Editor's note:
Thank you to the following people for generously sharing their symposium photos with me so we could share the symposium experience with readers: Elisa Essex, Maria Milo, Ken Ning, Marci Miyamoto, Martine Salane, Helen Smeja, Fernando De Lazzari, Ruben Coirini, Stefanie Russell, Pat Rice, Ray Tom, Duc Nguyen Minh, Tihomir Todorov, and Tai Chi Yukon. I am grateful for your help. Your photos help capture the spirit of the symposium and I know readers will love them. They will bring wonderful memories to those who attended and may inspire others to attend the next symposium!
The upcoming issue of our other publication, the Journal, will have more in-depth coverage of the symposium.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Fung, Editor
Welcome to Selvino!
The 2019 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium took place May 25-29 in Selvino, Italy. Selvino is known for its beautiful landscape and its hospitality. Many businesses decorated their stores showing enthusiastic support for the symposium. Their kindness and support made us feel very welcome.
Opening Ceremonies
Bill Walsh and Alexandra Pitonzo were Masters of Ceremonies for the evening. Welcoming addresses were given by local and regional government officials. Officials from China also spoke. Master Yang Jun welcomed everyone and declared the symposium officially open. People from 22 countries attended the symposium. In the "Parade of Nations", each country's name was announced and people from the country proudly stood. It was heart-warming to see people from so many countries gathered to share their love of tai chi chuan.
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Participants were introduced to the masters representing six major tai chi styles: Master Chen Zhenglei (Chen style), Master Yang Jun (Yang style), Master Wu Kwongyu (Wu style), Master Zhong Zhenshan (Wu (Hao) style), Master Sun Yongtian (Sun style), and Master He Youlu (He style). Each master greeted participants and spoke about the key traits of their styles. The symposium was the first time all six masters appeared together in Europe as “one family in tai chi chuan”.
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Everyone enjoyed amazing cultural performances representing the countries of Italy, Australia, Brazil, USA, Bulgaria, Colombia, Madagascar, and France. The Italian performance featured opera singers Elisa Maffi and Pierfranco Manzi and dancers Gaia Turturo and Andrea Accorsi. Performers from the other countries were from our Yang Family Tai Chi centers and schools.
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© Marcia Miyamoto
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© Marcia Miyamoto
Academic Program
The theme of the symposium's academic program was the impact of tai chi chuan on human health. The program included keynote addresses, speakers, poster presentations, and a roundtable panel discussion. Topics included chronic musculoskeletal pain, musculoskeletal health, helping older adults at high risk for falling and people with movement disorders, overviews of tai chi research on how tai chi benefits physical and mental health, and more.
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Patricia Huston (Canada), Dr. Fuzhong Li (USA), Dr. Chenchen Wang (USA), Yu Gongbao (China)
Session Speakers: Dr. Nicola Robinson (England), Dr. Son-Nam Tran Ba (France), Holly Sweeney-Hillman (USA)
Oral Poster Presentations: Dr. Greg Moore (USA), Dr. James Fox (USA), and Dr. Ivan Kolev (Ireland)
Poster Presentations: Ang Li; Suarez Zaldu & Suarez Barrios; Greg Moore, Nan Sowers & James Fox, Juan Manuel Carraceno; Lloyd Kelly & Deborah Lockridge
Powerpoint Presentations: "Faces of the Future". Twenty-four tai chi students from Kean University (USA), presented their term projects on tai chi and health challenges.
Dr. Patricia Huston
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Dr. Chenchen Wang and Dr. Fuzhong Li
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Yu Gongbao
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Holly Sweeney-Hillman
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Dr. Son-Nam Tran Ba and Dr. Nicola Robinson
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Dr. Greg Moore and Dr. James Fox
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Dr. Ivan Kolev
The roundtable event was a highlight of the academic program. It brought together the masters and academic faculty to answer questions from the audience on the impact of tai chi chuan on health.
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Thank you to Dan Shulz (Academic Program Director) for doing a wonderful job of organizing the academic program!
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Grand Showcase
Another highlight of the symposium was the Grand Showcase. The audience was treated to a spectacular evening show that featured exciting performances of great martial arts skill by all six masters as well as performances by a variety of other martial artists.
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Photos of the town of San Pellegrino:
Masters' Tai Chi Gong Workshops
A major highlight of the symposium was the unique opportunity to learn from the world’s foremost authorities on each of the six major styles of tai chi chuan: Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu (Hao), Sun and He. Each participant was able to attend all six workshops where they learned a short 10-movement form that captured the essence of the tai chi style.
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Disciple Ceremony
On May 28, Master Yang Jun accepted sixteen new disciples in a traditional Chinese disciple ceremony. Congratulations to all the new disciples!
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Disciple family photo:
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Morning Tai Chi Practice
Participants enjoyed a fresh start to their day with daily early morning tai chi practice with the masters. On the last day, each master attended and reviewed their tai chi gong form that had been taught at the workshops earlier in the week.
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Closing Ceremonies
The service and accomplishment of many people were acknowledged at the Closing Ceremonies. The masters were presented with gifts from the town of Selvino.
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Trophies were presented to all those who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category of the Yang Family Tai Chi Cup Tournament (coverage of tournament in next section of this newsletter). This was the first time the symposium hosted a tournament.
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Master Yang Jun presented awards to Yang Family Tai Chi members for their service to our association and also awards of recognition to people who highly contributed to the success of the symposium.
YANG FAMILY TAI CHI AWARDS
President's Award: Fang Hong, Pam Boyde, Han Hoong Wang, Ray Tom
Director's Award: Fernando De Lazzari, Duc Nguyen Minh, Claudio Mingarini, Giuseppe Turturo, Angela Soci
Association Award: Martine Salane, Mari Lewis, Edward Moore, Andy Lee, Carolyn Fung
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SYMPOSIUM AWARDS
President's Award of Recognition:
Ylaria Giorgia Fiora (Chief Administrator and Manager)
Giuseppe Turturo (Vice President and Director of Marketing & Fundraising)
Fang Hong (Chief Financial Officer)
Pam Boyde (Senior Vice President and Director of Program Development)
Claudio Mingarini (Financial Officer Italy and Director of Volunteers)
President's Certificate of Recognition:
Ray Tom (Symposium Executive Committee)
Fernando De Lazzari (Director of Yang Family Tai Chi Cup)
Mihaly Vadas (Director of Productions)
Dan Shulz (Director of Academic Program)
Pat Rice (Chief of Tournament)
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The ceremonies ended with a video of highlights of the symposium and more dancing.
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Thank you to Bill Walsh for doing such a great job in the role of Master of Ceremonies!
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Friendship and Farewell Party
After the Closing Ceremonies, a fun party with delicious food, music, and dancing was enjoyed by all. This year, 2019, is the 20th anniversary of Yang Family Tai Chi. The event was celebrated with a beautiful cake with the association's various logos.
People who have attended previous symposiums often say that one of nicest parts of the event is meeting new friends from around the world who also love tai chi. Many new friendships were formed in Selvino. The symposium also brought together old friends from previous events who looked forward to the opportunity to meet again. Although it was difficult to say goodbye, everyone's hearts were filled with warm memories of their special time in Selvino at the 2019 International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium.
A large team of volunteers was essential for the success of the symposium. We sincerely thank everyone who helped at the event or in the planning of the event. We are very grateful for all your help. Also, we sincerely thank our sponsors and donors who helped with financial contributions. We are very grateful for your support.
WATCH A VIDEO RECORDING OF SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS!
