Sleeping Dragon

Some of you may be wondering, what is this Taiji Quan you speak of? To keep it brief, Taiji Quan, often called Taiji (also spelled Tai Chi), means "Supreme Ultimate Fist". Taiji is an ancient Chinese martial art belonging to the "soft" styles which is now, in many cases, taught as a form of "stepping" Qigong.

This may lead you to your next question, what is Qigong? Qigong translates loosely as "energy work" and is a form of meditation and exercise, with vast health benefits. In fact, Taiji Quan and Qigong are both taught as integral parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) along with Acupuncture, Herbal Pharmacology, and many other aspects.
The practice of Qigong is said to go back as far as 3000 B.C. and is used to cultivate longevity, health, and martial power.

You will begin your class by learning and practicing basic Taiji Qigong, after which we will work with the Yang style Taiji 24 postures. With the remaining Time we will practice some basic Tui Shou (Push Hands)

Everyone can learn Taiji. I invite anyone to come enjoy the beauty of Taiji with me. You may be in shape, out of shape, Nine years old or ninety years, good balance, bad balance, flexible or not.

Some people say things like, "I'm not flexible enough to do taiji." however, you do not practice Taiji only to maintain the health, balance, or flexibility you already have; you practice to gain health, balance, and flexibility as well.

      The benefits associated with the regular practice of Taiji and Qigong are enough to have volumes dedicated to the subject. I however will list a few here. Regular practice of Taiji has been associated with greater flexibility and balance. In fact, studies suggest that if we all practiced regularly, the incidences of injuries due to falls would be cut enough to save the country millions in health care costs. Taiji and Qigong have also been shown to have a dual directional regulatory effect on blood pressure. That is to say it can not only help to control hyper-tension, but also raise hypo-tension.

      Studies Also indicate that Taiji and Qigong help to regulate lipid metabolism, allowing individuals to maintain a healthy weight more efficiently. Also, via regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, Taiji and Qigong improve mental acuity, decrease symptoms of depression, and anxiety, improve sexual function, and decrease the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

      Taiji Quan and Qigong are also excellent for arthritis and is recommended by many doctors for patients recovering from knee injury and with arthritis. The practice of Taiji Quan and Qigong are even believed to help with dermatological disorders such as psoriasis and Acne.

James J. Franco has studied the martial arts since he was a child and has studied Qigong and Taiji quan for over a decade.
He has had training in the Yang 24 postures, 48 postures, the Yang Cheng Fu long form, Taiji Dao (Saber), Taiji Jian (Strait Sword), Taiji TuiShou (Push Hands), Taiji Qin Na, Taiji Shaui Jiao, Taiji Dian Xue, and Taiji Qigong.

Tai Chi & Qigong Classes