| Who is the instructor? |
Patrick Ryan has studied, practiced, and taught tai chi chuan since 1996. |
| Who should study tai chi chuan? |
Tai chi chuan is a form of exercise designed for men and women from 18 to 118. You should consult your physician before beginning any martial art or physical exercise. Those under the age of 18 will do better to practice an external martial art, like shao lin chuan or kung fu, before studying tai chi chuan. |
| How long does it take to learn? |
The learning of tai chi chuan is a lifelong process that one cultivates through consistent and persevering practice. In period of about 9 or 10 months, one can learn the 10 basic exercises and the 64 movements of the tai chi chuan set. The 64 movements are divided into 4 quarters.
|
| What should I wear? |
- clothing which permits easy movement, ideally sweatshirt and sweatpants
- well-fitting, lightweight, flat, soft-soled shoes, ideally tennis shoes
- in cold weather, coat, hat, warm gloves, and long underwear are recommended
|
| Schedule & Curriculum |
- 1st quarter: Warm-Up Exercises 1–6 and Movements 1–14
- 2nd quarter: Warm-Up Exercises 7–10 and Movements 15–32
- 3rd quarter: Movements 33–46
- 4th quarter: Movements 47–64
|
| Where |
- San Francisco, California
- a convenient, public location
- accessible by MUNI
|
| When |
- classes are ongoing; you can enroll at any time of the year
- other lessons may be scheduled in coordination with your schedule
|
| Cost |
- Payment is accepted by quarter only.
- Tuition: Contact me.
|
| Private individual or group instruction at your desired location |
I welcome invitations to teach in other appropriate locations around the Bay Area. Tai chi chuan is best taught on a flat, stable surface, like concrete or wood, not grass or sand, which is at least as large as a basketball court, and is quiet and peaceful. Contact me.
|
| What else should I know? |
- While exercising, it is quite natural for the body to perspire. Afterwards, students should be careful not to take off their warm clothes immediately, as this could lead to chills. A brief walk in silence after practicing helps the body to regulate its temperature naturally.
- Tai chi chuan can be practiced indoors, but the ideal setting is outdoors. It can be practiced at any hour of the day, but the ideal time is the very early morning between 4 and 6 AM. The air is fresher, especially in congested urban areas, and its easier to find solace.
- It is recommended for all students to maintain silence shortly before, during, and after practice.
- Although it takes time to develop discipline and our jobs and business often leave us with little free time, it is best to practice tai chi chuan every day. Beginners should practice at least 2 or 3 times per week in order to retain the lessons they’ve learned in class. Master Kuo often told his students, “Practice, practice everyday. Miss 1 day, lose 10!”
- Students of tai chi chuan would do well to also study the 3 major Chinese philosophical traditions, Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, as well as the Chinese cultural arts, so that the mind grows in understanding and the heart in goodness, as the body gains in strength and flexibility. Here, too, we balance yin and yang energies. To discipline the body without also training the mind and spirit could leave the student unbalanced, even violent. Reading poetry and philosophy helps to stabilize the mind and feed the heart, so that the student can participate effectively and harmoniously in the world at large. I therefore recommend books to my students, and encourage discussion about them.
|
