I was first introduced to the Yang Style Short Form of Tai Chi by Veera Kasicharenvat at his Aikido Studio in Salt Lake City. That introduction was made during the first part of 1989.
I was only able to take a few lessons due to financial and time constraints and didn’t learn the entire form. However, in 1994, I was re-introduced to the Yang Style Short Form when I noticed a video tape sitting on the coffee table at my friend’s house. The tape was made by Terry Dunn. I asked if I could borrow the tape to see if it might be the same style of Tai Chi that Mr. Kasicharenvat taught. I was elated when I found that it was! So I bought my own copy and started the process of learning the entire form. Within three months, I had learned the Yang Style Short Form in its entirety.
Knowing that it can sometimes be difficult to get the entire form correct with all of its nuances from a video tape, I did a search for Veera Kasicharenvat to see if he was still in the Salt Lake Valley. It was my hope that Mr. Kasicharenvat would be willing to spend an hour with me to critique my form and correct what needed to be corrected.
Fortunately, Mr. Kasicharenvat was still in the valley and he was willing to help me! I made an appointment to meet Veera at the University of Utah. That hour with Mr. Kasicharenvat was very wonderful. Veera has a very calm, spiritual nature and he was very gracious and kind in helping correct the few things that I needed help with. And it turns out that Veera knows Terry Dunn!
I have been an active practitioner of the Yang Style Short Form ever since. I don’t practice it for the martial arts aspect of Tai Chi, but for the calming nature of the quiet, slow movements.
If you’re interested in learning the same style of Tai Chi that I have learned, the videos are still in print (as far as I know) and are available from Terry Dunn’s website: taichimania.com.
In addition, I recommend Qigong