About T'ai Chi
Tai Chi Ch'uan is a several centuries old Chinese martial art. Originated as an art that incorporated physical self-defense, general health-improvements and mental well-being it nowadays emphasizes less on the martial aspect but more on the health, meditation and relaxation aspects.
Although exact origins and timing are being disputed its invention is attributed to Chang San-feng, a Taoist monk, who lived in the 14th century. The main styles of Tai Chi are Chen, Yang and Wu, all of which can be divided an almost unlimited number of sub styles. The Yang style, the most popular style inside and outside China, characterises itself by fluid, harmonious movements.
One of the most important masters of the Yang style was Yang Cheng-Fu (1883 - 1936). Yang Cheng-Fu reached a very high level and was famous for his martial abilities. Furthermore, he was responsible for the last major revision of the Yang Style.
Professor Cheng Man Ching (1901 - 1975), a student of Yang Cheng-Fu and possibly the ghost writer of Yang Cheng Fu's book Unified form and function of Tai-chi Ch'uan (1934), further simplified and condensed the 108 movements of Yang Cheng-Fu into a short form (7 ~ 8 minutes) consisting of 37 movements.
After leaving mainland China, Professor Cheng Man Ching moved to Taiwan. He was often referred to as Master of Five Excellences, because of his exceptional skills in Calligraphy, Poetry, Painting, Medicine and Tai Chi Ch'uan. When interest in Chinese martial arts began to develop during the sixties, several considered the Professor to be its most skilled exponent in both self-defence and health. Professor Cheng Man Ching was one of the first to bring Tai Chi to the Western world. His style enjoys a significant following in Asia, the US and Europe.
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Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo with Nellie Klabbers and Lucas van der Aart
One of the most senior students of Cheng Man Ching is Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo, who studied under Professor Cheng from 1949 untill 1975. Benjamin Lo currently lives in San Francisco. He has reached a very high level and still gives workshops in Europe and the US. He is co-translator of several original Tai Chi books, including the founding texts of Tai Chi : The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan
Benjamin Lo's oldest student in Europe is Nellie Klabbers. Nellie studies with Benjamin Lo since 1981 . She started with Tai Chi in 1974, and has been teaching since September 1981. She is one of the co-founders of the Dutch Tai Chi Ch'uan association.
Lucas van der Aart, the instructor of the course, is a student of Nellie Klabbers since 1987. He has been following workshops with several senior students of Cheng Man Ching and other leading teachers in the Cheng Man Ching form.
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