Tai Chi & Chi Kung Meditation Ctr

Ive attending classes at the Tai Chi & Chi Kung Meditation center on and off since 2003. There is Wu style Tai Chi for all levels (including Eight Pieces of Brocade as a warm up), sword form, push hands (students pitted against each other?) and advanced seated Chi Kung for those who know the entire form. I have practiced all of these techniques and my body, mind and nerves are better for it! I haven’t seen any followers, but I have slowly learned humility, patience and a better sense of humor as a by product of my daily practice. Not from being told that China is superior, or to «follow» the instructor? I was told to «practice». I highly recommend the beautiful outdoor park setting, convenient times, great price and excellent instructor!

After prepaying for a month, I walked away after two weeks. While I definitely need the exercise and I love Tai Chi with a passion, this school consists of one unacceptable teacher and his followers.
He has very anti-​American views and doesn’t hesitate to say China or Chinese people are superior. That by itself wouldn’t have driven me off as quickly as the rest of his behavior. He uses typical personality cult techniques of pitting students against each other, alternating praise and humiliation, etc. He railed against me personally, even attacking my balance which is poor due to a car accident, for ten minutes for asking one very appropriate simple question during his designated Q&A time when I was trying to learn a move. I was frankly stunned and waited until I got away from the situation to think through what had happened. I stepped back and looked at my experience in his classes as if I was an observer and realized what was happening.
He claims to have the secret to longevity (Chinese alchemy approach) that he will share with a select few. Everybody else is a fraud according to him; he is the only true source of this occult knowledge. In the classes that I attended, he attacked Yoga, other Tai Chi instructors, former students, other forms of Tai Chi, America, etc. The only «good» according to his own statements is himself and those that follow him. He even talked about specific martial artists that he was sure he could beat up – never had a tai chi instructor do that!
Stay away from this school. There are way too many decent people and choices in the Tai Chi community to subject yourself to abusive behavior.
Before coming to Austin, I have had the privilege of having world class teachers including the man who was the head of the Yang tradition at that time.