Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts Blog

Hands-On Instruction at a Chen Taijiquan Workshop with Nabil Ranne

chen taiji gongfu nabil ranne taiji workshops May 19, 2022

I spent four days this past week studying Chen Taiji with Nabil Ranné in Philadelphia. The workshop was hosted by Ryan Craig of Philly Chen Taiji.

Nabil came to the U.S. from Berlin for the workshop. I have been studying in his online classes for almost two years, so it was a pleasure to finally meet him in person. He is friendly and humble; one of those people you instantly like.

During the past two years, Covid virtually destroyed the ability to hold workshops. Just getting together with a group of taiji folks was reason enough to celebrate.

I have attended many martial arts workshops during the past 35 years. Depending on who is hosting the event, you can either feel a spirit of camaraderie or it can feel like people gather in cliques.

In Philly, there was a lot of laughter. Nabil brings a sense of humor to his classes and Ryan joined in. That's all I needed -- to be serious about the art but to have fun training. Those are ideal conditions for me.

We trained four hours a da...

Chen Huixian - A Tai Chi Jewel Living and Teaching in the United States

chem family taijiquan chen huixian tai chi workshops taiji workshops Aug 29, 2018

If you have been reading this blog since I began writing it in 2006, you know that I do not put teachers on pedestals. Okay, at least I try not to.

I look at martial arts masters as people, not gods. I do not worship them. I do not want them to be a parental figure. All I want to do is learn from them and support their efforts.

And so I hope it means something to you when I tell you there is a jewel of Taijiquan that is shining here in the United States. For most of the people who have studied Chen Taiji in America, it is an undiscovered jewel.

This past weekend, I attended another workshop by Chen Huixian, who lives and teaches with her husband Michael Chritton in Overland Park, Kansas, which is part of the greater Kansas City area. Michael met her when he was training in the Chen Village under Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. They eventually married and she moved with Michael back to Overland Park.

How lucky that was for Michael. And how lucky it was for us.

Michael was the very first...

Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Hands-On Instruction at a Chen Taijiquan Workshop with Nabil Ranne

Chen Huixian - A Tai Chi Jewel Living and Teaching in the United States

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