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San Diego Tai Chi Healthways hosts annual Tai Chi seminars and workshops in the North Coast area of San Diego for renowned Grandmasters, such as Li Deyin, Chen Xiaowang, and Chen Zhenglei.

"EXCELLENT workshops this weekend!!!!! It is a privilege to study under such teachers as Grand Master Chen Zhenglei and Master Tsao! Please give my thanks to Chen Zhenglei for his willingness to share his extensive knowledge with us!" -Sheryl W.
Master Tsao's appearance on NBC News
Click here for more comments about our workshops!

  Events

World Tai Chi Day 2012 (April 28, 2012)
Master Tsao's Trip to Barcelona, Spain (May 25 - 30, 2012) 
Master Tsao's Trip to Moscow, Russia (June 1 - 3, 2012) 
Master Tsao's Trip to Brussels, Belgium June 4 - 6, 2012) 
Master Tsao's Trip to Germany (June 8 - 10, 2012) 
Master Tsao's Trip to Greece (June 11 - 14, 2012) 
Master Tsao's Trip to Somerset, UK (June 15 - 17, 2012) 
Qigong and Self Healing by Professor Yu Dinghai (June 22 - 24, 2012) 
San Diego Summer Tai Chi and Qigong Week (July 24 - 29, 2012) 

Master Tsao's Trip to Spain and Germany (September 3 - 12, 2011) 
San Diego Tai Chi Summer Camp by Jesse Tsao (July 26-31, 2011) (Photos here!)
Qigong for Health by Professor Yu Dinghai (June 30 - July 3, 2011)
Master Tsao's Visit to France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, and England (May - June 2011) Photos
Master Tsao's Trip to Indiana (May 7-8, 2011)
World Tai Chi Day (April 30, 2011) Photos
Chen Zhenglei's Chen Tai Chi Workshop (Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5, 2010) Photos here!
Jesse Tsao's Visit to Netherlands and UK (August 28-29 and September 4-5, 2010)
Tai Chi Friendship Potluck and Talent Show (Saturday, July 17, 2010) Photos here!
Zhu Tiancai Workshop (Sunday, June 6, 2010) Photos here!
World Tai Chi Day (April 24, 2010)Photos here!
Master Tsao's Europe Tour in 2010 Photos here!
Annual Tai Chi Picnic and Talent Show Photos here!
San Diego Healing Festival at Balboa Park (May 2009) Photos here!
Europe (France, Spain, Italy) 2009 by Master Jesse Tsao Photos here!
World Tai Chi Day 2009, with picnic!  Two galleries of pictures now available!
Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai Tai Chi Workshop (June 29, 2008)
World Tai Chi Day in San Diego (April 26, 2008)
Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei: Tai Chi Workshop in San Diego (December 8-9, 2007)
Jesse Tsao on NBC TV News
42 Methods of Tai Chi Fajin (Power Releasing) Workshop with Zhu Tiancai 2007
World Tai Chi Day 2007: April 28th Video and Photos here! 
Chen Zhenglei Tai Chi Workshop 2006
Bagua Zhang Workshop in San Diego 2006 Photo gallery!
Tai Chi Picnic and Talent Show 2006  Photo gallery here!
San Diego Tai Chi & Self-Healing Summer Workshop 2006
Tai Chi/Push Hands Workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai...  Video here!
San Diego Grand 'Nationals 2006 ...
World Tai Chi Day 2006 ... Photos Here!
Jesse Tsao's
Visit to Germany 2005 ... Photos Here!......
Chen Zhenglei Workshop  ... Photos Here!......
Tai Chi Tour Trip to China 2005 ... Photos Here! 
DVD also available, click here for sample
Tai Chi/XingYi Workshop
2005 with Grandmaster Li Deyin... ......
Tai Chi Healthways won both Men and Women's Grand Champion.........
Chen Style Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei 2004
Hosting Professor Li Deyin Tai Chi Workshop 2004
Chen Style Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei 2003
Chen Style Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang 2003
Hosting a workshop with Professor Li Deyin 2001

  Tai Chi Literature of the Month
  Tai Chi Information/Videos of Tai Chi Routines
  Master Tsao in the News and National TV
  Links

 


Flowing Waters Tai Chi and Tai Chi Healthways jointly celebrate this event!

Potluck picnic to follow at noon, so please bring a dish to share with tai chi lovers!
Location:
Rancho Bernardo Community Park
18448 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA

Please e-mail for more information: Victor at mirck32@hotmail.com. We will post more soon.

Please e-mail for more information: Andrew at andrewjoe@mail.ru.

Teaching topics will include:

  • Tai Chi self-healing, longevity, and Qigong therapy
  • Tai Chi Form 24 and Self-defense Application
  • Push Hands (Tui Shou)
  • Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi and real usage of Tai Chi techniques in self-defense

Please e-mail for more information: Nadine and Marco at nadinezenthner@msn.com.

