Waving Hands Like Clouds

Cloud Hands is a common movement sequence in Tai Chi Chuan.
It is called "Yun Shou."

Your arms move in soft flowing motions from side to side across the body.  One hand is higher than the other.  The feet move gracefully and deliberately, mostly to the left.  The patterns repeat three or four times.

Some of these same movements are executed in more forceful and much faster kung fu styles as back fists, blocks, elbow strikes, slaps, diversions, grabs, joint locks, bagua spins, etc.

Just as there are slow quiet songs, there are fast loud songs.  Both are music.

Whole books, articles, and videotaped lectures and demonstrations about Moving Hands Like Clouds or Cloud Hands are available for further study on the subject.

Delightfully, Cloud Hands can be practiced while you are seated.  It gently stretches the waist, shoulders, back, and neck.  It is simple and fun to play in this way.

Cloud Hands is practiced in Taijiquan with ease, softness, grace, fluidity, balance, and quietness.  Being gentle is praised.  We try to settle into being relaxed (Sung).

Tai Chi Chuan - Cloud Hands   Website by Michael P. Garofalo

Tai Chi Training at Northwest Tai Chi and Qigong

This morning, I joined the Northwest Tai Chi and Qigong Studio in downtown Vancouver, WA.  I believe it is now called the "Vancouver Tai Chi and Qigong Studio," run by students of Sifu Brian Knack and, this far, by Sifu himself.  

I am uncertain about whether or not the studio is "closing" in the Spring of 2018.  Nevertheless, I will join now and see what happens. 

I attended a one hour Taiji class.  We did gentle warmups and then the 108 Yang form.  The room was quite warm.  Naturally, I was tense and anxious.  Performance anxiety when doing the Yang long form after not doing it for the last year, and adjusting to the slight variations in angles and hand movements by this group. I sweated a great deal and got a bit woosy and weak.  I had to sit and drink water offered by Sandy.  Sifu went over principles of movement in legs, gua, waist, emptying weight, etc..; all good information.  I was very tired afterwards, and slept for 1.5 hours when I came home.

Sifu Brian Knack and his senior students operate this Tai Chi training center in the Vancouver Health and Wellness Building at 202 E. Mcloughlin Blvd., Vancouver, 360-607-8240. Also, on Facebook.

Taijiquan and Qigong Class Schedule:

Tuesday
Qigong
Tuesday – QiGong @ 9:00 am 
Tai Chi @ 10:00 am   

Advanced Tai Chi @ 5:30 pm
Beginning Tai Chi @ 6:30 pm
Advanced Tai Chi and Push Hands @ 7:30 pm 
Saturday 

Qigong and Tai Chi  10:00 am - 11:30

Master Shanti will be back for another workshop - continuing on with our Wuji exploration moving more into form work and partner work. It will be Saturday Oct21st @ 10am - 1pm. Cost will be $45 (cash only).  I plan to attend.  

"Bryan Knack was inducted to the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame as "Chinese Martial Arts Master of the Year" and "International Sifu of the Year"
Sifu Bryan Knack began studying martial arts in the mid-70's, begining with the external martial arts of Goju-ryu (Okinawan karate) and Siu Lum Kung Fu in the 1980's. Then he turned his studies to TAI CHI and QI GONG and had a training center in Portland, Oregon.
He returned to his hometown of Spokane to open his own studio, NORTHWEST TAI CHI FOR HEALTH in 2000. Sifu Knack returned to the Vancouver/Portland in 2011 area to be close to family.

Sifu Knack offers study in many disciplines:

* Tai Chi Yang Style * Tai Chi Chen Style

* Qi Gong * Zhan Zhaung * Chin Na

* Push Hands * Weapons

Tai Chi is fun. We offer an affordable program for multiple section classes for a monthly charge or a small fee for each class you attend."

Currently, on Thursday afternoon, a small group is studying the Chen broadsword form by invitation.