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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 both 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. 

You will begin to manifest Taiji Principles from the first day of training. The UCB Program does not waste your time. The process is simple, we overwhelm the ego to get to the body, then we exhaust the body to get to the mind. This approach helps the student to be able to capture the internal feel of  'no advancing and no backing off' - neutral.

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 brain based research.

Training emphasis cycles through 3 stages every six months. All student levels work the same material, refining over time.

  1. Tai Chi Foundations 8 Week Course. Emphasis on Curriculum, Tai Chi Philosophy, Concepts and Principles
  2. I Liq Chuan - 15 Basic Exercises and Formwork with emphasis on Jibengong (basics), Energies and Application
  3. I Liq Chuan - Spinning Hands with emphasis on 5 Elements of Application
Please see the 'videos' link at the top of the page for examples.

The UCB Program offers monthly intensive workshops and retreats. These intensive training opportunities will concern meditation, nei gung/daoyin (chi kung), formwork or any specific aspect of our curriculum. Their purpose is to help the practitioner to go deeper into the material. See the 'Upcoming Events' sidebar for details.

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

Classes, Study Groups & Workouts

Sifu Kelley Graham has developed the UnCarved Block Program to help students be more relaxed and at ease. The phrase ‘Return To The UnCarved Block’ comes from the Chan (Zen) idea of rediscovering your natural power and grace.

"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

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.

UCB Program - Fall 2102

Class Descriptions & Times 

 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

 

UCB Program
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

Neigong and Chi Kung For Health and Long Life
RSVP

[1st Thurs 6p - 7p]

Tai Chi Foundations For Kids & UCB Program for Kids Contact us for locations and times of the in-school Kids program.

ILC Sit and Spin
[Half day intensive]

Monthly sit and spin sessions help you discover and maintain mindfulness in everyday activities.

Please see the sidebar for training details, times and locations.

Seasonal Events
Periodically, UCB Program members get together to socialize. Please see the Upcoming events list on the sidebar for details.

Quarterly Intensives, Overnight Retreats & Workshops

Please see the Upcoming events list for more.

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

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

Private Instruction Individuals & Small Groups (4) - $150 per hour.

Distance Learning
We have a program for you! Please see the 'Distance Learning' menu item under classes.

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.

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. 

Manifest profound change in your life.

Flow To Change
[See sidebar for dates and times]

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. For those without access to the web a paper Waiver of Liability is available at the studio.

Other Training Opportunities

Worldwide I Liq Chuan International

 

The 'Internal' Is Not A Modern Intellectual Construction

Below is the commonly held idea is that the 'Internal' is a modern construct: 

"if you look at some of the old writings, internal and external as "schools" of martial arts didn't exist before Sun, Lu Tang and his contemporaries... It's a modern concept."

MP responds.

"First the concept of "Internal" and "External" arts is definitely NOT "modern" - The first distinction between external and internal martial arts comes from Huang Zongxi's 1669 Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan, and the principles that distinguish internal styles from the external were described at least as early as the 18th century by Chang Nai-chou.

Second, many people make much of the fact that Sun Lu-tang seems to be one of the first persons to have classified TCC, Hsing-I, and Ba-gua as the neijia, or "Internal Family" arts - as if the commonalities between these arts did not exist until he noted them in print; it's almost as if they are suggesting it was some sort of "intellectual construct" - an almost "artificial" classification.

My own feeling is that having learned his Hsing-I from Guo Yun-sheng, (better known as "Divine Crushing-Fist Guo), his Ba-gua from Cheng Ting-hua, Bagua-founder Dong Hai-chuan's #2 disciple, and his TCC from Wu/Hao-style founder Hao Wei-zhen, Sun Lu-tang was uniquely qualified to make this judgement about the deeper similarities between these three "Internal" arts. 

You don't get to train under masters like these without having reached a very high standard before they even accept you as a student - for example, Sun trained in Hsing-I with the accomplished master Li Kui-yuan before being accepted for further training by Guo Yun-sheng.

Having trained hard under such exacting task-masters such as Guo, Cheng, and Hao, Sun's understanding of these three arts came from a deep and VISCERAL physical comprehension of their inner workings; his classification of these three arts as "neijia" is definitely NOT just some mere intellectual construct.

Sun was also a very good fighter, not just a theorist - for example, when all of Chen Ting-hua's 12 top disciples had been defeated by a very big and tall Shaolin monk, and Chen was going to have to face the fierce monk himself, it was the much smaller Sun Lu-tang who stepped in and handily defeated the monk with one strike.

If people don't want to believe in the Internal-External divide, that's fine with me, I couldn't care less - but I do resent the implication that master Sun was just some effete intellectual who just conjured up the whole thing out of thin air.

