The ancient Chinese exercise and martial art known as T'ai Chi Ch'uan has developed over the centuries as the physical expression of the philosophy of "The Supreme Ultimate" in which opposites are balanced as yang and yin, firm and soft, power and the yielding of it. Millions of people worldwide daily perform the fluid, slow, and gentle movements of the art. Of the five major styles, the Yang Long Form, taught at T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta, is the most widely practiced today. It is quiet, smooth, rhythmical and continuously flowing; circular, yet directed; apparently placid, yet vital beneath the surface.
What is more fluid, more yielding than water?
Yet back it comes again, wearing down the rigid strength
Which cannot yield to withstand it.
So it is that the strong is overcome by the weak.
Lao-Tse
As a martial art, T'ai Chi Ch'uan is extremely effective. The T'ai Chi Ch'uan practitioner subtly neutralizes and diverts the opponent's energy, using minimal force, and responds appropriately to whatever the situation requires. While T'ai Chi Ch'uan does not rely on strength, its practice promotes it.
Benefits
One of the internal martial arts, T'ai Chi Ch'uan enables people to become aware of and gain access to their "chi" or "life force" as the source of their power, not brute force. Slowly, deeply, evenly breathing - dynamically harmonizing body and mind - the form becomes meditation in motion. Concerns dissolve in the patient discipline of a martial art that promotes compassion, gentleness, humility, tranquility and humor. T'ai Chi Ch'uan instills self-confidence; develops physical health and improves resistance to disease; and enables students to move in balance within the dynamic ebb and flow of their lives. T'ai Chi Ch'uan's rhythmical breathing, precise postures, and slow movements affect the entire body:
Overall results contribute to increased longevity. People of all ages and widely varying physical abilities are attracted to this discipline. Both the fit and the frail can find safe and challenging ways to work within the system.
- Improving the functioning of the internal organs
- Stimulating and balancing the body's systems
- Reducing muscle tension, stress and anxiety
- Strengthening bones and muscles
- Increasing flexibility of the joints and
- Enhancing the body's natural recuperative powers
T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta
At T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta, the discipline and the art are studied comprehensively. In addition to learning the form, students practice fundamental T'ai Chi Ch'uan exercises, various "chi-kung" exercises, stretches and different types of meditation. As the basics of the form are learned, the student adds "Push Hands" (the various T'ai Chi Ch'uan two person exercises), martial applications and weapons practice. The Yang Long Form can be learned in as little as six months, but usually takes more than a year, depending on the students ability, class attendance, practice and background. The most successful students practice devotedly.
Instructor
Herb Goldberg began his training in the martial arts in 1966, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan in 1976 in Montreal, Canada under Master Lee Shiu Pak. Master Lee was a senior student of Chen Wei Ming, the famous disciple of Yang Chen Fu who was widely acclaimed as one of the greatest masters of his time. Mr. Goldberg continued training with world famous masters and grandmasters from China and North America, including Fu Zheng Wen, Yang Zen Do, Liang Shou Yu, T. T. Liang, Ben Lo, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and Wei Lun Huang. In 1985, he founded T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta.
Mr. Goldberg has been honored by appointment to the National Board of Advisors of the USA Wushu Kung-Fu Federation. He has also been selected regularly by the USAWKF as a National Judge of T'ai Chi Ch'uan forms and push hands. In addition, he has served as the Head Judge of Internal Arts and Push Hands for the Southeast region. His students have won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals at both the national and regional levels.
Mr. Goldberg has been featured in the major Atlanta newspapers and magazines, including the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Creative Loafing, Atlanta Sports & Fitness, Atlanta Buckhead, The Jewish Times, as well as Arthritis Today and Weight Watchers national magazines. He has appeared on Channel 11 News "Health Watch;" on a Channel 69 program devoted to T'ai Chi Ch'uan; and on a National Sears TV ad where he also served as technical director. Additionally, he has been published in T'ai Chi magazine and has performed demonstrations for many organizations including Icon Health and Fitness at the "Supershow," the High Museum, the IRS, Georgia State University and the Georgia Association of Physical Therapists.
In addition to his own ongoing public and private classes, he taught T'ai Chi Ch'uan at GSU for more than twelve years, and has provided classes for numerous corporations, schools and health clubs.
Mr. Goldberg holds degrees in Physical and Health Education and Guidance Counseling, Applied Social Science and Psychology Mr. Goldberg's training and his teaching philosophy enable him to bridge the gap between east and west. In addition to precisely demonstrating the postures and their function, he explains movements and the principles behind them in easily understood terms, using physics, physiology, and metaphor to illustrate T'ai Chi Ch'uan's essential points Because T'ai Chi Ch'uan is best experienced in the doing rather than the telling, Mr. Goldberg works personally with each of his students to make the necessary adjustments in their movements and postures. His individualized approach to instruction meets students where they are and brings them along at their own pace. T'ai Chi Ch'uan can become a lifelong pursuit and an integral part of one's way of being.
Schedule
Monday and Thursday
Class A. 7:00pm - 8:00 pm Chi Kung
Meditations, and stretches Chi Kung are any number of exercises which combine a particular style, posture and mental focus. The exercises improve circulation, breathing, posture, flexibility and balance, while increasing concentration and reducing stress.
Class B. 8:00pm - 9:00 pm Tai Chi fundamentals
Tai Chi fundamentals combine various exercises that enable the student to learn and practice the Tai Chi form more proficiently. Students must attend class A prior to or simultaneously to class B.
Class C. 7:00pm - 9:30 pm Tai Chi form Training in the Yang Long Form
Including postures, internal energy, breathing, martial applications, principles, theory, etc. Students must acquire proficiency in classes A and B before advancing to class C.
Class D. 9:30pm - 10:30 pm Martial training
Push Hands, rooting, yielding, neutralizing, attaching, following, martial applications, Da Lui, straight sword, staff, fa jing, chin na. Students may attend class D in conjunction with class C.
Wednesday
Class C and D. 7:0 0pm - 10:30 Tai Chi form and martial applications
See above for description.
Try a free introductory evening of classes A and B on any Monday or Thursday from 7:00pm - 9:00pm. New students are welcome to join at any time.
Location
Evening classes are held at:
Yeshiva High School
3131 Raymond Drive, Doraville
Georgia, USA
(In the Cafetorium)
Contact Information
Contact Herb Goldberg
Phone: (404) 881-0030
E-mail: hgtcca@aol.com
For further information visit his website, T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta.