WTBA Tai Chi Camp Byron '08

Organised by Kerry and Steve and led by Eli Montegue. Five and a half days of training.

Most people camped or rented cabins at Belongil Fields on the edge of Byron. People came from South Australia, Western Australia, Far North Queensland, Brisbane, Byron Area and New Zealand.

Here we are doing a Morning Gathering Chi Gung.



Brother Ben and his girlfriend Eleanor came with Eli from Wales.










We started the morning at Belongil Fields with training in Silk Reeling form of the Yang Lu Chan Tai Chi followed enthusiastically by breckie put on by Kerry, Steve and assistants.











It was then off to Temple Byron where we learned the Unicorn Bagua Form. There are eight animal forms in Bagua. The Unicorn form is said to be uplifting of your spirits. It is a short enough form to learn during the one camp. I also bought Erle's DVD to help me remember the finer points.

A few Unicorn shots.









Only a brother would be a model for this one!










And, then,...









Ben and Eleanor practicing.



"Once more with feeling!"















Wally Says, "Hello"















He will teach you this one for $10,000.00 (Supermarket coupons are accepted for no more than half payment.)






There were twenty people lined up pressing against that finger just moments before the photo was taken. They landed thirty metres away. (POA)









Eleanor and Ben practicing some more.







Then, it was lunch! Lucious Restaurant catered vegetarian lunches for us and they were great. Everyone was raving about how delicious the food was.










Lunch was followed by the learning of the Large San Sau, "A" side. Large San-sau is a form that is practiced with a partner to help to experience the applications of movements. I managed to learn only part of it but I practice that bit daily so that I can build on it when I next am in the proper learning situation. This session took place in the Aikido Dojo. There were mats on the floor and it was a bit strange having a slippery surface that you sank into. "Ahhh Grasshopper! You must be prepared for all situations."




Steve in action.









Ben demonstrates an application.





Five to six o'clock found some of us in the yurt learning some Chi Gung from Wally. A nice way to end the day.















There was much that I couldn't show. There was all the cameraderie and new faces and old faces. The joy of learning and the energy that the forms bring with them. I finished with a high and the pleasure of knowing that it will happen again next year. It's on my schedule all ready. (PS- Thanks to the ever ebullient Kerry and Kiesha for the use of some of their photos.)