Way back in 1999, The New York School of T'ai Chi Chuan was looking for a new home, and we welcomed them into our new 520 8th avenue location as our very first client. I sat down this week with teachers Steve Shulman, George Kormendi, and Debby Swayne, who, between the three of them, have over 70 years experience in this ancient martial art.

The New York School of Tai Chi Chuan was founded in 1976 by Patrick Watson, a student of the revered Professor Cheng Man-Ch'eng, who brought T'ai Chi to the west in the mid 20th century. I asked Steve about the connection between T'ai Chi and the martial arts world at large.

"There are two kinds of martial arts: 'Hard arts' and 'Soft arts'. Hard arts deal with force meeting force, and soft arts, like T'ai Chi, are more about internal energy. It's about sensing where the other person is going, either physically or psychologically, and helping them go there....just not at you." As a meditative practice, T'ai Chi aims to help the student  "wake up the body". As Kormendi put it, "It's about learning to listen. The one who is more aware gets to make the choices." 

As for making their home at RG520 for the past 14 years, Shulman says "We really like it. It's a reliable, fantastic space, and we love all the different energies."

T'ai Chi is a great compliment to any performing arts training regimen. Centering the body, clearing the mind, and making strong choices based on self awareness is the foundation of the creative process. Come check out NY School of T'ai Chi at RG520, Monday-Wednesday nights in studio 16U. Full class schedule is HERE.