June 4th at Ghent, Belgium:  Tai Chi Push Hnads:  a two-person Tai Chi exercise. It is a practice to understand another's force in order to yield at his slightest pressure and adhere to him at his slightest retreat.  Tai Chi classics say: "Let him attack you with great force, and use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, neutralizing him until he becomes powerless."

June 6th at Brussels, Belgium, Topic: Qigong Therapy
An ancient Chinese meditation practice that works on the body's vital energies by gathering and cultivating universal energy from nature. Using the mind-body connection, impurities break away from inner organs and stress is released from the body.

Please e-mail for more information: Edward at edi.werner@gmx.de

Saturday, June 9, 2012: Qigong Essentials: 5 Animal Frolics & Self-healing application 
Five Animal Frolics is an ancient Chinese Qigong practice. Hua-tuo, the most famous Chinese doctor in ancient China, designed Five Animals Frolic based on Chuang-tzu'ss Taoist practice and traditional Chinese medical philosophy. He observed animals in nature and mimicked their daily activities to create movements for people cultivating life energy. Each animal form has a special effect on a human being's inner organ health: tiger form for liver energy flow; deer form for kidney; bear form for spleen and stomach; ape form for the heart; bird form for lungs. Five Animal Frolics can fully stimulate and awaken qi, the vital energy inside of our body, contained within the meridian channels and cavities. Through the stimulation and accumulation of qi, a person can clear out stress and sickness and may not only acquire a new sense of physical and mental energy, but create the conditions for longevity as well. 

Sunday, June 10, 2012:  Tai Chi Push Hands and Self-defense Application: This seminar teaches all levels of skill in Push Hands, a two-person Tai Chi exercise. It is a practice to understand another's force in order to yield at his slightest pressure and adhere to him at his slightest retreat. Push hands provides a unique form of extended human physical contact. It teaches you how to touch and be touched in a way that is neither sexual nor violent. This seminar will teach you not only how to react to physical, but also mental "pushes" in our daily lives. Tai Chi classics say: "Let him attack you with great force, and use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, neutralizing him until he becomes powerless." 

 

Please e-mail for more information: Contact: "bill drougas" <bdrougas@yahoo.com>

Topics:
Form 42 and self-defense applications (6 hours)
Chi Kung (Qigong): Traditional Five Animal Frolics or Qigong Fundamentals for Beginners

Please e-mail for more information: Vanessa at VClark@somerset.gov.uk

1, Tai Chi Bang: Review the basic parts and learn the Section 3 - martial arts application. 
Tai Chi Bang gives you an object to focus on, making it easy and fun to get you the benefits of Tai Chi practice. This well-kept Tai Chi secret develops concentration, balance, joint flexibility, arm strength, and self-defense skill. 

2, Tai chi Push Hands - 
This seminar teaches all levels of skill in Push Hands, a two-person Tai Chi exercise. It is a practice to understand another's force in order to yield at his slightest pressure and adhere to him at his slightest retreat. Push hands provides a unique form of extended human physical contact. It teaches you how to touch and be touched in a way that is neither sexual nor violent. This class will teach you not only how to react to physical, but also mental "pushes" in our daily lives. Tai Chi classics say: "Let him attack you with great force, and use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, neutralizing him until he becomes powerless." 

3, Chen Tai Chi Laojia Yilu (the Old Frame) - Section 1
This seminar teaches you the original Chen Style, which is the oldest style practiced today and is widely acknowledged to be the ancestor of all other styles. It is characterized by whole-body twining, coiling movements, and occasionally explosive releases of power.

4, Mixture of the 18 Tai Chi warm ups, and the 9 piece Tai Chi qigong. 

We will post more soon.

2012 San Diego Summer Tai Chi Qigong Week with Jesse Tsao

6 days from Tuesday to Sunday, July 24-29, 2012. 

Curriculum:

 

Tue. 7/24       Session I:   9:30am-1:00pm                 

Tai Chi Shi-san-shi: A practice drill set of the original Tai Chi 13 essential techniques (eight applications of inner power and five foot/leg works), peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao; jin, tui, gu, pan, ding.  All Tai Chi forms are variations and combinations of these fundamental skills.  Take this set of practice drill into your daily practice or teaching.

Session II:  7:00pm-9:30pm   

Understand Tai Chi Shi-san-shi, and learn to be able to interpret any style or routine based on these 13 essentials you learned in Session I.  So you will have the universal key to unlock the secret of all kinds of tai chi practice.

Wed. 7/25 Session I:   9:30am-1:00pm

Chen Tai Chi Old Frame Routine 1.  It is the original tai chi routine and is widely acknowledged to be the ancestor of all other traditional tai chi styles.  Teaching at beginner level pace, but combined with hand-on corrections for those who learned before in order to master this routine. Try to learn 1/3 of the routine in this session.

