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The UnCarved Block Program

"A block of wood that is not yet carved has no set form, it is thus infinite in potential."

The UCB Program makes you more natural and comfortable... To 'Return To The UnCarved Block'.
Our passion and committment is to help you 'Rediscover Natural Power & Grace'.

Health, fitness, and martial skills are effects of practice and not ends in themselves. We cultivate awareness as the cause. Enjoy!

How We Train

The UCB Program consists of solo and partner exercises that develop your awareness & concentration. If you have the awareness, you can get the feel for a movement. If you have the feel and can concentrate, you can become more natural. Martial skill grows from this awareness. This practice can affect permanent change in one's condition. Our curriculum is based on Taiji (Tai Chi) Principles, drawing from Taoist & Chan (Zen) Buddhist techniques. Practice includes:

Taiji principles applied to movement include awareness of the relationship of Yin & Yang energies within the body, profound relaxation, integrated whole body power coupled with a supple ability to change. These principles, when cultivated over time, result in improved performance and remarkably integrated core strength. Please see the 'videos' link at the top of the page for examples.

The UCB Program is a complete integrative system, practice ranges from gentle non-confrontational qigong & formwork to deep stretching and vigorous partner training. The Health, Fitness and Martial aspects of the system are complimentary and interest in health does not require that you pursue the martial. Teaching style is traditional, tempered by the latest learning orientations research.

Please use the contact link or call for questions or more information.

Classes, Study Groups & Workouts

About Sifu Kelley Graham

"I think you'll be impressed with what he (Kelley) can do - in thirty long years of teaching, he is far and away my best student, the only one to whom I've been able to pass on EVERYTHING I know." - Michael Phillips

Kelley Butterfly Palm

All classes run by Kelley Graham. Sifu Graham has developed the UnCarved Block Program to help others be more relaxed and comfortable. The phrase ‘Return To The UnCarved Block’ comes from the Chan (Zen) idea of rediscovering your natural power and grace.

The UCB Program is a complete integrative system, practice ranges from gentle non-confrontational qigong & formwork to deep stretching and vigorous partner training. The Health, Fitness and Martial aspects of the system are complimentary and interest in health does not require that you pursue the martial.

Location & Times

The Kung Fu Studio

We train at The Kung Fu Studio - 3148 E. Ft Lowell in Winterhaven Square. Look to the South East corner of the intersection of Ft. Lowell & Country Club.

 

Dhamma Wheel

 

Internal Kung Fu
[Tues & Thurs 7p - 9:30p]
[Sun 9a - 12p]

Intensive, immersive instruction in I-liq Chuan, Tai Chi Chuan and Standing Meditation.

  • QiGong (Chi Kung)
  • Stretching & Walking drills
  • Nei Gong
  • Zhan Zhuang
  • Formwork
  • Applications
  • Spinning Hands
  • Sticky Hands

ILC Training & Family Picnic in Casa Grande
[11:00a - 4:00p]

Periodically, Arizona I-Liq Chuan Practitioners and their Families get together at our seasonal picnic. It's in Casa Grande because Casa Grande is halfway between our Phoenix & Tucson Study groups. No cost. Please see the Upcoming events list on the right for details.
Link to Dave White Regional Park 

Quarterly Intensives, Overnight Retreats & Workshops
[Seasonally - One or Two day Intensives]

Please see the Upcoming events list for more.

Corporate Intensives Contact us to set up a workshop for your organization.

UCB for Kids Contact us for details and times of the UCB Kids program

UCB for Seniors This program is for Seniors. Contact us to organize a group session. more

Intro to Tai Chi for Health, Meditation & Self Defense
[See sidebar for dates and times]

These free introductory workshops show you how to build concentration and mindfulness. Get a good workout without overheating or putting more wear and tear on your joints. Breath & Movement drills are used to recognize the natural harmony between mind & body. Learn how to build a Tai Chi Body to transform your mind and manifest profound change in your life.

Tai Chi Foundations - 8 Week Course
[See sidebar for start dates and times]

Start building a Tai Chi Body.

Learn Tai Chi Philosophy, Concepts and Principles of Internal Kung Fu. Apply these ideas using the breath, stretching, solo and partner training. Transform your body to transform your mind.

Intensive Intro To Internal Kung Fu.
[See sidebar for dates and times]

This Challenging Half Day Workshop is for those curious about Traditional Internal Kung Fu training who have previous experience in martial arts.

Participants will get an intense workout and learn explicit techniques to build up their concentration and mental focus. MMA, Kickboxers and other hard stylists will find that this training helps them cultivate 'Flow' and softness in their practice while still safely dealing with real world force and power.

Speed comes from relaxation and 'Flow' can help maintain relaxation under all conditions.

Training focuses on bringing awareness and power to the Point of Contact in order to control the Center of Mass to unbalance the opponent.

more

What People Are Saying...


