Promoting TCC Worldwide

Maybe it’s time for a new video showing T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) around the world. Five years after the video was made for the first online conference, we have teachers in the Netherlands, Cyprus, Belize, and many in the UK and Italy. Who am I overlooking?

It is not easy to build a TCC community in a culture that has never known it. Those who want our practice spread to places where it is needed but not available face an uphill challenge; we want and need support and encouragement.

I lived in a rural mountain community in Costa Rica for 10 years. Any classes for Costa Rican neighbors had to be easily accessible, in Spanish and no cost. They walked to class with preschool children in tow.

The most successful classes were when a group or association invited me. Without means to pay, they helped with transportation and provided the space. One group was a woman’s club affiliated with a non-profit. I asked them to use club funds to purchase Justin’s Photo Textbook and Spanish translation to share with members.

Another club of “mayores” or seniors with regular meetings were interested in yoga classes. A college student knew I offered something like yoga and asked if I would work with them weekly. We had a small but dedicated turnout using various facilities — the home of one member who was not ambulatory, a church or community meeting space with no furniture, and sometimes the lawn.

I also had classes with an expat community who were able to pay. There was often turnover before we finished an eight-week course as many stayed for a 3-month summer season and left when the rains began.

Resources, ideas, and legwork are needed to fulfill Justin’s wish to promote the knowledge of and practice of TCC worldwide as a service to humanity. The Foundation website discusses grants to support teachers with projects. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see TCC done on every continent? In every country? In every community?