In fact, he was very tough both physically and mentally - he went thru a type of severe physical training that would simply drop most modern "martial arts" practitioners in their tracks, and he did it to the exacting standards of some of the Best martial arts masters of his time."

beginnings of structural awareness

I am really starting to notice my structure a lot more, thanks to this training.  I focus on my knees a lot during class, since they used to bother me after training more than anything else.  I became aware, as it was brought to my attention in class, of how much the would swim around from side to side, so that's been the thing that I watch the most, no matter what we're actually training.  I find that I'm aware of my knee alignment most of the time now, even outside walking around, or at home sitting down.  There's a change in the was I do simple things like turn around or spin to face the other direction that I'm not consciously changing, but is different anyway just because i'm aware of my knee alignment.  I now feel my knees sometimes after training, but it's rarely sore, and never bad anymore.  I find the same thing with suspending my crown.  When I suspend my crown properly, the faces of people in front of me lie right in the blind spot created by the top of my glasses frames.  I have to drop my crown a bit to get their faces in focus, or tip down a bit to look over the top, and it's getting really annoying now, especially when driving.  I never noticed it before.  I have new glasses coming, and I can't wait to get them.  Structural awareness apparently needs some adjusting to. 

The 5 Elements

The

Five Elements (Wu Xing)

The Five Elements are Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. "Wu" means five and "Xing" means movement. The five elements are considered to be phases of a cycle of change.

Interrelationships of the Five Elements

There are many different relationships between the Five Elements and some common relationships are shown below.

The Generating Sequence (also known as Sheng cycle, generating cycle, creative cycle, nourishing cycle)

Each Element generates another and each Element is generated by one.

Eg: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water and Water generates Wood.

The Mother and Son relationship applies to the generating sequence. As an example this can be expressed as "Fire is the child of Wood and the mother of Earth."

The Controlling Sequence (also known as Ko cycle, controlling cycle, restraining cycle)

Each Element controls another Element and is controlled by one.

"Fire controls Metal, Earth controls Water, Metal controls Wood, Water controls Fire, Wood controls Earth".

Put another way, "Fire controls Metal but is controlled by Water".

The Overacting Sequence (also known as overacting cycle)

When the balance maintained in the generating sequence is disrupted this causes an Element to become excessive and "overcontrol" another Element.

The Insulting Sequence (also known as rebellious cycle, insulting cycle)

This sequence operates in reverse to the controlling sequence, in that when the balance is broken between two elements the Element usually being controlled will Insult the controlling Element.

"Fire insults Water, Water insults Earth, Earth insults Wood, Wood insults Metal, Metal insults Fire".
  Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Season Spring Summer Late Summer Autumn Winter
Direction East South Centre West North
Colour Green Red Yellow White Black
Taste Sour Bitter Sweet Pungent Salty
Yin Organ Liver Heart Spleen Lungs Kidney
Yang Organ Gall Bladder Small Intestine Stomach Colon Urinary Bladder
Sense Organ Eyes Tongue Mouth Nose Ears
Tissues Sinews Vessels Muscles Skin Bones
Sound Shuu Haa Whoo Tsss Fuu
Finger Index Middle Thumb Ring Pinky

5 Elements Cycle

 

For example: I Liq Chuan uses the five elements to metaphorically represent five different applications.

Element Movement Quality
Metal Splitting, Opening up and out
Water Supporting, Suck and Lift
Wood Piercing and Squeezing, Closing in
Fire Covering and Spreading, Closing down
Earth Center, Round and Pivoting

From various sources, mostly Wikipedia. Thanks Ashe Higgs for the diagram. The last is directly from Master Sam FS Chin.

Sifu Says: Awareness Of Yi, Qi, Li

Please note the 'How to do it' in the last paragraph. Enjoy! -kg

***begin post***
Last week in the Pleasant Valley class, Sifu [Sam F.S. Chin] expounded on the importance of maintaining awareness of the interdependence of Yi (mindfulness), Chi (internal energy) and Li (physical force expression). Sifu asked that this edition of 'Sifu Says' deal specifically with the interconnection among these three aspects of iliqchuan.

It is important to be aware of how Yi (awareness), Chi (internal energy) and Li (physical force expression) coordinate in the practice of iliqchuan. Iliqchuan, is not separate from the wholeness of being. Iliqchuan is an art of awareness. Awareness reveals the interdependence between the nature of mind, internal energy and physical result. These three aspects must coordinate without a gap in order for ones expression of iliqchuan to reach the higher levels. Naturally, when students can coordinate these three aspects of being without fault, the mind stays calm and the ability to remain dynamically balanced is enhanced, without effort or egotistical attachment.

On this point Sifu said, 'It is important to emphasize how to use awareness, in order to make sure the chi is correct. Having chi coordinated with awareness, you can be sure physical force is there. This is the meaning of Yi Tao, Chi Tao, Li Tao.'

Literally translated, 'Yi Tao, Chi Tao, Li Tao' means 'mind way, energy way and physical force way'. Mind-way, coordinated with Energy-way, coordinating with Physical force expression results in what may be observed as technique.

In the same class Sifu added more wisdom to his explanation of 'Yi Tao, Chi Tao, Li Tao'. Specifically, Sifu said, 'you must know how to recognize the mind. Recognizing the nature of mind is to recognize cause and consequence. Cause and consequence are sequential, and impact everything. Because iliqchuan understands the interplay of mindfulness with expression, only students of iliqchuan can understand iliqchuan'.

For example, when people try to put iliqchuan into the conceptual 'package' of another art, conceptual limitations come into play, creating a conflict of comprehension. The conflict of comprehension is based on past habits and judgment. Habit and judgment prevent mindfulness. Consequently, since iliqchuan deals with the nature of mindfulness fundamentally, the presence of conceptual conflict blocks the mind from resting on mind and thus hinders full potential and natural response without effort.

Sometimes it may seem difficult to recognize and realize the nature of mind directly. Fortunately, owing to the interdependence of things, it is possible to use the body to support mindfulness. Specifically related to the effective coordination of Yi Tao, Chi Tao and Li Tao, Sifu recommended the following postural considerations.

'Simultaneously balance the dan-tien and ming-men. Work on these two things, work on them together, then the body will be available to recognizing and realizing the coordination of Yi, Chi and Li.'
After such a wonderful teaching, Im sure I speak for all students in saying, 'Thank You Sifu'.
***end post***

What Is Chi?

 

On Jul 7, 2011, at 11:54 AM, tclist@hawrysch.com wrote:



[ brian santor: ] Because i don't know what chi is, i act as though it doesn't exist,

[George] Excellent strategy, Brian. In our world and for our purposes it does not.


Unfortunately, in the world of the people who invented TCC, and who still hold the keys to the deepest of the "inner gates", chi is is still a very important concept.

Let's get the basics out of the way first: The Chinese invented TCC, it's their stuff, and in their minds, a bunch of 'white guys' don't even get to vote on whether chi is a valid concept or not.

But it IS just another 'vitalistic' concept, a construct, a convention  -  so the question of whether it 'actually' exists or not is not really productive; it's just a type of intellectual recreation, like some people babble on about ufo's, or the sacred cows of their own particular religion, etc., etc.

The name of the game is to experientially discover what the Chinese TCC masters mean by 'chi', and arriving at a place where you can use this concept as adeptly as the best of these masters can  -  this is what constitutes a 'win' on your part.

Anything else is in a very special category of human activity called "wasting your time".

[Brian] yet somethings are easier to describe as energy.

[George] though I don't have a full explanation of
what chi might be, I assure you that chi is absolutely NOT "energy."


It doesn't matter what you call it  -  call it "spaghetti", call it "Murgatroid", call it "blitzfunkenhammer"  -  what does matter is whether or not you can arrive at a functional knowledge of it's use.

Following the original model of the Chinese masters who invented TCC, which itself has already been called by several different names, is the easiest and most straight-forward pathway to getting yourself there.

It's actually as simple as that, period.

Workshops and Intensives

Sifu KelleyILC LogoUCB Logo

The Importance of One - The Traditional Method, Learning and Modern Brain Research

 

number1

"I will give one corner, but students must complete the square on their own."

This idea is at the core of the traditional method... What does it mean?

It is just something to think about? I invite discussion below.

Family Kung Fu and Meditation

Rocks

Instruction designed for the whole family. All ages.

  • Authentic Kung Fu and Meditation for the whole family
  • Online classes are availale anytime.
  • Tuition is $30 per family per month.

Call 770-1200 for more information.


Setup Automatic Payments




Flow to Engage - Engage to Flow

A brief introduction to I Liq Chuan's 'Flow' and its relationship to 'Engagement'. We 'flow' to harmonize. This is week 4 of the Tai Chi Foundations 8 Week Course

Engage to Harmonize and Control

Week 5 of the 8 week course - we finish the overview of the 'Three Points of Engagement'.

Can Tai Chi Chuan Be Considered A Martial Art?

On Aug 21, 2010, at 6:13 AM, CJ Rhoads wrote:

Which brings up a question I’d like to ask the list; should Taijiquan (T’ai Chi Ch’uan) really be considered a fighting art?

 

Michael Phillips:

C J, et al  -  I think the answer to this question has several subdivisions, such as :

1) Was taijichuan originally created to be an extremely effective martial art?

Given the content of all the written material that has come down to us  -  such as Chen Hsin's book, Wang Tsu-yueh's treatise, Wu Yu-Xiang's "Eight Body Methods", Li I-Yu's "Song's of the Postures", the "Forty Chapters" transmitted thru the Yang and Wu families, the "Sparring Hand Essentials" and the "5-Character Formula" by Li I-Yu, Wu Yu-Xiang's "Four-Character Secret", etc., etc.  -  since ALL these traditional texts speak of an "opponent" and methods for countering this "opponent", it seems obvious that the movement-process that we today call TCC was originally created to serve a "martial" purpose.

2) Is TCC currently still mainly taught and practiced as a martial or fighting art?

I think the answer to this question is, not really  -  or at least not by many TCC practitioners.

This "not really" answer has two further subdivisions:

1) There are those who incorporate combat methods that are not within the traditions of TCC or do not follow TCC principles into their practice and yet still mistakenly claim that these methods fall under the heading of "TCC".

2) The great majority of modern TCC practitioners are focused on a kind of taiji "movement-arts" based practice   -  they learn a form, and maybe some do a kind of stylized "push-hands" practice that follows set patterns and which has no more martial energy than dancing the minuet  -  and that's just fine, since that's all they signed up for  -  it's exactly what they want out of their "TCC" practice.

3) Is there any real value to this modern, more "health" oriented version of TCC?

My experience is that there is great value to being engaged in a movement-art of some kind, especially as one grows older  -  but for general health purposes, almost any movement-art will do, from "TCC" to country swing-dancing.

To orient oneself in space and time while maintaining a certain "pacing" and "rhythm" involves whole-body integration, memory, moment-to-moment adjustments in timing and balance, etc., etc.  -  all very good things...

And of course, the closer they adhere to the original TCC body-integration requirements, the greater and more rewarding the benefits of their practice become.

I've seen many out-of-shape older students begin with Qigong classes and strengthen their bodies enough to begin basic form practice, and then gradually move on to incorporate more and more of the deeper and more "internal" aspects of TCC into their practice.

As my best teacher frequently used to say, "It's not where you begin, but where you end up that matters."

4) As for the "gateway" to the more martial aspects of TCC, my view on this is probably well-known to everyone on this list:

The traditional TCC "family" forms that have been handed down to us today were all created by people who had some chi in their bellies, and the deeper meaning and function of these forms cannot be comprehended by someone else unless they ALSO have some chi in their bellies  -  these forms can only really be understood by people who have also succeeded in "Sinking the Chi"  -  period.

If someone wants to understand such things as: how relaxation creates power, how and why "The waist is the Commander", what "Peng" energy really is, and how the integration of relaxation, peng, and the waist as commander "generates" the Six Harmonies, you've got to have some chi in your belly  -  none of these things will ever reveal themselves to anyone who has not achieved this basic requirement of "Sinking the Chi".

Without STC it is not even possible to "enter the door" to authentic TCC as it was traditionally practiced, or "internal" movement of any other kind.

Mantis Shrimp - Fastest Animal - Feeding Strike

You may find this video interesting. Springs, Latches, Saddles and Hydrodynamics are all there.

KOLD Live Self Defense Salvation Army

Every year Tom Elias and The Kung Fu Studio run mini Self Defense workshops for the women at the Salvation Army. I ran an introductory standing meditation and KOLD Channel 13 did a Live piece on this issue. Thanks to all who attended and those students who helped out.

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Kalama Sutta (Kalama Sutra)

Do not simply believe what you hear just because you have heard it for a long time.
Do no follow tradition blindly merely because it has been practiced that way for many generations.
Do not be quick to listen to rumors.
Do not confirm anything just because it agrees with your scriptures.
Do not foolishly make assumptions.
Do not abruptly draw conclusions by what you see and hear.
Do not be fooled by outward appearances.
Do not hold on tightly to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.
Do not accept as fact anything that you yourself find to be illogical.
Do not be convinced of anything out of respect and deference to your spiritual teachers.

You should go beyond opinion and belief. You can rightly reject anything which when accepted, practiced and perfected leads to more aversion, more craving and more delusion. They are not beneficial and are to be avoided. Conversely, you can rightly accept anything which when accepted and practiced leads to unconditional love, contentment and wisdom. These things allow you time and space to develop a happy and peaceful mind. This should be your criteria on what is and what is not the truth; on what should be and what should not be the spiritual practice.

-The Buddha

wikipedia entry

Lotus


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