A unique opportunity to learn and practise with Grandmaster Liu Jishun Fully Booked
London Interest Form Fully Booked
Devon Interest Form Limited Places Remain / Please phone Muss 07980747327
I'm sorry to announce that the seminars with Master Liu regrettably have been fully booked in London. Please register interest for future to be notified of any forthcoming events. (Article remains in original format) On Saturday the 22nd May 2010, the current head of Hao style taiji quan, Master Liu Jishun, will be hosting a two day seminar in Palmers Green, North London. Along with a follow up in Devon the following weekend on the 29th and 30th.
Master Liu very rarely travels outside China, making this an absolutely unique occasion for everyone, from beginners to instructors, whatever the style of taiji quan practised. These sessions will be an opportunity to meet and witness the taiji skills of the current Hao style lineage holder, one of the last living indoor disciples of former Grandmaster Hao Shaoru.
Possessing a level of skill and sensitivity that is very rarely seen in public, even in China, Master Liu and his disciples will be available to demonstrate and explain the finer points of Hao family style taiji quan. Postural requirements (Shen fa), form, practical applications and fa-jing (issuing energy), will all be covered in these sessions and Master Liu will accept questions from those in attendance throughout the day.
Regardless of the style practised; the concepts and theory held by Hao style practitioners are strictly in accordance with the taiji “classics”. Originally written by Hao style founder, Wu Yuxiang and his successors, these writings have been subsequently adopted by all taiji styles and as such the knowledge gained at this event is effectively taken “from the source” and can be incorporated into the practise of any serious taiji student to enrich their understanding of this wonderful art.
Sunday 23rd of May Tuina will be taught by Master Liu.
In 1954 Master Liu began his tui na training from a TCM doctor, Dr. Li Xin-min, in Shanghai, whose family has been serving in the Emperor's court for generations as doctors. His focused study under Dr. Li continued for the next 5 years. Dr. Li Xin-min has only seven students, each specializing in one subject, such as tui na, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Master Liu has been practicing tui na professionally for over 40 years, until retiring from a Shanghai hospital as a Senior Tui Na Specialist.
Master Liu's tui na training is slightly different from those of the formal school "system", and closer to the traditional lineage. As such, it has certain emphasis that is different from that of the school systems or those we commonly encounter, for example:
* its primary focus on tendon massage techniques (whereas acu-points and meridian channels massage techniques are also used as an aide)
* its emphasis on painless therapy sessions. Most patients will only feel slight soreness (if at all) during the therapy, and total relief afterwards. This is contrary to many other massage therapists who emphasize the mantra of "no pains, no gains."
* its emphasis on not only the tui na therapist's knowledge, but also his/her internal training, which reveals itself in:
o the therapist's level of sensitivity to the qi condition of the patient,
o his/her ability to work accurately on different layers of the human body (skin, muscle, tendons, and bones), and
o his/her ability to use the mind intention (as opposed to only applying the techniques mechanically),
to name a few. This is achieved through long-term and rigorous trainings in certain internal martial arts.
Tui Na and Tai Chi
Master Liu entered the field of TCM tui na purely by chance: Dr. Li was a good family friend and took him on as one of his only seven students. It turned out, though, that tui na and tai chi are quite complementary to each other:
All TCM tui na schools require the learner to practice one of the internal martial arts, such as Sinew-transforming Exercise (Yi Jin Jing) or Shaolin Internal Cultivation Exercise (Shaolin Neigong), in order to build up:
* stamina,
* proficiency in the manipulation skills,
* bodily flexibilities, and
* good grasp of qi senses,
among others (see reference on tui na books). tai chi training provides exactly these. Therefore Master Liu has long integrated tai chi into his tui na training regimen. Furthermore, tui na gave him some insights into the inner workings of the body that happens when one practices tai chi. For example, when the bones are extending, they also extend (and loosen up) the tendons.
Main Techniques
There are five main categories of techniques in Master Liu's school of TCM tui na:
* tendon massage,
* (acu-) points and (meridian) channels massage,
* internal organ massage,
* qi gong massage, and
* children massage
A typical session will follow the sequence of working on the patient's skin, muscle, tendons, and bones.
Tendons, Tendons, Tendons
Master Liu emphasizes the importance of working on the tendons as a first priority, as opposed to only going after the points and channels. He stresses that only when the tendons' conditions are taken care of can one continue to work on the points and channels and obtain optimal results. This order of priority is seldom emphasized in today's mainstream TCM tui na trainings but is in accordance with Master Liu's own traditional training and his more than 40 years of field experience.
Treatment Goals
The ultimate treatment goal in this school of TCM tui na is to look after the patients' qi conditions. Qi is one of the central themes in TCM. According to TCM models of the human body, many bodily mal-functions are manifested in one of the following qi problems:
* chaotic, or uneven distribution of qi
* dispersion of qi
* misplaced qi
The practitioner should first diagnose the type and locations of the qi problems and treat accordingly.
Seminar Details/Bookings
Seminar sessions will last for four hours with an hour for lunch and an additional 2 hours for individual practise. Many different aspects of Hao style taiji quan and Tuina will be demonstrated and discussed. The Taiji session costs £120 and the Tuina the same, or £200 if you decide to attend both days. Bookings are now being accepted strictly on a “first come first served” basis and the number attending will be intentionally limited to ensure that each participant receives individual guidance and instruction from Master Liu and his disciples.
It is strongly recommend that you book now to guarantee your place at this very special event.
Bookings call;
London Seminars - Fully Booked
Taiji 22nd May – 10am till 5pm
Tuina 23rd May – 10am till 5pm
For further info call Mario on 07846655629
Torquay Seminars - Limited Places remain please phone
29th of May – 10am till 5pm
30th of May– 10am till 5pm
Seminar Booking Devon Muss 07980747327
