The following Video Clips are from a Free Lecture and Demo at
Master Gohring Tai Chi & Kung Fu in Austin Texas in 2006

Tai Chi and Chicken

Push-Hands

Tai Chi Sword


What is Chi?

 
Should I go to the Taiji Legacy Tournament?

Tai Chi Money Tree

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Testimonials from the Light of Life Workshop at
Master Gohring Tai Chi & Kung Fu in Austin Texas

Dear Master Gohring,

I absolutely loved the "Light of Life" workshop presented by Christophe Clarke.  I am still on "Cloud Nine" from listening to his philosophy of life.  What struck me was his passion for life and his belief that each of us can help our ailing planet with our own spirits and deeds.  We are all a part of the same whole.  He stressed that we should not resist our environment but become a part of it.  I am reminding myself of this now when I'm in traffic or in too cold an office.  Rather than fight it, I should choose to become part of it.

The Push Hands session was fantastic!  I now understand how to use Lift Hands, Rollback, and Fair Lady in push hands.  I know that all moves should be executed in push hands just they are in the form!  There is a reason for every nuance.  A huge difference between executing the moves kind of like the form and exactly like the form.

It was a personal challenge for me to participate in the push hands tournament rather than run out the door in terror.  I saw it through and it was fun!

Two days later my legs are still like rubber, and that's a good thing.

Ms. Richardson

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Dear Master Gohring:

Thank you so much for inviting Shirfu Christophe to our school. The Light of Life seminar was appropriately named. I originally signed up only for the first day. By the end of the first day there was no way I could not take the second day. I was so exhausted after the first day, and we were mostly listening and thinking. I can't wait to see and hear the taping because I want to revisit the concepts and philosophies we discussed. I did not know that I would hear the answer to a very old philosophical question. Obviously, it's all about the chicken. The chicken came first of course!

I had never learned push hands before but I felt comfortable learning it and working with everyone. I can't wait to learn more push hands and maybe even to compete someday. He spoke with and worked with everyone in the room to make sure we all understood. Everyone was treated as beginners no matter what sash they wore. He pushed us to look deeper within and work harder. The time flew by so fast because I did not want to stop learning from him. The phrase “pain is temporary” applied so well. I did not realize I had muscles in some places until I found all the sore spots. There is no room for the word try in my vocabulary now. It is either do or don't do.

To hear Shirfu Christophe speak and to watch him move was inspiring and spoke to my soul. I felt like he was giving us little sips from the fountain of youth. I wish I had the chance to speak with him more. I felt a reaffirmation that life is good as I realized how much everyone who attended took home from the seminar. I hope that you invite him back again. I also hope that the two of you work together more in the future. It was wonderful to see two powerful personalities work together so smoothly.

Thank you,

Ms Grabhorn

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Master Gohring:

As an avid practioner of Yang style tai chi for several years now, I must say I found Christophe Clarke's workshop very informative in an area of study that I think many tai chi students can benefit from today. That is - how do we truly apply the movements we learn in our tai chi form to the practice of push hands? I look forward to studying this further with Christophe at his next workshop!

Sincerely,

Mr. Rosenberg

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Dear Master Gohring:

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your inviting Christophe Clarke to our school to provide (among other things) instruction in push hands. Despite the fact that push hands makes Tai Chi different from, and superior to, other kinds of Chinese martial arts, it has always been difficult for me – so much so that I would actively avoid it. Christophe presented it in such a gentle rhythmic way that it seemed perfectly natural and undaunting. From these fluid basics he moved on to how push hands can be used to foil an opponent, even one much larger and heavier than the practitioner. It was fun to be able to move (if only slightly) Thomas when practicing the three defensive moves.

The Sunday workshop made me wish that I had been able to attend the Friday evening demonstration and the Saturday session. Like all your students I appreciate that you arrange for external Masters to come and share their expertise with us. They provide additional insights into the world of Tai Chi.

Thanks again,

Ms. Simpson

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Dear Master Gohring:

Thank you so much for offering this Tai Chi workshop at our school.   I honestly am at a loss for words to describe how I feel.   I went home after the free demonstration Friday evening and told my wife that the free demonstration, performed by Shirfu Christophe Clarke, was worth the price of the entire workshop.   What an amazing evening!