      Session II:  7:00pm-9:30pm.  Continuation of the routine, learn up to the middle/half, with brief review of the first session. 

 

Thu.  7/26 Session I:   9:30am-1:00pm: Start the 2nd half of the Chen Tai Chi Old Frame Routine 1, try to learn 2/3  of the entire routine, with brief review of the first half.

      Session II:  7:00pm-9:30pm:  Continue to finish the Chen Tai Chi Old Frame Routine 1.

 

Fri.  7/27 Session I:  9:30am-1:00pm

                        Qigong I: Chinese classic Qigong forms practice.

    Session II:  7:00pm-9:30pm

Qigong II: Self-touching energy points for disease prevention & self-healing.

 

Sat. 7/28  Session I:   2:00pm-5:00pm

Tai Chi Push Hands I: Teaching from the sensitivity and energy flow approach/aspect.

    Session II:  7:00pm-9:30pm

Tai Chi Push Hands II: Use sensitivity for practical competitive free style pushing hands.

Sun. 7/29 Session I:   9:00am-12:00noon

A mix classes of tai chi self-defense application, real push hands, weapon and discussions.

    Session II:  5:00pm-8:00pm

            < Open to suggestions/participants’ requests. Answers to any questions of participants, review all >.

 Workshop Location:

13230 Evening Creek Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92128

Go east on Hwy 56, turn right just after crossing I-15, Right on Sabre Springs Pkwy, go south to the 2nd traffic light, right turn to Evening Creek Dr. N.  Go forward about 1/2 mile and you will see the sign "Sabre Springs Business Center", turn right at the right-hand drive way right after a FedEx/Ups drop-in box, and go to the end, the second building is 13230.  The facility is at your right, Suite #202, called "We Love Kempo."

 Workshop Fee:

$600 for all 6 days, or $50 per session for early registration (before May 1st 2012).  Pay to Jesse Tsao, 5051 Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130, USA.  Limited spaces, first come, first serve.  Hotel and food on your own.  Regular rate $700 for all days, or $60 each session.
 

San Diego Tai Chi Summer Camp by Jesse Tsao
July 26 - 31, 2011

We had a wonderful time learning, teaching, and sharing at this summer camp.  We have people from far away, New York, Indiana, Florida, Colorado, Puerto Rico, even internationally, Denmark, Germany, Belgium,.....  Click here for pictures, and read what others saying about the summer camp below!

"I am having a great time learning with you and am so very impressed with the people I have met at the summer Tai Chi camp.  Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to learn with you, you are truly inspirational!" --Michael R.

"Great first day! Very informative and invigorating. So much wonderful new to learn and in such an enjoyable way. Great people and great turnout-it must be who the Master is-right!!!!" --Georgette

"Thank you so much for having this weeklong event and all of the care and attention to detail you showed. I feel very lucky to have found you as a teacher. You are not only a great tai chi master, but also a great human being and a wonderful example for all of us"-- Michael S,.

"I've really been enjoying the summer camp sessions & find the content very valuable & informative. You've been doing an amazing job & I can feel how much everyone is engaged & connecting to you & the material!! :-)" --Suzy

 
June 30 - July 3, 2011

We had a successful lesson with Professor Yu Dinghai on the Five Animal Frolics.  Click here for the photo gallery!

"It is the first day, and I feel it is already worth the money! My lower back was a bit sore from work, and it feels sooo good now. The moves felt so good for me, even the simple ones like extend the hand, tiger claw, fist. After few repetitions, I could feel vibrations from the energy accumulated. My lower back and feet are burning hot, and I think I will sleep really well tonight...Really appreciate you sharing your PhD adviser with us!" --Alain M.

Oh My Gosh!!!! This qi gong is so powerful! I feel stronger, like my back and arms are in steel and I could do anything!!! I definitely want to pounce on a prey! My energy is renewed and much higher after the workshop! It does feel like we are taking a cleansing and strengthening shower from inside." --Isabelle G.

"Thank you for hosting Professor Yu and translating for all of us. Everyone there was very focused and happy throughout the long workshop. The long Qigong practice was a great reminder of the importance of slowing down and focusing on what is inside of what it is you are doing. It was very cleansing for me." --Jason

Master Tsao's Visit to France, Germany,
The Netherlands, Ireland
, and England

May - June 2011

Master Tsao had a lovely visit to France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and England this summer.  Click on the photo for the gallery!

 

Master Tsao's Trip to Spain & Germany
September 3 - 12, 2011

Master Tsao had a nice trip to Spain and Germany.  More pictures and gallery coming soon!

 Spain and Germany 2011

Master Jesse Tsao's Tai Chi Trip to Indiana
May 7-8, 2011

Master Tsao had a lovely visit to Indianapolis.  Thanks to all attendees!

World Tai Chi Day
April 30, 2011


Click here for photos!

We had a wonderful Tai Chi Day.  Thanks to all who came!

