My Martial Arts Journey - I began studying Taiji (Tai Chi) in 1989 with SiFu Robert Allender in Tucson Az. From him I learned the Yang shi (style) long form that he learned from his teachers, Dong (Tung) Hu Ling and his son Dong (Tung) Kai Ying. I learned from Sifu Allender the Yang style gim and dao forms as well as some fundamental principles and theories of Taiji. He also taught some very fundamental aspects of Bagua, Xing Yi Quan, and Chigung. In 1993 I began studying Wing Chun Gung Fu with SiFu Augustine Fong in Tucson AZ. I continued my Taiji studies with him at that time. From SiFu Fong I learned Cheng Man Ching's Yang short form that he learned from his brother-in-law who is a student of Ben Lo in San Francisco. I also learned the saber and gim (jian) forms, push hands (tuishou), many developmental drills, and deeper principles and theories of Taiji. Sifu Fong's extensive background in self defense training through Wing Chun gave him many insights into the martial side of Taijiquan.
In the early 2000's I was making great strides in my Wing Chun development and I realized that in order to keep my progress increasing to higher levels, I needed to completely devote my time, energy, and focus on Wing Chun. So I put my Taiji on the back burner for a while knowing I would eventually be able to cast my attention back to Taiji when the time was right. I didn't drop my Taiji off completely, I continued to practice my Dong/Tung family forms intermittently so that I would eventually be able to continue where left off, but my focus for the foreseeable future was on developing Wing Chun to the best of my ability. I realized at that time that in order to reach a high level at any one martial art, you must completely devote yourself to that art. With the time, focus, and complete dedication required to reach a high level in any one system, it is not possible to split yourself between two systems at the same time and reach a high level of understanding and proficiency of either of them. So it had to be one at a time.
In 2005 I was certified as a disciple of Augustine Fong to teach Wing Chun. I continue to study and help teach Wing Chun at his school and I also teach Wing Chun with my husband Jim Dees at our school, Southern Arizona Wing Chun.
A number of years ago I felt it was time to return in earnest to my Taiji training and I felt that having accomplished an advanced level of Wing Chun development, that I could now compartmentalize the two systems and add Taiji more fully back into my training regimen. The timing had to be just right for this, and it was. I returned to my Taiji roots and focused on the Dong/Tung family long forms but with a more martial intent than I had practiced originally. I've taught Yang Taiji on and off over the years and in 2016 I started offering ongoing classes (Southern Arizona Taijiquan Gung Fu).
My goal and focus of my Taiji practice is to study it as a martial art and method of self defense. To me it is the martial applications that inform the form itself and guide the way I move. In my opinion, there are also very specific body mechanics which must be adhered to in order to be able to execute the movements in the form with martial applicability. There are applications hidden everywhere if you move within the form with a martial intent. Practicing these various movements and techniques with training partners is also vitally important in order to fully digest the principles of Taijiquan. I have written quite a few articles covering basic outlines of my personal interpretation and digestion of the Taiji principles based on my experience to date. They are on the "Articles" page of this website and my SO AZ Taiji Facebook page.
In regards to “traditional” Yang Family Taijiquan... I practice my digestion and interpretation of Yang style taiji, as does everyone who practices Taiji. It is not possible to be a clone of anyone. The debate regarding what is and what isn't traditional is a deep rabbit hole depending on how far back you choose to believe the original “tradition” begins. I don't believe there is a true definitive answer to that question, only opinions which vary greatly.
The way I do the form today is different (more refined) from the way I did the form when I first learned it in 1989. If I am fortunate enough to live another 30 years (I will be in my 80's then so it is possible :) I hope that my form will be even more refined. As I learn and grow and develop the principles that are contained within the movements of Taiji, I will discover and digest Taiji to deeper and deeper levels. To me this is a never ending process. In my opinion a person can not “master” the form and then do it exactly the same for ever more. The form changes and develops as the practitioner changes and develops, and it's not just the form that informs my growth and development, but also Tuishou and other partner drills that must be practiced in order to truly understand and digest all that is contained within the forms.
I expect there to be individuals who will have points of view that differ from my own. Our mindset while training will dictate what we are able to see and feel. This will be different for everyone. Not everyone's mindset and goals in their Taijiquan practice are the same. To me this is a good thing. If we were all the same there would be no opportunity to learn from each other.
Development and refinement of skills should never end. I believe that a student must follow and copy their teacher/s as closely as possible for many many years to develop a good, strong, and solid foundation that conforms to and ingrains the principles of the system. Developing your own expression over time must be based on decades of foundation training.