Seattle School of T'ai Chi Chuan

Curriculum

The classes we offer in Seattle come from Patrick Watson's experience of studying with Professor Cheng. After Professor Cheng's death, Patrick heeded the Professor's mandate that he teach teachers and in the 1970's Patrick started a school to offer Tai Chi and train teachers to teach it. A curriculum developed that serves the beginning student as well as the dedicated advanced student with a clear sequential presentation of the art.

Since students have varying levels of interest, time, and ability, the Seattle School of T'ai Chi Chuan, in cooperation with the T'ai Chi Foundation, provides four basic pathways of study. These four pathways are supplemented by our Enrichment Series of evening and weekend programs, which provide a greater understanding of the philosophy and principles of T'ai Chi. Although these may be taken on a stand-alone basis, their impact is enhanced when experienced as a progression. We recommend them highly to all of our students as they deepen your understanding, enjoyment and practice of T'ai Chi. Our Enrichment Series is open to the public.

We invite you to choose your own path and develop at your own pace. Take the First Pathway listed below and learn the basics or go all the way through the Fourth Pathway and learn to become an apprentice teacher of t'ai chi.

First Pathway
For those with limited time who want an enjoyable and effective means of cultivating their chi, relaxing, improving their balance, physical fitness and overall sense of well being we offer:

Cultivating Your Chi, Part 1
Cultivating Your Chi Part 2, Roots and Branches Chi Gong"

Second Pathway
For those who wish to begin learning the T'ai Chi sequence or “form” itself, we also offer:

Beginning Form, 1st Third
Fundamentals, 1st Third

Third Pathway
For students who want to learn more, we offer the following additional courses:

Beginning Form, 2nd and 3rd Third of the sequence
Fundamentals, 2nd Third and 3rd Third
Introduction to Sensing Hands
Intermediate Form
Sensing Hands 2
Sensing Hands 3
Intermediate Form Corrections
Time in the Art classes

Fourth Pathway
For those who wish to pursue this as a Path of Internal Development and Service to Humanity, we offer a full curriculum, including, in addition to the above:

Teaching Apprenticeships
Advanced Sensing Hands Study
Intro to, Beginning, Intermediate Sword Form
Sword Fencing

Meditative work has always been a component of T'ai Chi. Professor Cheng studied the Confucian and Taoist Classics extensively. Since we live in a different culture, and the verbal and written language is so different, following in his footsteps is impractical. While our school encourages each individual to pursue his or her own spiritual practice, many of the programs of meditation and self-realization developed by Oscar Ichazo are offered in conjunction as effective and complementary work for those committed to Tai Chi study for their own spiritual growth and service to the common good.

We look forward to providing, in cooperation with Arica Institute, the following Arica trainings. These weekend trainings are open to the public as well as to our students.

Arica Mentations" Training
Arica Domains of Consciousness" Training
Arica Autodiagnosis" Training
Arica Levels of Consciousness" Training
Arica Doors of Compensation" Training
Ongoing study/practice sessions for those who have taken one of the above.

For more information about T'ai Chi classes visit the T'ai Chi Foundation website at www.taichifoundation.org.

More complete course descriptions and information about Arica trainings is available online at www.arica.org.