Looking for the best tai chi in Chicago? The Chinese Gong Fu Institute at Western and Wilson may just be it! Choosing a tai chi teacher is tricky. To reap the many benefits of the art, one needs to learn it correctly. But students don’t know enough to evaluate the skill level of instructors, so what’s the answer? For me, it was to find the most experienced, credentialed tai chi teacher I could find – Grandmaster Zhang of the Chinese Gong Fu Institute. Grandmaster Zhang is the real deal. Trained in China under elite and rigorous martial artists, he brings a technical insight and wisdom to his teaching that ensures his students will receive the proven rewards – strength, health, flexibility, and peace of mind – of tai chi practice, rather than waste their time doing it wrong. Anyone can wave their hands around in a slow motion dance, but tai chi is so much more than that! For example, after just 12 classes with Master Zhang, my balance and posture have improved tremendously and I am amazed at how this has reduced my daily stress level. I feel more«grounded» going about my daily life, with the result of less anxiety and more confidence. For those with flexible schedules, the weekday morning classes avoid rush hour and are great, but there are evening and Saturday classes, too. In addition to tai chi, classes in fighting-style kung fu(/gong fu) are also offered. Master Zhang(pronounced«jong,» rhymes with«long») teaches all of his classes personally with a section of each class devoted to working individually with students. The other students are a friendly, helpful bunch, and his top student – a woman named Molly – is positively inspiring to watch! After 20 years of studying tai chi with Master Zhang, she is the embodiment of strength, flexibility and grace. Another thing I love: sometimes, during warm up or while we’re doing the forms, Master Zhang will sit down and play the zither, a horizontal string instrument that I had previously only seen played by zen masters in martial arts movies. It is quite beautiful. We are very lucky to have Master Zhang here in Chicago, as tai chi teachers with his training, lineage, and artistry are becoming increasingly rare. Learn with him now, while you still can. Someday he’ll retire and you’ll have missed your chance!
Christopher Z.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Chicago, IL
If you want to study Kung Fu directly from a 8th Dahn Chinese Master then go to CGFI. Master Zhang offers classes in TaiJi, Wushu and External martial arts. Zhang has plenty of credentials in Kung Fu and Tai Ji– its rare to study directly from the master so If your into Kung Fu then you should go train here!