Our first annual Chen Taiji Advanced Training Camp has come to an end. Last night we closed the camp with a Cultural Night, a raffle giveaway for Chenjiagou t-shirts, and presentation of the Certificates of Completion. Taiji people have many hidden talents – we had singing, acting, playing with balls, language instruction, and tuina. Chen Ziqiang was the driving force behind this extravaganza and he videotaped much of it – I am scared to think where those vids will surface!
My own favorite moments:
- evening question and answer session for instructors
- an amazing single whip correction
- seeing again the consistency of principles in the movements of the Chen teachers
- the extraordinarily beautiful Slovenian countryside
I am left with deep feelings of respect for the Chen family, and a deeper feeling of the core of taiji in my body. These workshops are so great for me, and I feel strong and grounded in the way that only taiji can deliver. In an hour, we will return to Ljubljana for some shopping and sightseeing. Tomorrow we begin the long journey home, and only a few hours after we arrive in San Diego, I will head for work. Back to it, and the morning standing sessions in the misty Julian Alps, the xinjia yilu days, and the weapons evenings will fade into a distant memory, to be treasured always.
