34th Annual Zhang San Feng Festival

张三丰 Zhang San Feng

The 34th annual Zhang San Feng Festival will be held June 4th-7th, 2009 at the Nevele Grande Resort in the Catskills region of New York. Named for the mythical Daoist hermit regarded by many as the founder of tai chi (太极拳 tai ji quan), the annual Zhang San Feng Festival is a time honored event begun by the late tai chi Grandmaster Jou Tsung Hwa, and held for many years at his legendary 103-acre Tai Chi Farm.

In recent years the Festival has evolved into a world class event which brings together some of the best and brightest teachers and authors in tai chi, qigong and the related arts, to teach three days of incredible and informative workshops. Each night also includes exciting evening activities. This event will be a treasure trove of opportunity for all interested in Tai Chi & Qigong, from beginners to advanced.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day founder, Bill Douglas, will be delivering this year's keynote address at the Festival on Friday evening, June 5th. Bill will also be adding his unique energies to the event by joining the other master instructors in teaching a few workshops throughout the weekend. WTCQD will have a table at the conference as well, where Bill will demonstrate his Sitting Qigong.

The early-bird discount for Festival registration ends May 15th - to register go to taichifest.com

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day Celebration Saturday in Central Park

Master Wang Rengang's school, Dachengdao, (classes in Queens) sends along this note:

Master Wang well be performing a demo for world Tai Chi day this Saturday in central park. We will have our normal Saturday class in the park after all of the demonstrations are finished. Come join us if you can make it. International Dachengdao students, contact Mike in regards to carpooling/getting to the park. See details below.

TENTH ANNUAL World Tai Chi-Qigong Day Celebration in Central Park

Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Central Park’s East Meadow (just north of 97th Street, immediately west of Fifth Avenue)
Free and Open to the Public
Weather for Saturday: Sunny & Very Warm!!

Witness teams of more than 500 practitioners from 40 NY, CT, NJ, PA and LI groups perform a mass demonstration of the ancient Chinese exercises believed to promote health and reduce stress; followed by 35 exciting special performances of advanced forms and martial arts techniques. Part of an 11-year-old Internet organized worldwide celebration including more than 1,000 coordinated events on six continents in 52 countries and 48 U.S. States. This international healing wave of energy and visual calm begins in Australia, sweeps across Europe, rolls through the Americas and completes its cycle on the peaceful shores of Hawaii.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

· 9:30-9:45 a.m. – Assembly
· 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Mass Demonstration – Beginning at the stroke of 10:00 AM, all 40 Tai Chi and Qigong groups will simultaneously perform their key forms, exhibiting all the different styles.
· 10:30 a.m. 10:40 a.m. – Group Picture of Participants and Guests assembled together.
· 10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – 35 Special Demonstrations – Selected teachers and advanced students will demonstrate many seldom-seen advanced forms, traditional weapons and special techniques.
· 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Meet the participants; learn more about Tai Chi and Qigong.

Also on the web: World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day website.