While attending Campbellsville College from 1971 through 1975 I was exposed to Tai Chi Chuan for the first time. During that time frame I ran a self defense club that welcomed anyone with martial arts training to share what they knew with the rest of the class.
I had trained under Richard Stone, a student of Ramon Lono Ancho, Takayuki Ebisuya, and Hiroshi Wada. Stone taught me Kempo, Judo, and Jujutsu, as well as, Aikido at an introductory level, and allowed one of the students training with him to show myself and one other students the fundamentals of Karate.
People came and went as interest and college responsibilities allowed. One of the people was a Yang stylist who had trained in California. During that time, Stone had already taught me the principles of Jiyu Kata training, so that as I learned the movements of Tai Chi, I practiced them in the free style manner.
I also began researching Tai Chi Chuan, wanting to know more in regard to the history, philosophy, and meaning. This was an aspect which the teacher neglected, seeming more interested in just the physical skills.
Also, during the initial training, we moved from posture to posture and paused in each position in a static manner. While this was a matter of teaching, the teacher seemed to think that pauses were a necessary part of the Tai Chi form.
During my research I noted that most of the manuals regarding Tai Chi stated that the movements of Tai Chi should be performed in a continuous manner. This I began to do in my personal practice, while doing the form as the instructor said when he taught class.
In 1978, I became a student of Dr. Rod Sacharnoski, who was one of the leading Japanese and Okinawan martial artist. Like many people who practice Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, Sacharnoski was interested in the Chinese roots of the arts, so much so that he studied both internal and external Chinese martial arts to give him a greater understanding of his beloved Japanese and Okinawan arts.
At my Dojo in Frankfort, Sacharnoski inspected all my forms, including Tai Chi, and helped fine-tune and perfect the art. As part of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo, students are required to practice a Tai Chi (Tai Kyoku) form, taught in the manner of Jiyu Kata.
Years ago, a Tai Chi teacher came to Frankfort and set up some classes, but due to unfortunate circumstances, had to leave before the class was begun. Those in charge of the class were in a panic, since they had advertised and signed up many students. One of the people involved called me and asked if I could substitute teach to which I agreed.
Over the years I had established a list of basics which I taught as the Original Thirteen Postures. These thirteen postures are the fuller movements of what are thought of as the Traditional Thirteen Postures. Eventually I found a copy of the Tai Chi Classics and studied them thoroughly. It is based upon the instructions of the classics and the practice of the two sets of thirteen postures that I teach my style of Tai Chi.
Two interesting events happened during the teaching of that first Tai Chi session. During one of the classes a gentleman came in and asked if he could watch the class. I, of course agreed, and he sat through the whole class. At the end of it I asked him what he thought and if he was interested in training. He replied that he was a Tai Chi teacher and had wanted to see how I taught the class. He said that he as very impressed and that he liked my use of free form for teaching. He said, of course you know that originally Tai Chi form was always freestyle, to which I replied that I thought so from my research. As he turned to leave he said, keep up the good work, and left. I found it a very interesting experience.
Later a call came from Texas, where a man said that he was a former student of William Chen in New York. He had read an article I had written in one of the martial arts magazines, in which I mentioned the free style method of practicing Tai Chi. He said that he was very interested in what I had written, in that his instructor said that Tai Chi was originally taught without a prearranged form. However, he had never heard of anyone teaching it that way until he read my article. We discussed Tai Chi and it's values for a while and then he said to keep up the training, I was obviously on the right track.
After that initial session, I continued training and researching Tai Chi, as well as, teaching upon request. Since that initial class, I developed a program that teaches the full program of Tai Chi as I understand the classics to indicate they should be performed. This includes Tai Chi Hsing, Tui Shou, Jou Shou, and my own special form of Yen Wu.
When Dr. Sacharnoski was at my school one day, we discussed Tai Chi and how my program was developing with more and more students interested in learning it as a complete art. I especially had some elderly students who were unable to perform the complete Kempo art, which includes throws, leaping, and flying techniques.
At that point he graded my Tai Chi, under his auspices, awarding me the master level. I then formally established a separate branch of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei for teaching the internal art of So Shiki Tai Kyoku Kempo, which in Chinese reads, Tsung Shih Tai Chi Chuan Fa.
Due to the use of a freestyle method of practicing the form, this is a style that is especially beneficial for senior citizens and those who have trouble memorizing long sets of movements.
In Tsung Shih Tai Chi Chuan, a person begins by learning the Original Thirteen Postures. This is used in every class as a warm up. There are six hand movements, six stances, and one kick. Seniors sometimes forgo the kick, or do it sitting down for safety. In that case the thirteenth technique is viewed as an advanced foot natural stance.
The student is then taught how the thirteen postures can be used as self defense techniques in various ways. At this point, the student is also taught the Traditional Thirteen Postures and how they can be applied in self defense. Finally the beginner is taught how to blend the movements together to make a Tai Chi form.
At advanced levels, the students are taught Chinna, Five Fists of Hsing I Chuan, and the Circle Walking of Pa Kua Chang. Students who choose may learn the Tai Chi Chien, Tai Chi Tao, and other advanced skills.
Like all forms of Kempo, Tai Chi Chuan is a lifetime endeavor. The extrapolation of the thirteen postures are infinite. When taught properly and emphasized for self defense, Tai Chi is an endless study which provides a lifetime of health.