Sunday 13 July 2008 at 3:59 pm
I went up to Tai Chi Caledonia on Saturday, As usual there was a great atmosphere with lots of relaxed learning going on. I took a few photos and a wee bit of video. My photos are on flickr:
There were a lot of people taking photos so I hope we should have some better ones than mine of the site soon. Mine are all tagged taichicaledonia08. If you area at Caladonia this week please consider uploading your photos to flickr and tagging them taichicaledonia08.
I also took a wee bit of video with my still camera:I've uploaded a slightly bigger version to youTube too: YouTube - Tai Chi Caledonia 08 Saturday
Sunday 30 March 2008 at 12:27 pm
Ronnie Robinson has been working with TCFE President Nils Klug to produce a DVD showcase of Taijiquan, Qigong & Internal Arts in Europe
In our respective roles as teacher, promoters of international taiji & qigong events across Europe and in our official roles in the Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe we have worked to promote these arts in a number of ways. Now we feel the time is right to release a DVD showcasing a wide range of approaches to these arts, by some of the best known teachers in Europe!
Nils Klug & Ronnie Robinson
The DVD is in production and advertising space is available. More details on this pdf: Taiji Europa DVD
In this rare collection of previously-unreleased tapes, Professor Cheng is seen teaching, pushing hands, fencing, laughing, telling stories, demonstrating mastery in every gesture. This original footage was shot at the "Hall of Happiness", Cheng's Shr Jung School in New York City between 1969 and 1971.
Thursday 05 July 2007 at 5:11 pm
A lot of people took digital photos at Caledonia this year. We would like to suggest that if you did you upload them to the Flickr photo sharing site and 'tag' them with taichicaledonia07. more details: Tai Chi Caledonia: Flickr
Wednesday 03 January 2007 at 12:00 am
Following a recent trip to China (organised by Faye Li Yip), where we visited the Shaolin Temple and Chen Village, I have asked Faye to create an China trip to allow tai chi and chi kung students to open the door to this uniquely fascinating country and, in particular, aspects of interest to tai chi and/or chi kung practitioners.
Departing October 13 2007 you can find out more from the brochure
Wednesday 04 29 2006 at 12:00 am
The first person who ever studied and taught Tai Chi in the UK passed away on Saturday night, 4th March 2006.
Gerda began training in Shanghai in 1949 at a time when very few women of any nationality was able to study the art. For nearly 60 years Tai Chi played an integral part in her life and she remained actively interested and open in her heart and mind right to the end.
I first met Gerda about for years ago when, much to my surprise she undertook a round trip of over 150 miles to attend a workshop I was running. Initially I was curious to her reasons for attending but any concerns were quickly displaced when she discretely moved to the back of the class and carried on the work with her fellow students.
Over lunch we had a very pleasant chat and I decided that this fascinating woman would be more than worthy of interviewing. At a later date, when visiting my family in Aberdeen, I arranged to call on Gerda to conduct the interview. As I had my family with me on the trip we arrived en masse to her little cottage in the Grampians. Gerda was extremely hospitable and welcoming and made my partner and children relaxed and comfortable before we adjourned to another room.
The interview subsequently appeared in the UK Tai Chi Chuan & Internal Arts, The Taijiquan & Qigong Journal (Germany) and my own Scottish Alternative Health magazine, Connections.
I was pleased when a number of people contacted me to say they enjoyed the interview and highly delighted when Gerda first telephoned and she wrote a letter expressing her thanks for the piece. Since these early meetings we have had contact from time to time and I was pleased when she visited us twice at Tai Chi Caledonia. Whenever she spoke she was clear, lucid and inspiring for all. Above all Gerda had one quality in abundance that sadly is becoming rare these days - dignity.
We last met late 2005 when I was working in the Aberdeen area and she came to join me for lunch at a local eatery. Her company was, as ever, both interesting and charming and a pleasure to be close to. On the short walk back to workshop venue she took my arm and told me that her time was coming soon and that was okay as she was prepared for it. I'm sure she was.
In an art where often respect is asked I have found very few individuals who deserve the honour and respect that Gerda did. She was a classy lady in the true sense of the term and her early steps in the world of tai chi will continue to walk through the feet of many.
I intend to run a feature of Gerda in future publications and welcome comments, experiences from anyone who worked with this Grande Dame of Taijiquan.
Ronnie Robinson
About
This is the news page of Tai Chi Caledonia, a blog that will keep you up-to-date with previous and forthcoming Tai Chi Caledonia Events.
Following a recent trip to China (organised by Faye Li Yip), where we visited the Shaolin Temple and Chen Village, I have asked Faye to create an China trip to allow tai chi and chi kung students to open the door to this uniquely fascinating country and, in particular, aspects of interest to tai chi and/or chi kung practitioners.
The first person who ever studied and taught Tai Chi in the UK passed away on Saturday night, 4th March 2006.