GM Chen Zhenglei's Chen Tai Chi Workshop
Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5, 2010

We had a great workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei.  Photo gallery here! (or click on photo)
EXCELLENT workshop with GM Chen Zhenglei this weekend.  Without fail in each workshop I always learn new things to enhance my training.  He is so clear and so detailed in his teaching!  Thank you again for hosting this workshop and allowing us all to participate in this experience.  We were talking after today’s morning session how lucky we all are to have access to such treasures......."- Sheryl W.

 

Master Jesse Tsao's Tai Chi Workshops in the Netherlands and UK
August 28-29 and September 4-5, 2010

"We all enjoyed your visit very much! You have such a good energy, that it touches everybody that is with you. You're an interesting fusion between the American enthusiastic way of communication and Chinese modesty....."


Another great teaching trip to Europe! Meeting lovely people from Netherlands, Belgium, and England; sightseeing in Den Haag, Amsterdam, London, and the beautiful Somerset area of UK; tasting the famous Holland raw herring fish like sashimi; enjoying the traditional cream tea at Dunster; playing England countryside skittle game... You can see lots more in the photo gallery here!

Tai Chi Friendship Potluck and Talent Show
Saturday,July 17, 2010

It was a joyful gathering with lots of good energy.  We look forward to next year!  Thanks to Scott and Vanessa for the pictures.


Click here to view the gallery!

Tai Chi Workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai
from Chen Village, China
Sunday, June 6, 2010


Click here for the gallery!

We had a great workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai. 
"...Please thank GM Zhu a lot for us, we appreciate his honesty, humility and willingness to share his immense skills with good humor!...."  " ......Just a note to thank you for the great workshop yesterday!  Grand Master Zhu is such a treasure and I reallyenjoyed the workshop....."

 

Celebrate World Tai Chi Day 2010
followed by a picnic
Saturday, April 24, 2010


Click here to view the photo gallery!

Tai Chi Healthways and Flowing Waters Tai Chi jointly hosted this year’s World Tai Chi Day event. Thanks to everyone who came!

Master Jesse Tsao's Europe Tour Photos - 2010
March 19-30, 2010

Europe Teaching TourGallery 1Gallery 1Gallery 2

View pictures by clicking here!
Second galleryhere, more pictures: Teaching in Holland and Barcelona!
A great teaching trip!!  From Netherlands to Belgium, then Spain!  I enjoyed every stop and had fun with participants!  More galleries to come soon:-)    Comments:

"Hi Jesse, hope you had a great and safe trip back to San Diego. it would be easy to thank you for all the Tai Chi and Qi Gong that you shared with us this past weekend here in Barcelona. But I never expected to be thanking you for a life-shifting experience. Thanks so much for absolutely everything. You are a true Mast...." --Mikel B.

"Thanks Jesse for the experience.  Now that I've seen you I start to realize the power of Tai Chi..... Your movements are spectacular!! But the best is met people like you!! ;)
Best regards from Spain!! See you very very soon master!!" --Alexandre & Feel Good

"Thank you very much Master... This week-end was very great! I have learned a lot thanks to you. You have make me discover the big and fascinating world of Tai chi !
I'm very happy to have met you. I wont forget you and those days...
Thanks you very much." --Badaboy G.

"Master!!!Thank you for this great weekend!!! People like you make a better world!! Tank youuuuu!" --Jessica M.

"Thanks for its involvement in the course.
That was a real pleasure for me!!
See you soon!" --Lou Y.

"I am still digesting your intensive workshop in Wijk Bij Duurstede and there are many details (I am not even sure whether 'details'  is the correct word here) that already have fallen into place in my system spontaneously. So you can imagine I feel very fulfilled!  In particular the stability you can get from the use of the tailbone (which I never have thought of as being useful before....)

And having the chi flow fling out some movement, which thereby spontaneously becomes super fast. This is particularly useful in fencing.

And for the first time I have been able to really use Jin by myself after the weekend, since you gave this clear example of two people opposing each other with Jang, which surely leads to destruction because it gets totally off balance this way since there is fire raging from both sides and there is no neutralizing at all. But this must also mean that it must be somehow possible to neutralize this situation by the correct use of Jin, which mobilizes neutralizing energy  leading to a more peaceful situation. I have now understood that there is a big difference actively using Jin here as opposed to 'not reacting'. In my work there is a discussion that is soon to come, in which I will try to give less Jang than I intended at first in order to hopefully provoke a Jin reaction instead of activating opposing Jang too much. 

Furthermore what you were teaching us about using different fingers in different movements, I particularly liked !  You especially emphasized the little finger gathering energy back in and the thumb giving it out. I found myself practicing this while sitting in the train yesterday........ " --Gert C.

