I was looking to improve my Taijiquan as my own classes grew. Dr. Lincoln Wang had recently moved to the area teaching an obscure Tai Chi form, Li Style, that is now considered the sixth main form of Taijiquan. He was friendly and attracted a wonderful group of people. Our classes were on Friday nights and I remember never wanting to miss them. I’ve received my fair share of certificates and awards in my day, but this remains among my favorite.
Dr. Lincoln was a kind and nurturing teacher and several of his students have continued to teach to this day.
Enter into my life Leisei Chen and Deborah & Gary Magallanes. Leisei and I were a part of a magnificent event, The Movement Meditation Project choreographed by Pat Graney. Leisei became a renown musician living in L.A.Deborah & Gary continue to teach in Kirkland and Deborah is one of my dearest and most intentional colleagues and supporters through the years, taking classes and workshops now and again, including now! Online!
Leisei and Kim at the Movement Meditation Project by Pat Graney
I was also studying with Sifu Jane Hallander. Jane was a beast of a teacher! (And a huge contributor to the literature & magazines of early internal martial arts). She really nurtured her students, especially women since we were definitely 2nd class students (and teachers) at that time. I trained with her for several years. She raised the level of my Standing Meditation practice and my forms. As well, she trained to compete. too, I won 2nd place, loosing only the the All Around Champion at A Taste of China in 1997. Competition was not my interest though so I did not pursue it.
Jane and I knew each other for many years and ate many cinnamon rolls together. When I went to San Francisco to train with her I stayed with her. She took me along to her interviews where I had a chance to encounter some of the early high levels stars in internal arts. (She actually helped me to not become overly enamored with them because she know their back-stories!!) However, what I really remember was her African Grey "Jing." Jing was an uncaged bird who terrified me more than Jane did! As I slept on her couch, Jing would watch me open eyed all night long!
This collage is from The Moon’s second anniversary seminar and party. I see many people I have known for so long. A couple of these students remain with me to this day: Mark McCormack, Joyce Broderson stand out. Others were with me for a long time but are gone from this world now. Others still train elsewhere and others moved on in their life. That was a great seminar.