A Training Log |
About Jeff
My first memory of T'ai Chi is as a child watching Kung Fu Theater, Saturday afternoons on WDRB TV (channel 41) in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm sure it was the action of these Hong Kong martial arts movies that first caught my attention; but it was the mystique of the arts and the culture surrounding them that continued to intrigue me for years to come. Occasionally featured in these films, I found T'ai Chi especially interesting.
I suppose that I've always been a bit nerdy, definitely more scholar than athlete. In fact, one of my hobbies growing up was reading the encyclopedia. By my teen years, I was a walking textbook regarding the history and philosophy of various martial arts forms; yet I had no idea how to actually perform any of them.
Finally, in 1994 at the age of 23 I first dabbled in ch'i kung. I then progressed into the study of T'ai Chi in 1996. Through my journey I have found some truly remarkable teachers of the art; those who not only possess great knowledge and skill but are true ambassadors of the art through their character. I am not a formal student of any of these teachers and I do not claim to be representative of their T'ai Chi style. Some of these I've only studied with a few hours; others I've visited on many occasions for private instruction and corrections. These teachers, listed in order by the length of time I've known them, are:
As I age, I find the physical practice of the art much more beneficial than the study of its history and philosophy. Not only do I want to practice the art; now as I approach 40 years of age, I find that I need to. I live in the T'ai Chi hotbed (sarcasm) of Floyds Knobs, Indiana where I continue to study and practice the art of T'ai Chi for its health benefits. I enjoy sharing the things that I learn about T'ai Chi with others and seeing them reap the same benefits from it that I have. I've also noticed that my sons have taken an interest in T'ai Chi and I hope to one day pass this incredible art on to them.
Me doing T'ai Chi