Annual Tai Chi Picnic and Talent Show, 2009

Our Annual Tai Chi Picnic and Talent Show was yet another amazing event. Thank you to all who came!  Thanks to Paul Potash for the beautiful pictures.  Photo album now up! - built by Alain.  YouTube videos by Linda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4cH96rBIwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGBnX-G5eQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2rGWGSDkQQ,

 

 

San Diego Healing Arts Festival at Balboa Park
May 2009

Tai Chi Healthways participated this year's San Diego Healing Arts Festival!  We had a great demo event at Balboa Park.  It was a lot of fun!  Thanks to all who came! Photo album now up! - built by Alain.   Pictures taken by Thomas, Patricia, and Scott.
Video Clip on YouTube by Linda

 

Europe (France, Spain, Italy) Workshops by Master Jesse Tsao
May 21 - June 2, 2009

Master Tsao had a very successful teaching tour in Europe!  Photo album now up! -- "You will have a vivid tour through my camera: from the beautiful Paris to Annecy, France, the air is clean, the food is more tasty, the strawberries and cherries are sweeter; the mountains are greener, and Lake Annecy is the most clear lake I have ever seen! :-)  Barcelona, Spain, is a showcase of architecture!  The whole city went to crazy on May 27th when Barcelona's soccer team won this year's Europe Cup championship!!  Oh yes, the paella from a traditional restaurant with 70-plus years history was good too!  Surely you will see the Barcelona harbor and beaches! :-)  Parma, Italy is the home land of parmesan cheese!  They showed me the real pasta and pizza! :-)  Best of all, tai chi practitioners make me feel at home wherever I teach and stay."

 

World Tai Chi Day in San Diego
Saturday, April 25, 2009

Tai Chi Healthways and Flowing Waters Tai Chi jointly hosted this year’s World Tai Chi Day event. Thanks to all who came, you are the ones who made it such a great success!

Photos are here! Thanks to Jesse Tsao, Paul Potash, and Thomas Mellan, and Nathan Estis for taking them!
Click here to see Gallery 1

Click the picture to go to Gallery 2! (opens in a new window)

 

Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai Tai Chi Workshop in San Diego
Sunday, June 29, 2008

Another awesome fabulous workshop yesterday! I can see the New Frame will add a whole new level to my tai chi practice. GM Zhu is an absolute treasure! I loved the pace, explanations and precise details of all of the movements. The emphasis on coiling/spiraling, subtle differences in weight shifts and movements ... and that oh so awesome jump that I can't do yet but just have to get ... well, suffice it to say ... I really like the New Frame and am looking forward to learning more! Hopefully someday I will be able to do more than just dance my way through it ;-) ñSheryl W.

Thank you so much for today's workshop. It's the first time I seen grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, and he is great. He has a very good, powerful and gentle energy! Even when showing chin-na he didn't want to hurt. He shared a lot and worked us hard!
Xin Jia is interesting, but it is a whole new world! It is clear it requires a lot of skills to move the qi around, that can only be developed with a lot of practice. It was very good to practice very slowly, with all the details. The silk reeling in the afternoon were GREAT. After some time, I could really feel the benefit of all the coiling, big and small. --Alain M.

What an energetic man Grand Master Zhu Tian Cai is!!!! It was a pleasure meeting him, he has a great energy and a very nice and pleasant personality. He shares, explains and details very well. It was so easy to follow when he was standing just in front.
He never tires! What an explosive energy!
I enjoyed the workshop as I learnt a lot of detail and a lot of postures. I enjoyed the silk reelings that we started with in the morning and afternoon a lot! I wish we had continued longer as I was starting to feel a lot of qi and understand the way to move the waist... . I would like to spend more time on the "small circles" and the links in between each move. I was not aware of it right after the workshop but I felt an energy shift thanks to the workshop. 
Spending a whole day learning and practicing taiji opened up my energy level. This shows me that I "need" taiji. We all have busy and stressful lives, taiji is necessary to erase and smoothen the stress, strengthen our health and help us see the "half full glass" as opposed to the half empty glass :-) ---Izabelle M.

I really enjoyed the training and was very impressed with the skill level of both grandmaster Zhu Tiancai and yourself! Sometimes it is difficult to find people interested and skilled in the real martial arts who have a good character and are willing to openly share. There are a lot of people around with "watered down" systems and only limited knowledge of realistic applications or people who can fight but are too violent and of poor character or are just in it to make money. So I feel very lucky to have found you! --Michael S.

World Tai Chi Day in San Diego
Saturday, April 26, 2008

We had another great Tai Chi Day party.  See link for more photos--thanks Alain, Dale and Lori for the photo contribution!  Thanks to Alain for putting photos together.


Click here for the gallery!

San Diego, CA December 12, 2007óSan Diego-based Master Jesse Tsao and Tai Chi Healthwaysô recently hosted a workshop by Grand Master Chen Zheng Lei of Henan, China. The two-day event held on December 8 and 9 drew participants from across the United States. Commenting on the event, Master Jesse Tsao noted, ìAll tai chi styles can be traced back to the Chen style. Grand Master Chen is the 19th generation of the family, and the 11th generation to pass on traditional Chinese art form.î Participants, both new to tai chi and well as advanced practitioners, remarked that learning directly from Grand Master Chen was an experience all would treasure. 

Highlights of the workshop included detailed explanation by the Grand Master on Chen philosophy and its application in health, longevity, and self-defense. Two special performances by the Grand Masterís daughter, Chen Yuan Yuan, drew applause and appreciation by participants and guests.


Workshop Video:
Click Here

Click the link below to download your own photo of "Receiving Certificate".  Thanks to Alain Mellan for taking the photos:

http://gallery.mac.com/thalisa#100023 

42 Methods of Tai Chi Fajin (Power Releasing)
Workshop with Zhu Tiancai in San Diego
Sunday, April 29, 2007

The workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai was a great experience.

Click here for the photo gallery! (Thanks to Roman Klimenko)

 

 

World Tai Chi Day: April 28th, 2007

"That was quite a meaningful day with all the Tai Chi enthusiasts and meeting your students.  It's a wonderful group of very fine people.  I especially like Larry he was so present and engaging with his great spirit.  Your style at the end was the hit of the day.  We look to you for mastering our own skills.  Tai Chi certainly does give one opportunity to find places within and define deeper places within one's self.  I found one that day.  It was so neat!!" --Barbara N.  Click here for the photo gallery (Thanks to Dolores Casile!)

Video clips here!  (.wmv streaming format, .

Tai Chi Workshop with Chen Zhenglei
Saturday and Sunday, December 9-10, 2006

We had another wonderful workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei.  Thank you to all who came!

"This weekendís Chen workshop was the best ever for me! Now that I have completed the forms,I can focus on refining and deepening my understanding of each posture. Thanks again for your part in hosting the workshop and for all of your efforts in teaching us. †I appreciate you and the open, humble spirit that you embody!
--Larry C.

"Thanks for hosting another incredible workshop with Grand Master Chen! It is such an honor to learn about the Chen†family's†amazing art directly from the source. Each workshop reveals another level to study and explore. The hands-on posture correction was also extremely helpful ... amazing the difference†one small change in posture/alignment makes in the internal flow of chi!"
--Sheryl W.


Click here for the picture gallery!

Bagua Zhang Workshop in San Diego
Sunday, September 10th, 2006
with Su Zifang

Our workshop with Su Zifang was enlightening for all who came.

"FUN workshop yesterday with Master Su Zifang... my legs are still feeling the burn this morning:)  Good workout and I was a bit surprised that I could really feel the qi quite strongly in the routine.  I think I am really going to like Bagua!  Master Su's performance was beautiful...I want to have that leg strength when I'm 58!!!" --Sheryl W.


Click for more photos!

Tai Chi Picnic and Talent Show 2006

A great picnic and talent show in our Tai Chi community!  Special thanks to our event MC and performer, Larry Cammarata, and the others who shared their talent: Melissa and Evan, Brady, Marianne, Nikki, David and Dan.


Click Here for Photos (64 in gallery)

San Diego Summer
Tai Chi & Self-Healing Workshop
Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16, 2006

We had a very successful workshop with Sifu Xiao Pu Quan, Jesse Tsao, and Katharine Iskrant!  Here are some photos of the event.

"Wonderful workshop.  I learned so much over the 2 day weekend and enjoyed being with so many enthusiastic and great people.  Thank you for all the work you did to make it so successful". --Georgette C.  

"I just needed to write and say thank you for the awesome workshop. I feel so rejuvenated and enthused. I learned many things that will be useful in working with the patients here at the clinic." -- Pam B.

"Dear Master Tsao, Thank you so much for organizing the self healing workshop. I am very grateful to you and Sifu Xiao for sharing your knowledge. I don't know if I can explain the significance of the event..." --Marianne

   Click Here Photos

Workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai
June 11, 2006

We had a short-notice but still successful workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai.  He became an honorary advisor of Tai Chi Healthways - we are lucky to have such a high-caliber grandmaster as our guide! Click for many more photos!

Click here for a video clip of the event!  (6:35, 16.7 MB streaming WMV)

Note: The thumbnails look different, but the actual photos are super. Just click on one to see the photo.

"Jesse -- Many, many thanks for hosting ANOTHER workshop filled with Tai Chi treasures! Each workshop introduces me to new levels and insights about this incredible art. There is always so much more to learn! Please convey my thanks to Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai for being so friendly and so willing to share his extensive knowledge of Chen style. Ahhhhhhhhh ... love that fajin!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT for next year's workshop :)"  -Sheryl W.


Photo Gallery (28 pictures total)

San Diego Grand International Martial Arts Competition

We had five people competing in twenty events, with a total of 14 gold medals, 5 silver, and 1 bronze.  Sheryl Wilde won the International Grand Champion (see photo on right) and was elite winner in both bare-hand and weapons routine!  She is invited to the International Competition in Florida's Disney World later this year.  Congratulations!

