I’ve been unable to find any schools that teach anything other than the new age health aspects of tai chi. Even the ones who claim to, don’t really. Any info on schools I might check in to in the NEPA area would be appreciated.
Tx.
“This is harder than it looks… and it looks impossible!”
-Chuckie Finster
Keith Boggess
Keith Boggess is in Philadelphia. I think he focuses on Xingyi mainly (Hebei style if I remember correctly), but I believe he also practices the Old Yang Style. Even if not, his Xingyi is awesome, I’ve seen it firsthand. Very strong. And Xingyi is about as martial as you can get. He’s one of the senior instructors in the WTBA. You can reach him at kbogg@apex.net.
“I put forth my power and he was broken.
I withdrew my power and he was ground into fine dust.”
-Aleister Crowley, The Vision and the Voice
If I were in PA, I’d join a boxing gym.
Most actions of men can be explained by observing a pack of dogs. Not wild dogs, just neighborhood dogs who all scurry under the fence on the same night and set off together to reclaim a glimmer of the glory their species possessed before domestication.
Hi Brett,
Ernest Rothrock in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania has schools in Scranton, Pa. and Wilkes Barre, Pa. teaching Tai Chi. I begain my own instruction in Tai Chi from him in Scranton 25 years ago.
His school locations and phone numbers can be found at
http://www.yingjowpai.net/schools.html
Mr. Rothrock specializes in Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai (Northern Eagle Claw), Yang Tai Chi Chaun and Wu Tai Chi Chaun.
Victor Smith
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
www.funkydragon.com/bushi
Victor,
Do the tai chi classes at the Pittsburgh area schools actually train the martial aspects – i.e. pushing hands training, form applications, sparring, etc. – as well as the more spiritual and health related aspects?
“This is harder than it looks… and it looks impossible!”
-Chuckie Finster
Mike,
Mr. Rothrock teaches the Yang and Wu systems, in addition to Northern Eagle Claw in the Pittsburgh school(s).
His practices incorporate warmups, the form(s), weapons, pushing hands (single,double,moving) and applications. As far as sparring practices, I’m sure that would depend on the students commitment to their study.
Victor Smith
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
www.funkydragon.com/bushi
http://www.geocities.com/ycgf/YCGF_PAB.htm
I am a big fan of Wang Peishang and one of his senior students has a school in the Pittsburgh area
The laoshi has written a couple of articles in the internal arts magazine on the Yin Fu style of Bagua with songs and translations and its looks really good.
Nick Gracecin is located in Sharon PA and also has one of his top students, Jose Johnson, in the Harrisburg area.
Good Luck.
I’m familiar with Nick Gracenin… actually pushed hands with him once. Unfortunately Sharon PA is about seven hours away… a little much for a commute. 
Also, Harrisburg is about four. Oh well.
“This is harder than it looks… and it looks impossible!”
-Chuckie Finster
RAF is talking about Zhang Yun probably. Zhang teaches Wu taiji and Bagua. I heard he’s pretty good, but I don’t know since I never met him. he is in Pittsburg.
Brett,
One alternative is the school affiliated with Ernest Rothrock in Wilkes Barre, Pa, as mentioned on Mr. Rothrock’s site. The instructor is Dave Belsky, and he is qualified in Tai Chi as well as Mr. Rothrock’s other systems.
If you happen to give Dave a try, tell him I sent you.
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
www.funkydragon.com/bushi
?