Master Clarke spoke with conviction and clear purpose, weaving Tai Chi principles into the fabric of our everyday lives to show us that the two are inseparable.  Ward off, roll back, press and push are not just a sequence of moves ... they are life itself.  He said, "the matador does not stand in front of the bull."   When you are faced with difficulties you must learn to ward off.  He said that Tai Chi is learning how to be pushed.   When life pushes ... we ward off ... roll back ... press ... and push. 

I am a fairly new student, just a few weeks past graduating to the gold sash, and I was a bit worried that I would be too slow.  I saw myself  holding back the entire workshop with my lack of experience.   But ... the time just seemed to fly past and I was never worried about such things once the workshop began.   Master Clarke thanked us for coming ... he praised our efforts ... he took time to recognize everyone in the workshop.  It felt good to see folks having fun while working so hard.  I mean I still have a smile on my face ... I had a great time!

Thanks again for offering this workshop at your school.   I hope you will invite Shirfu Clarke back again when schedules permit.   I am sure that everyone attending the workshop feels the same way as I do .. when I realized how gifted a speaker Shirfu Clarke was ... how great a teacher he was ... how entertaining and fun he was ... I also realized how great it was to have a Sifu of like mind and heart.  

Thanks,

Mr. Mulvey

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Master Gohring:

Last Sunday's push hands workshop with Christophe Clark was excellent. All of the teachers I have had the honor to work with in your school have been excellent. Christophe, however, stands tall among these guest teachers.

His enthusiasm for push hands and his passion for the scholarly art of T'ai Chi were obvious and infectious. The five hours went by far too quickly. While I liked the new practice patterns we learned, his care in transferring the movements and principles from the solo form to the partner pushing really turned on a bunch of lights for me. While I am still just a seedling in the art (I feel that I have only barely begun to learn anything), this workshop has helped advance my understanding significantly. I look forward to the next time Sifu Clark can come and share with us again.

Sincerely,

Mr. Wise

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Dear Master Gohring:

Wow! What a tremendous workshop this past weekend. I felt like a kid peeking through a pinhole in a cardboard box at a vast world that stretched on for an eternity. It was like drinking from a fire hose. I can't wait to get to the next level to begin learning forms.    

Best,

Mr. Prince

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Dear Master Clarke:

Attending your Light of Life Seminar this last weekend was a bright point of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the push hands direction. Prior to Sunday, I had dreaded beginning the practice of push hands. Now, that apprehension is gone. The first day's exercises and lecture on healing were of particular interest to me as a former health care professional whose own health is now questionable. I plan to practice these exercises daily and monitor my lab results closely for positive changes. I am excited about this!

On a deeper personal note, I felt an incredible energy from you and absolutely loved how you speak from the heart. As a recovering asshole, I have used my recent involvement in the Martial Arts to improve my overall situation as well as my own corner of the world. I now surround myself only with positive people and energy when possible. As you know, our school is a great source of positive energy and people. I had never met people such as these before, especially Sifu Gohring…and now you!

I believe that T'ai Chi has saved my life. I sincerely thank you for your part in directing my life on the path I've now chosen. Words are simply not adequate to express the truth of what I have learned this weekend. Thank you for the gift of your time and energy.

Respectfully,

Mr. Terbay

P.S. I have taken to heart you dietary advice as well. Thanks for the personal interest in me.

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Dear Master Gohring:

The workshop by Christophe Clarke was a unique and educational experience of a lifetime. Master of Shirfu Clarke showed us hot to appreciate the art of T'ai Chi. He supported every effort we made regardless of our level of training. In fact, we never noticed the different levels during the workshop. His focus on the non-violent sang to my heart, fiercely! Competition against my own skills, not to win! That is what I wanted since I started 3 years ago! It is “what I never knew I always wanted!” I look forward to his return.

Ms. Escimilla:

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I had thought about competing this year in push hands.  Had it not been for Christophe's workshop I would not consider it due to the Sumo wrestling techniques that was pervasive last year.  The workshop helped to deveop a level of confidence I had not experienced before so I would like to try it this year.

Mr. Briggs

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Dear Master Gohring:

I would like to thank you for hosting Christophe Clarke's workshop at our school. I attended the push hands portion of the class, and I was amazed at how much Master Clarke was able to teach us over the course of just one day. It was informative, inspiring, and a lot of fun, too! I especially appreciate his emphasis that the art of push hands is the art of being pushed, and that you must learn to allow yourself to be pushed in order to learn how to control your opponant's attack. This was a valuable lesson to me, and it has helped me quite a bit with my push hands technique.

