The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school1
When people think of a sport or an exercise, they think of “self-improvement.” and self-improvement means taking that basic person which is you and adding to it. But Tai Chi holds an opposite view. Where the athlete strives to increase their skill from day one, the martial artist begins a slow process of shedding habits, preconceptions, even strengths. In the martial arts we invest in loss. To some this may seem ineffably oriental and mysterious. But Tai Chi, as all martial arts, has embodied this approach for centuries. This is the reason martial arts has always proved so useful: the …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Gene Ching2
On Friday, April 4th, 2025, the Qingming Festival is celebrated around the world, wherever Chinese are buried. Pronounced ‘Ching Ming’ (the letter ‘q’ is used for the ‘ch’ sound in Mandarin pinyin romanization, as in Qigong), the festival is conventionally translated as Tomb Sweeping day. However, Qing means ‘clear, pure, clean or peaceful’ and Ming means ‘bright or brilliant’ so it is alternatively known as the Clear Brightness or Pure Brightness festival. Such is the nature of translating Chinese to English: X does not always equal X. Usually X = Y + Z. Qingming rituals date back more than 2500 …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Gene Ching2
The pandemic shifted everything, even our martial arts practice. Here at the Academy of Martial and Internal Arts in Santa Cruz, the most prominent change has been that we now train outside in parking lot. I know we’re not the only school to do this because I’ve passed others doing the same thing. Some schools lay out mats, but we don’t bother because the bulk of the curriculum at the Academy doesn’t require it. I love training on asphalt. For me personally, it’s a throwback to when I first began training Kung Fu at Lam Kwoon way back in the …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school
Tai Chi for Health Get started or deepen your skills Meets twice a week for 3 months Tuesdays & Thursdays 9-10 a.m. Sept. 6 to Nov. 24 (we may adjust the final class date to accommodate Thanksgiving) Academy of Martial & Internal Arts 1570 Soquel Dr. (across from Dominican Hospital) (We will meet in the parking lot in front of the school) taught by Narrye Caldwell, AMA instructor and 40 year practitioner Tuition: $285 (paid in advance for full 3 months) or $120 per month This 3 month series is an introduction to the beautiful art of Tai Chi. We …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Ted Mancuso
After class the other day my student Harvey, who has studied with me for more than 15 years, asked me a pointed question: “How and why does a longtime practitioner maintain his or her interest in studying Tai Chi?” This caught my attention immediately, because he asked me to consider it from the advanced study point of view, not the more common basic level. After 50 years practicing Tai Chi, I admit that the shoe may be old, but it still fits. I went home and wrote this question at the top of a page of wide-ruled yellow paper: “What …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Narrye Caldwell2
I love teaching Tai Chi, and I especially love introducing this beautiful health promoting martial art to beginners. But many people start out with some ideas that are not only wrong, but prevent them from sticking with the practice long enough to benefit from it. This is not their fault. Unfortunately, bad teaching and popular but misleading ideas abound. So here’s my attempt to set a few things straight and get people started off on the right foot (sorry for the pun.) 1. Tai Chi is a martial art. Yes I know, that sounds obvious. But many people come to …Continue reading →
