White Crane Tai Chi: 32 count form

White Crane Tai Chi is a gentle art imparting many benefits of wellness, balance, peace, and inner strength to practitioners of all ages.  Grandmaster Chuck Blackburn guides students in this historical film through the basic movements and then combines them to give you the complete form as taught within his 55 year martial arts career. 

The class begins with a wonderful discussion on the 'why' of training this ancient art and 'who' it's for.  Spencer also shares some of his history learning with Grandmaster Blackburn and how his own training was shaped by Blackburn; Spencer's first teacher beginning in 1992.

Students of all ages and ability can learn and enjoy this style.  It is appropriate for diverse students including adaptive ability, seniors, beginners and experts, even those with limited mobility or those healing with physical pain or trauma.

While some styles of Tai Chi claim self defense elements, White Crane as presented here is a wonderful way to balance the body and mind, and rejuvenate our spirit especially when conducted in nature or outdoors.  It is a balancing soft art for people who have studied rigid, hard, or combative styles and are looking to round out their whole being. 

Chuck Blackburn was a legendary teacher of martial arts, earning his Tang Soo Do black belt in the 1960's under the same instructor who taught Chuck Norris.  As he aged, Chuck explored mind body connections and was a forward thinker in applying psychology, spiritual study, as well as survival and preparedness to his teaching.  He retired near Asheville North Carolina where he also taught public speaking and other classes at a local community college.  His legacy lives on in some form through teachers in Florida and Western North Carolina.  He passed away in 2013.  Riverside martial arts in Canton, NC, continues to honor his vision and strict adherence to excellence in training and in life. 

Blackburn was a sentinel for justice, and always found ways to reach out to others and bring a diverse array of people to Learn, to Grow, and to Share.