Results
Sheryl Wilde: 9 gold, 1 silver
Karl Newmeyer: 2 gold, 3 silver
David Moreno: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Jamie Ding: 1 gold
Jeffrey Tsao: 1 gold


Gold medallists receiving their awards. From left: Tsao, Ding, Newmeyer, Moreno.

World Tai Chi/Qigong Day 2006

We had a successful World Tai Chi/Qigong Day. Click for many more photos!

"This was a great togetherness for all Tai-Chi aficionados which should happen more often through your leadership.  I did not only find a great teacher in you but also a friend."  -Dan 

"Thanks for hosting a great World Tai Chi Day today, Jesse!† Awesome demonstration you gave!!!† Can't believe you just ad-libbed that!† And I wanted to share what I heard†said by many students throughout the day: "We are so lucky to have Jesse as a teacher!† He is a treasure." It's always such fun getting together with others who share a love of Tai Chi."  -Sheryl W.


Photo Gallery (145 pictures total)

Master Tsao's Workshop in Germany

Master Jesse Tsao taught a Tai Chi/Qigong workshop in Germany on November 25 through 27.

"Thank you very much for the wonderful workshop you gave.  Everybody enjoyed it...You left a lot of good chi for us here." -Simone O.


Click here for more photos!

Chen Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
November 12 - 13, 2005

We had a successful workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. Thank you to all who attended!

"EXCELLENT workshops this weekend!!!!! It is a privilege to study under such teachers as Grand Master Chen Zhenglei and Master Tsao! Please give my thanks to Chen Zhenglei for his willingness to share his extensive knowledge with usÖ" -Sheryl W.

Click here for more comments about our workshops!


Click here to browse 100 photos!

Tai Chi Tour Trip to China
August 18 - 28th, 2005

The trip was an incredible Tai Chi experience for all who attended.  We visited the Chen village, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Shaolin Temple, terra-cotta soldiers in Xian, the Yellow River...See below for comments and photos about the trip (more to come)!

Dear Jesse, Thank you for a wonderful journey.  You are an example to all your students for patience, consideration and tolerance.  A very special man.  We had a great adventure and will cherish the memory. It was the most wonderful experience of our lives. Bob said he felt such love and peaceful chi the most of his life. It's true, Jesse. I know you could feel it too. --Pat & Bob

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience the unique people, culture and history of China. It was a journey full of moments and memories that I will remember and treasure for a lifetime. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into giving all of us such a remarkable, memorable adventure. Once again, I am struck by what a good and generous person you are and how much we can all learn from you. Tai Chi is not simply a method to study martial arts or even to improve health Ö it is truly a way of life Ö and you exemplify that way of life. We are lucky to have you as a teacher.--Sheryl


Click here to browse 300+ photos!

 

We had a successful Tai Chi and XingYi Workshop 2005 with Grandmaster Li Deyin.  Thanks to all who participated!

There were 4 students who participated in this year's San Diego Grand Nationals: Sheryl Wilde, Karl Newmeyer, Yibin Wang, and Shirley Gao. They won 13 gold medals, 8 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal collectively. Sheryl Wilde won Women's Grand Champion, Karl won Men's Grand Champion.  Congratulations to all of them!  


his student Karl Newmeyer with 2 gold medals and 5 silver medals, men's Grand Champion (2005)


his student Sheryl Wilde with 7 gold medals and 2 silver medals, women's Grand Champion (2005)

Chang San-Feng: The Theory of Tai Chi

In any action, the whole body should be light and agile.
One should feel that all of the bodyís joints are connected with full linkage.
Qi should be stirred. The spirit of vitality, or shen, should be concentrated inwards.
Do not show any deficiency, neither concavity nor convexity in movement.
Do not show disconnected movement.
The jin is rooted in the feet, bursts out in the legs, is controlled by the waist and functions through the hands.
From the feet to the legs, legs to the waist; all should be moved as a unit.
By moving as a unit, one can advance or retreat with precise timing and have the most advantageous position.
If precise timing and good position are not achieved and the body does not move as a unit, then the waist and legs need more development; they may not be strong or flexible enough.
This often shows when moving up or down, backwards or forwards.
Where there is something up, there must be something down.
Where there is something forwards, there must be something backwards.
Where there is something left, there must be something right.
If one intends to move up, one must simultaneously show a contrary tendency (downwards) and loosen the roots, so that it can be easily pushed off.
One must distinguish substantiality from insubstantiality.
Where there is substantiality, there must be insubstantiality.
In all ways, one has to distinguish one from the other.
The whole body should be linked together through every joint; do not show any interruptions.

