Originator of T’ai Chi Chih, Justin Stone, to speak in Twin Cities in August

And so it began…

TCC teacher RuthAnne Plourde interviewed Justin Stone and wrote this article, published in July in the Twin Cities Wellness, to publicize the 1999 International TCC Teachers’ Conference occurring in St. Paul the following month. Capitalizing on Stone’s coming visit and the interest that would be generated by reading about him, the Twin Cities TCC teachers also ran a sidebar advertisement alongside the article which listed each of their individual classes. As a group, they each contributed to the costs of the ad so it would be more affordable for everyone.

The article was effective in producing a turnout of more than 50 students and members of the public at Sunday morning’s open practice over the Conference weekend. After the practice, led by Ed Altman, the crowd was introduced to Stone. After applauding his arrival, they crowded in close to the stage to hear him speak about the concepts behind T’ai Chi Chih and the benefits of regular practice.

Afterwards, Stone obliged many of them by answering their individual questions and agreeing to pose for photographs.

Article reprinted with permission.

* * *

JUSTIN STONE, ORIGINATOR of the moving meditation T’ai Chi Chih, made the greatest exchange of his life when in 1962 he left a New York brokerage firm to travel the Orient. As a result of that exchange, he has made a great contribution to people’s lives, more than he ever could have made on Wall Street, and more than he ever imagined, with his creation of T’ai Chi Chih or “Joy Thru Movement” as Justin likes to refer to it.

Justin Stone will celebrate his 83rd birthday this November and will be in the Twin Cities Aug. 5-8, for the 14th Annual International Teachers’ Conference and the 25th Anniversary Celebration of T’ai Chi Chih.

As I researched information about Justin and T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) in preparation for my interview with him, I was amazed at the diverse background, talents, and accomplishments this man has made in his life. He is an accomplished musician and composer, having composed for Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, and still records his own jazz piano and recently wrote and recorded the background music for the PBS TV T’ai Chi Chih series. He has authored several books, including T’ai Chi Chih! Joy Thru Movement and Meditations for Healing. As an artist, he has had one-man showings and is a poet as well. But even more than that, the contribution he has made (through TCC) to other peoples’ lives worldwide is phenomenal. He has hours and hours of stories to tell.

Since it had been several years since I took Justin’s accreditation training for SEIJAKU, an advanced form of T’ai Chi Chih, I was looking forward to doing this interview with him, because among other things, he is a great story teller. Unfortunately, due to the advancing age of his ears, he does not do well on the phone (he lives in Albuquerque), but because he is also a man of the ’90s, we “interviewed” via fax!

The following are excerpts of the interview with Justin Stone:

What are the highlights you would like to share about your own story and your origination of T’ai Chi Chih?

In 1962, I left the financial world and began numerous trips to the Orient to practice with the yogis in India, the Zen monks in Japan, and to study with taoists in Chinese cities. This was the most important time of my life. When I would run out of money (I was living off the land, so to speak, supporting myself teaching), I would return to the United States and take temporary positions in the financial field so I could save enough to return to the Orient.

In early 1971, I left the financial field for good. The day before I left for New Mexico, Professor Wen-Shan Huang (friend, teacher) came to say “good-bye.” We did T’ai Chi Ch’uan together, and he then showed me three types of hand movements, which later became “Circles Within Circles” (which I eliminated because it seemed too difficult for students), “Round the Platter,” and “Bass Drum,” to which I added leg motions and slight changes. Professor Huang called the group of movements T’ai Chi Chih, translated as “Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate.”

While teaching T’ai Chi Ch’uan at the University of New Mexico and other places, I used two of the movements as “warm-up” movements, and the students seemed to like them. Skip Whitson, one of my students and publisher of Sun Publishing Co., asked if I would write a book on T’ai Chi Chih, but I protested that there were only two movements. During the week that followed, all the movements came to me complete with names. Finally, I went to Skip and said I would do the book. We had the book ready for my first TCC class in 1974. The first teacher training course followed in August of 1975.

What is the goal or philosophy behind T’ai Chi Chih?

The circulation and balance of the Chi is the great secret of Life. T’ai Chi Chih aims at circulating and balancing yin and yang Chi [internal and universal energy], which after my years of study in the Orient, I felt was the great secret of life. Unlike the martial arts, which have to do with violence, TCC’s aim was to improve health and to bring spiritual benefits (in the beginning, I had no idea how great these benefits would be). Cultivation and purification of Chi is the goal of TCC and has no connection with religion or violent action.

Is there a relationship to TCC and what is considered “standard” meditation?

TCC and T’ai Chi Ch’uan are often called “Moving Meditations.” That is a matter of personal choice. There are many systems of meditation. I generally teach meditation that will reach the Fourth State of Consciousness (a misnomer), called the “Turiya State,” which many in India feel is synonymous with Samadhi. This kind of meditation has no connection with TCC.

Do you encourage accredited teachers to study other meditative or energy disciplines to complement their TCC practice? Or, is TCC alone enough?

I certainly do not encourage TCC teachers to experiment with other disciplines or martial arts. The smorgasbord approach is self-defeating. TCC has brought many people physical benefits, seemingly cured many diseases, and afforded great spiritual benefits. To dilute it is not suggested.

What is your vision, if you have one, as to TCC’s place in alternative therapies?

I believe that TCC is unique. I don’t think of it as “alternative,” though doctors, hospitals, and the Mayo Clinic Journal have recommended it in that manner.

As we draw to the end of this century and 25 years of TCC, what do you see as the future of TCC (Your vision of TCC in the new millennium)?

The international growth of TCC, I believe, is due to its lack of emphasis on financial rewards and the phenomenal results it has shown in helping people with chronic conditions, though I wouldn’t want to promise anybody any results, but simply say it seems to have helped others. Why not try it and find out? They tell me that the growth and spread of TCC will accelerate (we are already experiencing it). To get great results, the movements must be done properly! One day, it will be realized that circulation and balancing of the Chi are the great secrets of life! I have no doubt of this. I believe it is meant to give great service. I was startled to be contacted by the United Nations and by other groups around the world. The great growth may not come while I’m alive, but TCC is now in good, sincere hands [Ed Altman is the newly appointed “spiritual head of TCC”] and will grow in amazing fashion if it stays pure and is not changed for personal gain. I have never made it into an organization, having seen what happens in that respect around the world. It (TCC) is an idealistic endeavor, and, I believe, divinely inspired. Peace and good health to all creatures!

Over 1,500 students (worldwide) have taken the T’ai Chi Chih accreditation training developed by Justin Stone which is now taught by Ed Altman. The conference planners anticipate approximately 100 to 150 accredited teachers to attend the 14th Annual International Teachers’ Conference Aug. 5-8 at Concordia University in St. Paul. On Sunday, Aug. 8 at 7 a.m., there will be an opportunity for those interested in experiencing TCC to join the TCC teachers attending the Conference in a community practice of TCC.

RuthAnne Plourde, MA, presents stress management programs that incorporate unique mind-body techniques to alleviate stress, boost the immune system, and improve personal and professional performance. She is an accredited T’ai Chi Chih instructor at four metro locations. She has studied with nationally recognized masters of Chinese internal healing arts and holds certifications in T’ai Chi Chih, Qigong, fitness, and health and wellness counseling. For keynote, seminar/workshop, retreat bookings, or class information call: INNERGIZE. More on RuthAnne see “Where To Go For Holistic Education,” INNERGIZE on page 11 and Innergize article page 9.