Connecticut’s taijiquan community is really, really special. Look no further than the photograph below and consider the combined years of experience represented, keeping in mind that teachers Morris Burch, David Shaver, and David Chandler unfortunately could not join us this year. That these teachers get together annually to openly share their experience demonstrates a special, unseen bond. Friends, old and new, getting together, some seeing others only once a year. And most impressive are all the people outside the borders of the photograph; all the newcomers, students, friends, and family who attended despite the weather, to share in the day. We all just completed our 27th annual event. Just how amazing is that?
A warm welcome to Shirley Ha Chock and members of Tai Chi United who made it up for the first time from Milford, CT. It’s always great meeting new people. Hello and thank you to Zhang Yuhan – your Cannon Fist form was great to watch. It’s very clear who your father and grandfather are! And to our friends of Health Healing Martial Arts, I imagined it would be difficult for both you all and Morris that he wasn’t there in person, but watching you practice and do your thing made his presence tangibly felt.
There are so many moving parts behind the curtain to pull off the day – permitting, insurance, site-surveys, staging, audio, visuals, catering, swag, teaching, and attendance. It all comes together thanks to everyone’s participation. Now, thanks to Patrick Gruss, I’ve just started looking over the video footage he shot of the day, and am reminded that it was as great a day as I remembered.
A greatest of thanks to Joe Pandolfo for organizing and taking charge as he has for the past several years. The big decisions and sleepless nights (due mostly to weather anxiety) fall on his shoulders. While helping the setup team assemble EZ up tents in the pouring rain, he was undeterred.
