DDA recently held it’s 7th Shanghai “Chinese Culture & Taiji Training Camp”.
The 9-day camp, which was attended by four international guests from the UK and USA, ran from 15th to 23rd November 2014, with daily training in Taiji, meditation, qigong, calligraphy, and TCM tuina.
Our guests had all attended DDA’s Taiji workshops in the US and UK over the last few years, and one guest Tony Gleadell, also participated at DDA’s 2009 Shanghai Camp, where he also performed Yang Style Taiji at our Master’s Exhibition at that year’s camp.
This year, DDA were again honoured to offer lectures by our regular collaborating teachers, Master Shou Guan Shun teaching tendon stretching and joint opening exercises and Yang Style form applications; Master Liu Hong Cai teaching standing and seated meditation; Master Yan Cheng De teaching San He Dao Broadsword form from the Xing-Yi system; and Dr Li Yong of Conjoint Health Advisory Service introducing TCM methodology for good health and tuina massage techniques.
Master Wang Ming Bo was DDA’s resident Taiji instructor as usual, taking the guests through their daily Taiji practice in the park, with DDA’s Taiji group from Cao Yang Park, and also accompanying the guests on their sightseeing trips to Zhu Jia Jiao and She Shan, along with volunteer students organized by Rose from the Shanghai University for Science and Technology’s British Culture Centre, where Rose is Director. ?
Throughout the camp, Rose acted as organizer, facilitator, interpreter and guide on the group’s tours around the city and in class.
Gabe, and Joe from the US, are both students of Dr. Jay Dunbar and attended the workshops organized in Durham by Jay’s Magic Tortoise Taiji School; and Tony from the UK has been a regular participant at many DDA events in Manchester and Derby. Ann accompanied her husband Joe as a visiting spouse, taking advantage of the wonderful sights and shopping to be found in the city.
The daily itinerary of Taiji in the park, followed by lectures by DDA’s guest teachers was intensive, but for Gabe who began her practice in 1998 and Joe, who has been training for around 30 years, it was a great chance to enjoy the masters’ lessons and revel in their knowledge, generosity and expertise.
Tony had to return to his post in Xi’an for work a little earlier, but will be back in Shanghai for DDA’s next camp!
The masters as usual were generous to a fault, happy to share their knowledge and experience; it was a joy to work with them as always, a great big thank you to Master Wang, Master Shou, Master Liu and Master Yan!
The small party of camp participants had a wonderful time, it was a pleasure to see them in Shanghai and work with everybody, and it was especially nice for everyone to train in the park and in our classes with our local students, who all enjoyed the opportunity to communicate with our international guests, with the common language of our love of Taiji.
Our final day of camp was a farewell party at DDA’s new cultural centre in Putuo District’s Shun Yi Rd.
The party was a joint farewell party for our international guests and an opening ceremony for our new centre. Attended by about 60 guests, students and friends, it was a wonderfully casual, fun event; everybody brought some snacks, food and several guests also performed, including Mr. Yang Yi Xiao who wrote several calligraphy scrolls for the centre, as well as Taiji classic texts!
Ms. Hong Min demonstrated Taiji Straight Sword, and Rose, Joe and Gabe performed the first section of the San He Broadsword form. We were also treated to an impromptu Peking Opera performance from our Cao Yang Park students!
It was a wonderful end to a fantastic camp; we wish our camp attendees a safe and pleasant journey home and look forward to seeing them next year!
Thank you to all our DDA students, disciples, teachers, and friends for all their hard work and support, and a big thank you to Rachel and all of Rose’s university student volunteers for their assistance; we couldn’t have done it without you all!
See everyone at our 8th Shanghai Camp for more fun and Taiji!? ?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
??
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?