taught by his teacher, Cheng Man-ch’ing. The class is taught over a span of twenty weeks and contains beginning, intermediate, and advanced students. Learning this art is a life-long process and most students repeat the form class many times. As students develop skill with the form, they shift  focus to inner work, the energetics of t’ai chi, and self discovery and development through continued refinement of their physical movements and application of the t’ai chi principles. These internal aspects are additionally addressed through instruction in Ziranmen Qigong, Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation), Yiquan exercises, “holding” the t’ai chi postures, specific breathing and visualization practices, Master Huang’s Song Gong exercises, and other stretching and body “opening” approaches.

“The purpose of the Form is to perfect you…to train your body, your chi and your mind.   It’s not for you to perfect the Form. Form is just an exercise. It is there to serve you.”  –  Sifu Adam Mizner

                                                    PUSH HANDS

 THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC PUSH HANDS CLASS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Among its many other benefits, practicing the Form develops balance, stability, and ease of movement within our own personal sphere or space. Push Hands extends that awareness in a two-person investigation of the interaction of that sphere with another’s. The name, “Push” Hands, is really a misnomer. “Sensing” Hands is more descriptive of our focus and interest. The purpose, as we practice it in our school, is not to overpower our partner with force but to investigate, test, apply, and strengthen the attributes learned in our Form practice in order to solidify those attributes and enhance our understanding and internal development. It demands we become more sensitive to another person’s actions and, even, their thoughts and intentions, as well as our own internal signals. Our partner (not opponent) helps us explore our ability to “listen” and yield, yet root (hold our ground), and, yes, uproot (overcome) our partner, ideally without muscular effort or force. Push Hands is only appropriate (but highly recommended) for students who are able to demonstrate the complete 60-move Short Form on their own.