A few of us from the Lake Tahoe area and from the Mendocino coast (Bear Roberts, Frank Broadhead, Sam Edwards, Jason Young, and Daniel Hall) travelled in the beginning of October to Estes Park, Colo. for 'Uncle' Willem de Thouars 1998 'Family Gathering.'

I think that in particular this year of the third 'gathering' fulfilled the operative word: family. This year all the individual seminars were taught by senior students (all of whom have their own schools and have almost without exception been with Willem for over 20 years), instead of by invited guest instructors.

The only exception to this was Don Miller's tai chi seminar (with Matt Cohen as helper extrodinaire) but then they are more recently adopted sons. Don proved the nearly miraculous recuperative effects of breath controlled Chi Kung (just as Wayne Welsh did with pa kua), especially in an arena where there was such an extreme expenditure of energy.

I think that was one of the apparrent qualities of this gathering: the amazing receptivity and openess to other arts, particularly the Chinese internal, with a tad of Uncle's spice.

And we who Uncle has given the courage to alter our mother arts in accordance with his practical "principalities" of energy and application, found this modification has made us effective enough to be comfortable with the advanced combative work that he offers. (Even if Frank and I did end up sucking air after the 3 a.m. hopping horse stance drill complete with ground strikes -- repeatedly down the length of a football-size gym.)

Don has gone so far as to modify his Chen Man Cheng Tai Chi to "Monkey Tai Chi," and, while still slow, has the acceleration of monkey energy. For my part I only do Willem's small circle mirror palms Pa Kua now.

With the gathering of high level players from all over the world to Estes Park, it was possible to assess your training level!

It was also possible to really ring it up in two person work (entrances) and off court sparring -- edging up on the reality and impact because of the highly-trained bodies, nice minds and common love for Uncle Bill.

There were a number of specific ideas that we in our individual ways brought home to study. For my part, from Wayne Welsh's pa kua sem inar -- again with energy of monkey -- made me aware of the flailing relaxed strikes of Willem's mantis (as well as monkey).

Doing Chuck Stahmann and Randall Goodwin's shi sau drills with pa kua's constant changing (traditional single palm change or Uncle's mirror palms) it was apparent how effective it was in warding off real straight ahead power. Yet you could still remain true to the exercise's rule of maintaining touch.

With constant turning to avoid power, the tendency to muscle it out and foreshorten the drill can be avoided and therefore is fantastic internal speed work

Just as sustained push hands work can promote rootedness (power) and conservation of energy so can Ro-Shou (pa kua's description of chi-sau) teach speed and conservation of energy. This is something I for one need to work with. At a change of pace to tai chi tempo it is a wonderful two-person chi kung.

From Phillip Sailas, I as a very reluctant grappler nevertheless brought home the idea of sustained cooperative locking and counterlocking; throws and counter-throws so that Phillip's high speed and unlikely counters might at least rub off in slow motion work. The slower tempo lending these to having internal affect.

At George Morrin's 'station' I realized that for those of us who will not in this life time get his encyclopedic understanding of the body's 'line' of structure (and how to break it down) -- then , the judicious use of Tai Chi's 'popping' energy to break stance might substitute. We're presently investigating this in the Sierras. Thanks George.

And Chuck's incredible and joyeous speed and power was an inpiration. And he has assimilated Willem's non-doctrainareness -- if it works and it's spontaneous, it's good. Thanks Chuck and Randall.

To some of us, one of the thrills of being there was what happened off court. It was amazing to be able to train intensely and combatively with people with nice minds. It was hard to believe we could get so far out there with such a sense of fun. To notice just a few such players, thanks Luiz Pena, Ted Garcia, Joseph Bronson, Steve Todd, Billy White, George Kelokos, and many more.

How Many Knives is Enough? Willem's special guest was Chris Syak, master of knife and escrima who displayed the most uncanny kniife work that experienced people -- I wouldn't know! -- tell me they have ever seen. I was able to take home only the more simple fundamentals.

One was carry more than one projectile so that you never need to resist a disarming attempt. He demonstrated the power of his 'flick' sending a swarm of chopsticks at Don Miller so that they individually whistled (from 50 feet!).

The other fundamental was a two person cooperative knife attack drill, instigating and parrying repeated cuts and slashes from the inside of the attack with the outside of the opposite arm (the bony side) to prevent the follow through cut.

Among the other gifts of this gathering was Willem inspiring us to have a form -- for its expression as well as its unique and traditional conditioning qualities -- that we make our own. Those who have already done so will be on the video Roger Brockman made of the entire event -- with professional lighting no less!

That Saturday night Willem picked from among his family -- those not hiding in the restrooms -- to show off their forms. To my amazement all were able to perform with composure.

Matt did astounding monkey energy free play. Joseph Bronson and Conrad Bui did truly athletic forms with Uncle's 'spice.' Luiz still in his vaquero dancing outfit, and others did kun tao. Tom Kier with Keith Moffit, who organized this wonderful event, showed off shockingly powerful entrances.

Don did monkey tai chi, and our own Frank Broadhead did an obscure and beautiful Yang lineage form. They and many others whose names I don't know convinced me I needed to invest in form work.

We were all brought in from, and returned to the airport, as you would expect from family. (Thanks Roger and Kathleen).

There was also that wonderfully wild quality you would expect from the gatherings -- walking into the de Thouar's house after arrival and finding Joyce teaching the contingent from Mexico to Hula.

Then, coaching Frank through a two person takedown set with George Morrin urging them to go for it there in the living room. Meanwhile, Don was taking on all comers in the dining room with people standing around to protect the glass.

It is perhaps the most amazing martial event in the country. Don't miss out next year.

Sam Edwards is coach of Sierra Nevada Internal Arts.

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