Melissa
“ I came into the class with a sore, stiff knee from a long hike over the weekend. I was hesitant to do that squat at the end of class but it completely cured my knee. No pain now at all. I would really like to continue this. Thanks! ”


 
“ My back has been sore for weeks and after the class I had a few hours with very little pain. I plan on continuing the training. Thanks for a great class Kelley. ”
 

Lynn 
 “ Kelley is an excellent instructor. The event was informative and fun. ”

“ Thank you, Kelley! I had a great time... been curious about Tai Chi for a while and found it delightfully enlightening... ”

“ What a great work out! I have back and knee problems. I'm so glad to have been introduced to Tai Chi. ”


Scott Brenkert “ Enlightening, I didn't realize there was so much to it. What a great teacher! ”

More kudos

All are welcome from any discipline. Those who are new, please contact Kelley Graham using the contact form above or call 520-770-1200. If you want to train you must create an account on this website and agree to the Physical Waiver of Liability.

Other Training Opportunities

Phoenix Please contact Certified I Liq Chuan Instructor Ashe Higgs at Falling Leaves Kung Fu
Worldwide I Liq Chuan International

 

2010 Winter NY Intensive

This year the 4 Day Intensive was great! Ashe and I met new students and reconnected with old. Training was great and we got to visit the Monestery where sifu first shared his familiy art.

On Chinese New Year I completed the Discipleship ceremony and am now a formally adopted member of the I Liq Chuan Family.

Sifu and New Disciple Kelley Touch Hands

My ILC Family

For more please see this post on the Official I Liq Chuan International site.

Media

Enjoy our collection of media resources to assist your understanding.

Grading

Grading has written, oral and performance components. Each grade results in specific gains in concentration and physical skill.

The UCB Kids Program follows the Internal Kung Fu grading and curriculum under the I-Liq Chuan system.

Remember, Tai Chi Foundations for Kids is a prerequisite for training under the UCB Kids Program. Upon completion of the Tai Chi Foundations curriculum, the student is eligible for continued intensive training in the UnCarved Block Program.

Pruning & Plasticity - Learning, Time & Intensity Change Brain Structure

Thursday, December 10, 2009
By Mark Roth, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Scientists used to think that the structure of the human brain didn't change much after infancy.

But in the past 20 years, there has been an explosion of studies showing just how adaptable and malleable the human brain is, and one of the most intriguing was published today by Carnegie Mellon University scientists.

Writing in the journal Neuron, brain researchers Marcel Just and Timothy Keller said that after just six months of intensive remedial reading instruction, children who had been poor readers were not only able to improve their skills, but grew new white-matter connections in their brains.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09344/1019898-115.stm#ixzz0a0AyOIEo

Sifu Says: Master Sam F.S. Chin on I Liq Chuan

 

I-Liq Chuan International Please enjoy these discussions on The Martial Art of Awareness from I Liq Chuan Co-Founder Master Sam F.S. Chin. More at the I Liq Chuan International website. http://iliqchuan.com

Sifu Says: The 4 Topics

  1. Attention
  2. Readiness
  3. Change with Change
  4. Uncertainties

Student needs to be aware at all times, and have the quality of readiness to change with the change and be able to face uncertainties.  There should be no surprises since you are always aware.  Aware of the awareness...

Excerpt from a conversation on the 4 topics from the I-Liqchuan Forum. The following interview is conducted by Yen Lee Chin, Master Sam's daughter.

Sam: "Readiness has the skill of non attachment.  Try to finish things as much as possible, completing tasks. By finishing tasks completely, this will help you train your readiness.

This is about completness, a feeling of being finished and ready for something else... if I am not finished than I am not ready.  Every moment must have a quality of completness, then every new moment can have the freedom to begin a new task.  This is the same idea as being present.  If you are not finished with something that means you are thinking about something that is either already gone or has not yet happend.  It is also the skill of dropping the mental attachment and balancing of the physical and mental state at any moment."

You will never be able to finish anything unless you drop everything, if you don't understand that than you are not yet ready... you are not doing ILC.  I Dao, Chi Dao, Liq Dao!"

Me: "So, how do your students know how/what to finish? And not only do they finish, they finish it correctly?"

Sam: "This is skill level.  If i'm ready, I'm there... i'm more there now, so I can respond more easier.   Then I can change with change... If i'm there. Not only mentally, physically too.  If mentally, you know, but you cannot respond... what's the point?

So, everythig must have balance and harmony.  The readines must be there.  That's why ILC do not emphasize on being fast or slow, it's about the timing.  You can't beat me when I'm there.  No matter how fast you are, you're not as fast as I am.  How could you be faster than I am if I'm ready and I'm already there.  In other words, you first need to be aware in order to be there and ready."

Then we went on talking about being more specific with the topic "uncertainty".  My father refused because he explained that the topic "uncertainty" is very broad.  He does not want to bracket and freeze it in a way that it only means a certain way. 

I asked how will the students know to look deeper than what it seems.  His response was that it depends on their realization power... that's what their level is.  When your level is higher, your realization power should be higher.

Hope this helps.

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Kelley Graham
Kelley Graham



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