"Swing Set" Qigong

This was the initial Qigong set practiced at the Qigong Workshop hosted by the Orlando Martial Arts Meet Up (August 29th, 2010). We had an excellent turn out, and covered a great bit of material! As mentioned, here is the list of names to jog the memory for those who wish to continue this practice. Feel free to leave comments with questions, or send any inquires (via email) to Info@SpringAndAutumn.com

Great job everyone, and thank you all for your attendance, and open heart-minds to tonight's practices.

School E-List

To help keep everyone updates on school events and changes, I've implemented an E-List/Mailing List for everyone who might be interested in class information. This won't be abused, and won't have the updates like the blog. But there are a few options for those who do not wish to receive constant notices.

You can sign up below, or reference the link to the right at any time.

Featured in the Orlando Examiner

Our school was featured in the Orlando Examiner. This article, by Kenric Lai, is an brief introduction to what we're doing, and our school.

Pass it around. :)

http://www.examiner.com/martial-arts-in-orlando/authentic-wudang-arts-orlando

Wudang Pilgrimage, 2010

Purple Heaven Palace, Wudangshan, China, 2010

A blog entry posted by my teacher's school, Daoist Gate Martial Arts following their return from China.

"Xuan Yun, his family, and a group of students, have recently returned from their 21 day pilgrimage back to Wudang Mountain.  A diverse group of students joined us on the trip.  Men and women, ranging in ages 3 to 60+ all participated.  Some were regular Boston students, others were students Xuan Yun met at special events or in China, and others were friends we had met here, on the internet."

 The rest of the article can be read here @ DaoistGate.com

Wudang Uniforms

For students that have reached their first form (or first section), it is requested that uniforms are ordered for wearing at class. These uniforms are handmade at Wudang Mountain, and are supplied by my Shifu and his school.

These uniforms are 35% cotton / 65% polyester, and are durable and long-lasting (also, easy to wash). They come in two parts, pants and robe. The pants are elastic at the ankles and waist, while the robe has frog-buttons (also velcro & ties on the side-closure design). These uniforms are unisex, and come in a variety of sizes.

Uniform Guidelines

Go online to any website, and you'll see a zillion of the same Kung Fu uniforms from site to site. But Wudang arts are not only unique in delivery, but also in dress. Not only does this express your art, but also it presents those looking onto the class w/ a sense of cohesion in the student body. Because of this, most every school has some sort of dress code or uniform.

But it's understandable that some people just do not have the finances to invest in a uniform when they first begin their training. This is why I try to maintain a lax dress code, and with minimal requirements on the students.

This isn't to say uniforms are not required, upon reaching completion of your first form (Gongfu students begin with Jibenquan, while Taijiquan students practice either the Zhang Sanfeng 13, Zheng Style Section 1, or the 108 Section 1), you should have a uniform or be ordering one. This is not required, but it is requested from your instructor and fellow students.

Information on Ordering a Uniform can be found Here.

Meanwhile, when first starting classes, the basic requirements are as follow....

Happy Chinese Valentine's Day!

Today is the celebration of the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese Calendar. This celebration is known generally as the Qixi Festival, or the Night of Sevens. Mainly a celebration for young ladies hoping to find love, it is still an auspicious day, and considered the "Chinese Valentine's Day."

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qixi_Festival

Wudang Gongfu & Taijiquan Schedule

For the Cypress Grove Park classes, we are going to have a schedule adjustment. This change was brought on by the fact that some students have to travel far, others get out work late, and just in hopes of opening up training for more people interested in participating.

Wudang Gongfu & Taijiquan classes will be combined at Cypress Grove Park, time-wise. Students are welcome to begin their training at 5:30 (show up earlier for stretching), and class will go on until 7:30-7:45. If you can't make it to class by 5:30, you can stretch out and begin your training once settling, so there's no issue with arrival time.

Taijiquan students will still focus on their discipline; Gongfu students will still focus on their discipine. But this will help everyone come to class for at least an hour, no matter their schedule, and have more time with an instructor for questions and review.

Feel free to comment any thoughts on this, or any questions you may have with this change!
http://Calendar.SpringAndAutumn.com

Photos by FireRabbit Photography

FireRabbit Photography did a brief photo shoot at Cypress Grove Park before class one day, and here are a few of the highlights.

More pictures after the break... 

To contact FireRabbit Photography, visit their gallery at http://FireRabbitPhotos.DeviantArt.com.

Jibenquan Move List

Jibenquan (Basic Fist Form) is the primary starting form for Wudang Gongfu. This, plus stances, some drills, and the Wudang 36 Kicks form the primary starting curriculum for students' first six months to a year of training.

Old School Blog

Before coming back from China, I used the name "Hundred Schools of Thought" in reference of my teaching. Since my return, I've changed the name to a more fitting "Spring & Autumn Martial Arts." This name change had many reasons but one was that the "Hundred Schools" seemed a bit disorienting for mainly offering Wudang Arts. So, in reference to the same time period in classical China, "Spring & Autumn" fit with Gongfu & Taijiquan.

But alot of useful material can be found on the old school blog @ http://hsot-ma.blogspot.com/. Feel free to flip through there, and I apologize in advance for any broken links or unkept images.

Pay Dues Online

The following shopping cart options allow you to pay online for classes. This can be used for any of the classes listed below.

Payment can also be handled in person via Cash or Personal Check written out to "Michael A. Vollero." Cash/Check prices are a few dollars less than the prices listed below, due to online processing fees.

Spring & Autumn Martial Arts Online Payment Options:

Walking the Prince Slope Temple

Instructor Michael A. Vollero walking up the Dragon-Weaving Path to Taizi Po (The Prince Slope Temple). Photo by Marjorie Jansen, Wudang 2010.

Wudang Kicking Methods

The following list are taken from the "36 Kicks of Wudang" set. These 21 kicks are the standard kicks, while the remaining 15 are example combinations. Since the kicks are named based on their translations from Chinese, many people have a hardtime with the names. I even learned them all visually without names, so I tend to use the standard American names from time-to-time. The list here offers the names we use in classes at Spring & Autumn Martial Arts, along with their general western name.