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Note to students

What to expect
We invite all who join us to approach each class session with “beginner’s mind”.  Each class will begin with a warm up or to take care of any administrative business. The warm up will include loosening of joints and stretching the limbs. After the warm up, we will begin the class proper with Zhang Zhuang (aka Standing Posture), a time to physically align the body, calm the mind and prepare to bring full focus to each lesson. Following this, instruction includes a combination of group practice, demonstration, individual corrections and question and answer time. Physical strength is gained through holding postures while the body learns to find each position.

Each class closes with a traditional salute, embodying the concepts inherent in this discipline:

  • There is no number one in our class.
  • Brotherhood across the 4 seas coming together. We welcome everyone to come together to learn.
  • Intellect and martial arts coming together. We don’t believe in fighting, we do martial arts on the inside.
  • We send our salute from the heart and seeing the thumbs means I am not hiding anything.

Students are encouraged to deepen their skills through daily practice. The atmosphere is welcoming and supportive and the curriculum is appropriate for all fitness and experience levels. Individual capabilities and goals are respected and each student is encouraged to work to the best of his/her ability.

(Adapted with permission from Seattle School of Chen Style Taijiquan seattlechentaiji.com)