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The Rising Sun School
For over 30 years, Rising Sun School has been nestled in the Toronto Annex neighborhood, offering small classes and personal coaching in Tai Chi. Our instructors are classically-trained, dedicated practitioners. We focus on you and your individual needs as a student.
History
The Rising Sun School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan was founded in 1984 by Paul McCaughey, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We teach Yang Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan in the tradition of Master Lee Shiu Pak (1910 - 1982). Master Lee taught in Montreal, Quebec, from the early 1960's until 1982 when he passed away. Master Lee was a disciple of Chen Wei Ming of Shanghai, one of Yang Cheng Fu's senior disciples. The Rising Sun School is dedicated to the preservation of Master Lee's legacy.
Our School Lineage
Although this chart for our School ends with the Rising Sun School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan only, our School is by no means the exclusive offshoot of the Montreal T'ai Chi Ch'uan Society, less formally known as Master Lee's T'ai Chi Family. As this chart is used to identify the relationship of our School within the historical context of the Yang Family and other Styles, we have not attempted to show any other groups. For more information regarding these groups, please refer to 'The T'ai Chi Family' in the Main Menu area.
The Four Aspects of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
are Exercise, Medicine, Boxing and Philosophy. At the Rising Sun School we express this diversity of study as:
- Exercise: The Yang Family Long Form, Partnered Form, Sword , Broadsword, Cane and Staff Forms.
- Medicine: Acupressure Massage, Injury Treatment, Chinese Herbal Medicine for common maladies, and Dietary Energetics.
- Boxing: Push Hands, Leverage, Striking, Displacement, Self Defense techniques, 86 Long Form Solo Applications, Partnered Form (San Sou)
- Philosophy: Living a life that is characterized by inclusiveness, learning, helping oneself and others, and doing one's work in the world.
We find that most people come to T'ai Chi for its Exercise aspect and yet also have some degree of interest in T'ai Chi's Eastern Philosophy of balance and harmony. Many prospective students of T'ai Chi are are not aware that by working in the Exercise aspect, they also practice aspects of Medicine (prevention of disease) and Boxing (each movement has its application to self-defense). In principle, the Four Aspects teaching is about the enormous value that a multi-dimensional viewing point can add to your study. How much of the entire Four Aspects Study a student may pursue will depend on the needs and disposition of that student. It is not uncommon for people to find extraordinary growth and balance by learning about the aspects they find the most challenging. For 'Healers' this is often the Boxing and for 'Boxers' this is often the Medicine, - not so surprising!Master Lee's 86 movement Yang Family Long Formwas a beautiful fulfillment of over 40 years of practice and study. His movements were extended yet relaxed, his spine vertical, and each posture conveyed an impeccability of martial application, as well as health benefit. He was able to accomplish the difficult task of sinking and remaining soft while at full extension. His form exemplified unity in diversity, reflecting a precision of intent without loss of continuity.