Today I finally got around to taking a proper, full tai chi class with a true tai chi master, Melinda Applegate. I think she just calls herself Instructor, but titles come from students and I saw a master today. Here is her website.
The form
Flattery aside, in the Friday class — 10am, Belmar Taylor Pavilion — Melinda specifically teaches the Yang-style Tai Chi 24-Form, “24-Form” for short. If EmptySteppers are curious, here is the Yang-style Tai Chi 24-Form video Melinda was kind enough to share with me, so I could get off on the right foot.
I found several excellent 24-Form videos on YouTube, but they seem to vary just a bit at the refinement level. Go with Melinda’s recommended video to best fit in.
24-Form has mostly the same movements as Master Chen’s, but in a different sequence. It has more repetition, yet ends up shorter, maybe half the duration. Also, several movements such as Snake Creeps Down get executed to the right as well as to the left. Good versatility developing both sides!
[Follow-up note: I shared the first third of 24-Form with our class and at least one student loved it! She has been challenged by the many extra movements in CMC or 60 Movements and found 24-Form more approachable. This was one of the goals when 24-Form was created!]
Empty Steppers will be comfortable right away. Even better, I am learning the 24-Form now so I can keep up in Melinda’s class, so if you have questions for outside practice I may be able to help.
Fair warning: after just a few hours practice, my muscle memory for 60 Movements was fuzzy! But I carried on and it came back quickly.
The teacher
Melinda combines (1) her own precise flowing form for students to follow, with (2) precise, lucid instruction. I am learning the form at home and hope to have it in muscle memory in time for the next class, in two weeks.
The students
Next I need to talk about the bonus of Melinda’s qi gong instuction, but first I want to call out her community of students. Just wonderful. They made me feel at home right away, approaching me before class to offer encouragement and tips. During class, they followed Melinda well, so the class flowed smoothly. And it is a sizable group, so there is substantial energy in the air.
The qi gong
This is not just a tai chi class! Melinda starts a class with maybe a half hour of qi gong exercise, informed by her years of serious study of qi gong. This alone makes the class worth attending.
Melinda in Long Branch
More better Tai Chi! Melinda is starting a “Tai Chi Club” and launching it with a “Tai Chi By the Sea” summer program. Long Branch at 7am could be tough for me from Manasquan, but at my age I am up at 5am, so maybe… 🙂
Here’s her flyer:
And gracious!
I tried to sneak in for a peek because I did not want to be a disruption, but Melinda greeted me graciously, introduced me to the class, handed me the mike, and had me share a little about Empty Step!
Then at the end of the class she blew me away by asking me to demonstrate a few minutes of Master Chen’s 60 Movements! And I was going to be a fly on the wall! Too funny, and a tribute to Melinda and her students.
Summary
Melinda’s class is highly recommended to all, Empty Steppers or newcomers to tai chi chuan.
I have been studying with Melinda for eight-plus years. She is everything that Ken wrote and more.
She shares her extensive knowledge of and insights into Asian healing arts as she leads the classes. You will emerge from the experience with a happier spirit and a healthier body.
Come join in the flowing fun of practicing under Melinda’s guidance.