Subjects


For detailed explanations of the terms below, click on the desired link:
Dragon & Tiger Chi Gung
Dragon & Tiger Chi Gung is a complete chi gung system that can be learned in a short time and provides tremendous health benefits when practiced on a regular basis. Today in China, Dragon and Tiger is used primarily as a medical form of Chi Gung for healing degenerative diseases. This system is over 1,500 years old and was originally practiced in the Shaolin temple where it was used to maintain the health of monks who practiced a strict meditation regime. Dragon and Tiger is a combination of Buddhist Chi Gung and Taoist Nei Gung.

This system, first brought to the West by B.K. Frantzis, is comprised of seven movements that allow energy to flow through the body's outer meridian lines in order to strengthen, balance, and cultivate internal energy. Dragon and Tiger is an excellent introduction to internal practices and quickly gives one a recognizable feeling of energy inside the body. Knowledge of this fundamental practice is necessary to learn any of the advanced stages of Nei Gung. At an advanced level Dragon and Tiger can be practiced to produce immense muscular strength and responsiveness, coupled with an integrated flexibility.

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Nei Gung
Nei Gung is the foundation of all Chinese internal martial arts and health practices. It means "inner skill". Nei Gung works all of the body's energy pathways and opening and closing all the body's tissues (joints, muscles, connective tissues, internal organs, glands, blood vessels, lymphatic pumps, respiratory system, cerebrospinal system and brain) simultaneously to produce a powerful synergistic effect on the mind, body, and spirit. Nei Gung alleviates chronic stress and pain and increases the body's strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. Nei Gung practice produces energy safely and systematically as it revitalizes and calms your heart and mind.

A proficiency in these subtle exercises will give a student a lifetime of inner exploration. In the beginning class students learn the proper body alignments and breathing techniques for the Taoist water method of standing meditation. This is the start of learning how to feel, release, move, and eventually transform your internal energy. In the intermediate classes you learn how to incorporate the beginning practices with specialized movements that allow one to incorporate all of the 16 components which make a Nei Gung system complete. The components are taught in an order that allows one's practice to develop comfortably and naturally.

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Wu Style Tai Chi
Wu Style Tai Chi uses slow circular movements as a training method to develop sensitivity and precise body alignment. It can be practiced as a form of moving meditation and as a sophisticated method of building and applying refined internal power. Wu Style Tai Chi is famous for it's many health benefits and is especially useful for healing injuries and back problems. It emphasizes the cultivation of soft internal energy and relaxing subtle joint movements. Beginning students start their training with the Wu Style short form developed by B.K. Frantzis. This provides the foundation for understanding the essential internal nuances of Tai Chi which produce optimal health, meditation, and martial arts benefits. We offer separate classes and workshops for the classical long form, push hands, fighting application, and weapons. As a martial art Tai Chi emphasizes yielding, counter attacks, and redirecting the opponents force.

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Ba Gua Chang
Ba Gua Chang is an exceptionally beautiful martial art emphasizing the use of spiral movements and a sophisticated use of footwork and fighting angles. It makes the body extremely flexible and able to move with tremendous grace, speed and power. Ba Gua practice is vigorous and aerobic. Many consider Ba Gua to be the most advanced of the Chinese Martial Arts. The foundation of the system is a meditative circle walking practice and the "Single Palm Change" which was developed in Taoist monasteries over 4000 years ago. As a meditation practice, Ba Gua allows one to produce a stillness of mind in the midst of intense physical activity. This esoteric system at it's highest levels becomes a method of manifesting the energetic patterns of change described in the I-Ching or Classic Book of Changes.

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Hsing-I Chuan
Hsing-I Chuan can be translated as "shape of the mind boxing". It is the oldest of the Chinese internal martial arts. This direct and effective martial art uses a training methodology that emphasizes meditative standing practices and fluid powerful movements. Hsing-I training utilizes the force vectors and energetic dynamics of the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire, and earth) and the fighting strategies of the twelve animal styles. Hsing-I makes a practitioner's mind incredibly clear, strong, and focused while balancing all of the body's internal organ systems. Hsing-I is an excellent starting point for martial artists with foundations in external systems who want to begin an internal practice. As a combative training practice, Hsing-I has a recorded history with over 900 years of battle proven effectiveness.

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Pentjak Silat Serak®
"Pentjak" roughly translates as, "choreographed movement." "Silat" means, "fight." Pentjak Silat, then, means, "choreography for fighting."

Pentjak without the Silat would be dancing. Silat without the Pentjak would be brawling.

Pentjak Silat comes from Indonesia, home to 4000 islands, the world's fourth largest population (200 million), 300 dialects, all major religions, and a rich history of high culture and constant tumult.

Indonesia has long been a proving ground for many of the prominent Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian systems that have survived the test of conflict. The island of Java is home to over 120 million people. This region has been a terrific breeding ground for realistic combative systems since pre-history. There are over 400 styles of Pentjak Silat currently practiced, and many of the earliest and most sophisticated come from Java.

Our System, Pentjak Silat Serak®

The founder/creator of this formidable system was nicknamed "Pak Sera," and had the unique attributes of one arm ending at the elbow, and a clubbed foot. Versed in 9 different arts, 3 Chinese, 3 Indian, and 3 Indonesian, he created a system with a technical base tuned to his unique physiology that allowed him, and later his students, to effectively counter the dominant combatives of the region. The result was a system that allowed for maximal effectiveness with minimal athleticism. Serak® was formulated in the early 1800's in West Java, and was selectively taught to Dutch Indonesian people of privilege prior to WWII.

Our Guru (Teacher) or MaHa Guru (Professor) is Victor deThouars, one of the last Javanese-born Dutch Indonesians the world will know. He is busy ensuring that the system of Serak® will continue to be taught as it was in Java when he began his study before WWII. Our group was featured in the "Inside Kung Fu," December 2000 issue, as well as in the "Black Belt Magazine," December 2001 issue.

Our curriculum consists of the following: A great deal of what we do can be practiced almost anywhere as solo activity. These develop muscle memory, correct body mechanics, strength, breathing, and visualization skills.

Our class environment is somewhat academic. We focus on the understanding of movement and development of muscle memory first, and develop sensory training separately. For this reason, and because our techniques can be very dangerous, we do not spar. The degree of physical exertion varies based on the goals and capability of each individual. Our classes do not demand high physical exertion, which makes us ideal for middle-aged or elderly people. In fact, we believe that this is an art that will grow with you as you age.

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Visayan Eskrima
Visayan Eskrima is a weapons based martial art from the central and southern islands of the Philippines. The system is a complete martial art which emphasizes weapon manipulation, usage and control. The system has a unique and graceful character utilizing three distinct fighting ranges and high, middle, and low postures expressed spontaneously in response to varying combative circumstances. Many of the flowing movements resemble Philippine and Balinese dance, Yet remains a devastatingly effective fighting system. The system includes a complete arsenal of multiple strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws, grappling, and nerve point attacks. Traditionally this art was only taught to students who were carefully screened regarding their level of maturity, persistence, and humility.

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