I feel that Shirfu Clarke's pacing of the class was just right; slow enough that I had time to absorb what he was teaching us, but fast enough that I was always interested in what we were doing. As an added benefit, I feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm and excitement for tai chi; it reminds me of how I felt when I first began practicing. I got a lot out of the workshop, and I would welcome the chance to participate in any future classes that Shirfu Clarke would teach at our school. Not every teacher would go out of his way to arrange this kind of workshop for his students; I am grateful that you did so. It was a wonderful experience, and a great way to spend a Sunday!

Thanks,
Ms. Franklin

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Dear Master Gohring:

I was only able to attend Saturday's workshop with Christophe Clarke, but what an experience!  The first 10 minutes was worth the price of the entire workshop.  Last year I attended your Nei Kung workshop and I remember you told the group that the most important part of Embrace Horse is the breathing -- and that you it took you years to master it.  I didn't really understand what you were saying.  However, when we did extreme breathing during the "Light of Life" seminar, it clicked.  Granted, I have a long way to go before I can master it, but I understand better what you were saying.  I now spend 30 minutes every other day doing this extreme breathing technique.  Since I started doing that, I have cut the amount of pain medication I take in half!  That's the only change I have made so that has to be what is affecting my pain levels.  Amazing!  I just warn my family to stay out of the room while I sweat and shake!!!

I enjoyed every part of Saturday's workshop and I learned so much.  I just graduated to my blue sash, so I'm at the starting point of learning the application of the short form.  Sifu, you talked in our class about how important it is to learn the application in order to improve your Tai Chi form.  I really latched onto that when Shirfu Clarke talked about doing the form.  He said you're not really doing Tai Chi -- just going thru the motions -- or getting all the benefits from Tai Chi unless you incorporate the application with your movements.  Throughout the day it struck me how much your philosophy matches Shirfu Clarke's.  I look forward to learning much, much more.

Ms. Grunska

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Master Gohring:

I want to thank you for enabling me to experience Christophe Clarke's workshop "Light of Life".  I gained so much insight from his philosophy on life and the Tai Chi Chuan techniques that he shared during the two day workshop.  He was right on target with what you have been teaching us and took it a few steps further.  I especially enjoyed his energy, enthusiasm and sense of humor.  I feel more centered, balanced, and my attitude towards push hands has improved.  This was the best workshop that I have attended with your Nei Kung Workshop being 2nd best!

Thanks again for this life changing opportunity!

Ms. Ziegner

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Dear Master Gohring:

I started T'ai Chi about six months ago after my brother had emergency triple bypass surgery. He is nearly twenty years older than me, and I know I don't want to be 50+ years old facing the possibility of heart surgery. I've always been interested in T'ai Chi for a variety of reasons but never took the initiative to try it. My brother's unfortunate series of events seemed as good a motivator as any to start. In retrospect, it's easily one of the best decisions I've ever made. What I've discovered in my very short six months is that the T'ai Chi journey is far more intricate than simply a healthy exercise regimen. It's the thinking person's martial art. It is comprised of physical, spiritual, emotional and mental facets that interact with each other in a very dynamic way. At this stage of my journey, I feel like a kid peeking through a pinhole in a cardboard box at a vast world that stretches on for an eternity.

As a white sash, we do the same ten Nei Kung postures every class. As an outside observer, it appears not much is happening. Actually, it was even difficult to discern exactly what was going when I did the first few classes. At the beginning, I felt like I was putting my body into awkward positions that looked and felt funny, yet they made me sweat and shake profusely, so I assumed that was a good thing. But then slowly, gradually the postures felt less awkward and funny and more natural. The postures began to evolve from simply being a form of physical exercise to episodes of physical and mental stimulation, and even sometimes emotional and spiritual stimulation (as I experienced during Shirfu Clarke's seminar). It begins to become clearer, if only opaquely clearer, that T'ai Chi is very much a living art that weaves the complexities of the human essence (physical, spiritual, emotional, physical) into a synchronized unit. T'ai Chi offers me a framework for how to live my life.

Shirfu Clarke mentioned that we only truly begin to learn when we achieve black sash status. I'm beginning to understand why that is. My goal is to not only achieve black sash status, but to practice T'ai Chi for the rest of my life. I want to see where this road goes. And I'm particularly thankful I'm learning T'ai Chi at a school with amazing positive energy and from a Sifu with tremendous dedication and patience. I love T'ai Chi and can't imagine myself not doing it.

Sincerely,

Mr. Prince

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