A Brief History

Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient martial art, translated as 'Supreme Ultimate Fist' may date back to a monk named Chang San-feng, who lived around the 14th-15th century AD.

Among the Tai Chi Chuan styles practiced today, the Yang form originated by Yang Luchan in  the 19th century, is one of the most practiced today. Yang Lu Chan's grandson Yang Cheng Fu continued transmitting the tradition and made Yang style Tai Chi Chuan accessible.

Good Spirit® T'ai Chi Ch'uan lineage is traced back to this traditional Yang family style. Briefly, Chen Wei-Ming, a senior disciple of Yang Cheng-Fu, was the teacher of  Lee Shu-Pak, who later taught Tai Chi in Canada. His student Herb Goldberg founded T'ai Chi Ch'uan Atlanta, where I learned Yang style in depth for ten years and was a senior student. After moving to San Antonio, I opened Good Spirit® T'ai Chi Ch'uan to continue the tradition.

The Form

Good Spirit® offers classes in traditional Yang style long form and an encompassing experience of this internal art.

Begin with the fundamentals and advance through the work in a well structured curriculum and an open format of hands-on teaching, individualized instruction and an ongoing program that provides support for the student’s learning through  progressive stages.

All levels are welcome

Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan form is characterized by slow, gentle, fluid movements that

is meditative as well as focused with attention to proper body posture. Its practice can lead to improved health, increased balance, and enhanced circulation among other benefits. 

Martial Art

Self defense movements are embedded in the T'ai Chi Ch'uan form. Intermediate and advanced students have the option to take the Martial Arts track of the class to learn self defense. To this end, students will learn restricted as well as  free-style push hands. Push hands are two-partner exercises that teach how to neutralize an opponent's force and using it to off-balance  the opponent. Push hands practice also helps in refining the T'ai Chi Ch'uan form through external feedback as well as by  improving body structure and movement.

Techniques include practicing rooting, yielding and balancing Yin-Yang.  Students also have the option to learn the martial applications of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan form.

Chi Kung

Being a form of exercise that concentrates on breathing, mental focus, body structure, relaxation, as well as meditation, Chi Kung benefits all levels and is a valuable complement to T'ai Chi Ch'uan, speeding up the learning process.

Chi Kung meditations include microcosmic orbit, I Chuan, and Swimming Dragon among others.