Lao Shi Quin Bakaty

Lao Shi Quin Bakaty has studied martial arts for over 40 years and has been teaching them for the last 20. He has trained extensively in T'ai Chi, under Sifu Connie Zhang since 1998. Expert in Yang and Chen style forms, he also teaches T’ai Chi swords, Jian, and Dao.

T’ai Chi Ch’uan 太極拳

“The Supreme Ultimate Boxing”

It is generally agreed among historians that T’ai Chi Ch’uan was developed in the Sung Dynasty (960-1270 A.D.) by the famous boxer Chang San-Feng, who was also the founder of the well-known Wu Tang School of Boxing. Chang was a man of great physical strength and developed this form of rhythmic exercise as a corollary to boxing.

 

There is no question that the present form of T’ai Chi Ch’uan has been elaborately extended from the simple movements originally developed by Chang San-Feng.

 

T’ai Chi, as it is practiced today, is a system of physical exercise based on the principles of effortless breathing, rhythmic movement, and weight equilibrium.

 

It is also designed to serve as a method of self-defense and as such can be practiced by an individual alone in a limited space. It requires no special equipment other than loose-fitting clothes, permitting continuous, rhythmic body movements. When practiced diligently, the movements offer a state of harmony that can be likened to meditation.

 

Dedicated practice of the various T’ai Chi forms will strengthen the mind, body, and spirit. Focuses include: breathing naturally, keeping the body perpendicular to the ground, eliminating all unnecessary tension from the body, maintaining a low center of gravity, and coordinating arm, hand, and body movements. When all of these elements are combined the practice of T’ai Chi transcends the sum of its parts and becomes a vehicle for creating a whole and complete individual.