Tai Chi for kids and teens

Ever wonder if there are other choices for your child’s martial arts training other than Karate and Taekwondo? Tai Chi may be the answer. Renowned martial arts Grandmaster Arnold Chien is starting a unique Tai Chi class for kids and youth at the Arcadia Community Center. Grandmaster Chien is the founder of Kinetic Tai Chi and 2012 Kung Fu Master. Students will learn first-hand knowledge of striking and grappling through simple posture and circular movements. Tai Chi’s concept of “softness conquers hardness” will apply throughout the class, with the ultimate goal of achieving “soft as silk and hard as steel.”
Tai Chi is an ancient form of martial arts, and usually considered a practice enjoyed by seniors. Chien has reinvented the style to fit into a young person’s busy schedule. Kids’ classes are meant for elementary school students, and a youth class for middle and high school students. There are 7 levels for students to achieve. With grandmaster Chien’s unique method including system approach, modularized training, and parallel learning, children and young people can enjoy the benefit of sports while learning life-long knowledge of self-defense and health maintenance. All levels from novice to expert are welcome. No athletic ability is required to begin. The full 8 week class costs $72. Classes begin Wednesday January 30 from 4:15pm to 6:15pm, and will run every Wednesday through March 20, 2013.
One of Chien’s senior students, Rovy Sutrisno, now in college, has followed grandmaster Chien since high school, “I have developed a skill set that not only benefits my body, but also cultivates my mind. I’m glad that I followed grandmaster Chien at such young age to avoid wasting time by learning from mistakes.” Another student is Indonesian martial arts champion Michael Lee. Lee studied hard-approach martial arts for many years and suffered a torn joint and tendon fatigue. “Grandmaster Chien was able to heal my old injury and teach me applications that no other teacher has ever been able to instruct.”
Grandmaster Chien began his own martial arts training at the age of 15, eventually competing and becoming a martial arts champion in Judo, Kung Fu, and Body Building. After 20 years of training, competing and teaching, he developed his own style—Kinetic Tai Chi. He teaches throughout Southern California to people of all backgrounds and cultures, from age 4 to age 97.
For more information call Arcadia Recreation Dept. 626-574-5113.

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