(Another Version)
At the start of any movement, all parts of the body are called upon to move and act agilely.
They should be functionally and sequentially linked through out the body.
The chi should be stirring, and vital force is concentrated inwardly.
There should be no deficiency nor pitfalls; no concavity nor extension.
The strength is rooted in the feet, bursts out the legs, is dominated by the waist, and exhibited in the fingers.
Only when the feet, the legs, and the waist are organized as their functional integrity,
you are then able to catch the optimum moment and advantageous position whenever you are confronted with an opponent.
If you fail in holding the optimum moment and advantageous position, your body will be in disorder, and strength will be dispersed.
The cause of this fault must be sought from the waist and legs,
whether the distortion is on top or below, in front or behind, or to the left or right.
And all of these use the mind, not in the outward forms.
If there is something on the top, there must be something below;
if there is something in front, there must be something behind;
if there is something in the left, there must be something in the right.
Like pulling a tree out of the earth, it will be much easier if the root has been shaken and loosened first.
The changing of solid and void must be distinct.
There is solid and void in any movement, and any movement consists of void and solid.
The chi and strength link throughout the body without interruption.

Website Links

Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
Mountain Waters Tai Chi
Jet Li
Gianni de Nittis Kung Fu
Violet Li
Victor FC Tai Chi (Barcelona, Spain)
Patrick Sifenos (Tai Chi Oracle)
Vanessa Clark: Tai Chi bamboo bang
Paul Clark - Personal Trainer in Bridgwater, UK
Rich Adzgowski, (FL Tai Chi in Colorado)
Alternative Resources Directory
Martial Arts Kung Fu Fighting Tips
Simone Otto, Acupuncturist
Nel van Biezen (Netherlands)
Wude School (Germany)
Mario Poehl (Germany)
Air/Water Purifiers
Online Health Resource
Health Directory/Resource
Health Directory/Resource 2
Flowing Waters Tai Chi
Warrior Crafts
Tai Chi Class
Sifu Yijiao Hong
Dr. Larry Cammarata
Rooted Living
White Eagle
Tai Chi Reiki

Master Jesse Tsao in the News

Master Tsao's appearance on NBC News
Master Tsao on National TV, May 2005 (streaming, 9.97 MB)
Download directly here (31.1 MB, .wmv format)

Qi Magazine (Summer 2004)
The San Diego Union Tribune (Apr. 26 2003)
The San Diego Union Tribune (Apr. 11 2003)
The San Diego Union Tribune (Nov. 9 2001)
Del Mar Times (Apr. 12 2001)
The San Diego Union Tribune (Mar. 12 2001)
Del Mar Times (Mar. 16 2000)
The Wrangler - Chandler, AZ (Oct. 3 1998) 

 

Tai Chi Healthways
5051 Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130

(858) 793-8939,  e-mail:
Jesse@TaiChiHealthways.com

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Comments

I wanted to extend my sincere gratitude for this past weekend's workshop. Although Chen style was brand new to me, I received a great deal of knowledge from you and grandmaster Chen. I am very eager to begin learning Chen style in earnest, as it reminds my of my younger days studying praying mantis kung-fu. The balance between the hard and soft is excellent. And I cannot believe the workout I got from this weekend - the last time I was this tired after a seminar was from a Muay Thai seminar, where you expect to get a great workout; this weekend was a surprise to me, I must admit.
Please also extend this gratitude to grandmaster Chen Zhenglei for me - he is an exemplary martial artist and exudes the qualities of a true master. What a gift to receive training from both of you at the same time.
Best Regards, Michael M.

Dear Sifu Tsao, Thank you very much for letting me join the workshop on the past weekend. It was very inspiring event and such an honor to be in the class of the Grand Master Chen. The classes on Silk Wheeling and Lao Jia as well as Pauchoi were very instructive and I learned so much! (Although I was too chicken to ask questions, I could learn a lot from the questions that people in the class asked and Master's answers.) I wish we had three days so that Master Chen can teach us more about Pao Chui, but I understand his time and your time was limited:-) Once again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join the workshop. Also, it was great pleasure meeting your wonderful students in your classes. I was amazed to see how eager they are to learn about Tai chi. The experience at the event will be something that I will treasure for a long time.
Best Regards, Tomone T.

Jesse, It's a BIG thanks to YOU for hosting the workshop, which is "lifeblood" for students like myself! Without you, many of us could never see such great masters so often. I'm always re-invigorated and inspired. And the photos are GREAT! Thank you!
Bill E.

Master Tsao,
Thank you for hosting the wonderful workshop and putting up the workshop photos on your website. Your energy and active participation from translating Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei's instructions to helping us all learn the postures to hosting private lessons with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei at your own home resulted in a very successful and worth while weekend immersion into Chen style Tai Chi. I'd also like to say thank you for taking such a strong interest in everyone who attended, even those who like me, were only visiting for a weekend. You made us all feel like one of your own students. Your dedication to helping everyone there learn the postures and making sure that everyone had a chance to be photographed being corrected by Grandmaster Chen himself, made this a truly memorable experience.
Gary M.

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