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Taiji & Bede Bidlack What is T’ai Chi? Taijiquan, more commonly known as t’ai chi, is a martial art from the north of China. It is an internal martial art, which means that its power comes from internal energy known as qi (pronounced “chee”) and from the natural tenacity of the body’s bones, sinews and muscles. Taijiquan is also a means for personal growth and transformation. To describe it in more familiar terms: if yoga were a martial art, it would be taijiquan. Benefits Taiji benefits the practitioner physically by increasing one’s balance, muscle tone, flexibility and blood circulation with all of the health benefits that go along with these attributes. The Chinese have been practicing it for centuries for its benefit of longevity. As a martial art, taiji instills in the practitioner self-confidence and calmness in confrontations and conflicts ranging from the potential assailant to public speaking. Increased Flexibility and Strength Increased Muscle Tone Increased Circulation Increased Energy Increased Confidence Increased courage due to a tried and true method of defense Decreases Blood Pressure Improved Digestion and Respiration Easier Pregnancy, Child Birth and Menopause, and much, much, more What to expect from a class Typically students begin studying the Michuan form (Yang Family Hidden Tradition), which takes about 10 minutes to perform. Initially, the student will hold postures to develop a root, which can be thought of as leg strength of a sort, then, as each posture is learned, they are performed together in motion. While holding, the instructor will “mold” the postures of the practitioner to get him/her into a more correct position. During this process, one is building one’s qi, as well as learning the subtleties of this form as martial, as art and as a philosophy for self-improvement. It is stimulating for body, mind and spirit. After learning the solo form, students can learn advanced forms, two person exercises like push hands, free sparring, or weapons training (sword and spear). The potential for growth is endless. Private classes are offered for everyone, as are Taoist meditation classes for those students who demonstrate straight-heartedness and discipline. The Director: The director of SMTC, Bede Bidlack, brings his unique experience of these arts to the service of the people of Ardmore, PA and Somerville/Cambridge MA. He began studying Yang family taijiquan and sword under his teacher, Scott M. Rodell of Great River Taoist Center (www.grtc.org) in Washington, DC, in 1993. He has since worked with his grand teacher, Master Wang Yen-nien, as well as notables, Master George Hu and Master Benjamin Lo. He won the Gold Medal in the Regional Wu Shu Tournament in New York and the Bronze Medal in the National Tournament in Baltimore in 1995. Bede began studying Taoist meditation in 1995. He became one of only three Americans of the Seventh Generation of Jinshan Pai Taoists when he was inducted into Jinshan in February of 2000. He has learned much about the contemplative life through his years as a Benedictine monk of St. Anselm’s Abbey from 1997-2001. While a monk, he did graduate work in the Catholic University of America’s Department of Theology. He also taught in the monastery’s high school, conducted numerous retreats both for groups and individuals, and offered spiritual direction to those who sought it. Bede earned his Master of Arts degree in Chinese Religions from Boston University in 2005, and is currently working on his Ph.D. at Boston College. His current areas of study include Christian and Daoist conceptions of the body, and comparative theology. Bede earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College. He lives in Somerville, MA with his wife, Felicitas.
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