The Dragon's Head Blog

What’s happening at the International Center Florida? Construction is under way in Build E, our new practice hall.   (Here is a reminder that all programs and classes have been moved to 1370 Main Street in Dunedin, Florida until construction is completed.)  Build E has had the walls and walkways around the courtyard removed and scaffolding put […]

The hands lead and the body will follow. Paul Harmon, our guest instructor from Fairbanks, Alaska recently instructed intensive classes at our Oakland, Sonoma and Pleasant Hill locations. Paul worked with us on our foundations. We received instructions on many of our moves.  It will be our homework until the next intensive. To get ready […]

On the first day of the month the New York City-based Tri-State branch hosted 62 guests and participants for our International Seniors’ Day event. We shared a fantastic brunch while watching live video feeds from 11 branches around the globe, an illustration of our international culture.  We all thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Nathan Goldstein’s presentation entitled In […]

The Portland, Oregon branch honored seniors with a breakfast and intensive on the morning of Sunday, October 1st.  Our fabulous kitchen team presented a first-class breakfast to 90 participants and guests including many from senior activity and residential centers where we hold external classes. Volunteers created beautiful tables with lovely bouquets and our resident technical […]

For the 12th year, the Vancouver, Washington, USA location of the Portland branch participated in the Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair.  It was bigger and better than ever with over 100 exhibitors and a steady stream of visitors to our booth.  The day began with our regular Saturday continuing class being held at the Bell Tower in […]

The Tallahassee branch held their International Seniors’ Day celebration on Monday, October 2nd at the Tallahassee Senior Center.  We were joined by over 75 participants watching Taoist Tai Chi® demonstrations and participating in mini-lessons on the first moves of the set.  Home-baked cookies and other refreshments were served and enjoyed by all. One of our long-standing members […]

On the weekend of September 23 and 24, the Portland, Oregon branch hosted an international workshop. We were privileged to welcome international instructor and FLK USA Executive Director Sean Dennison. The experience was enriched by over 40 old and new friends who traveled from branches in the United States and Canada. A total of 141 […]

There was a gathering of 200+ throughout the day which started with an intensive during which Honorable Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski from the city of Dunedin kicked off our celebration. She was joined by Vice Mayor Deborah Kynes and Commissioner Heather Gracy and later in the program Commissioner John Tornga. We had Dave Eggers, County […]

“I don’t know what I look like to other people, but I don’t feel 84. And that’s because of tai chi.” — Leon Ablon, Volunteer Instructor, Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA. At age 84, Leon Ablon is the oldest continuing instructor (advanced teacher) in the Tri-State Branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society […]

Now that Harvey and Irma have moved on we begin hearing about the reality of the storms’ impact. Many are assessing loss and damage, working with insurance companies, FEMA, Emergency Response teams, charitable agencies and organizations throughout their region.   Our training deepens as we learn even more about the Virtues, being harmonious, respectful, patient […]

Hi All, Know you are wondering and seeing lots of news on the website and telly. Good news, overall tree damage lots of debris and some structural damage fences etc. but as far as people everyone reports doing OK. Lots of power outages in most areas and cell phones running low on charge. The Fenway […]

This past Labor Day weekend participants of the Dunedin, Florida branch went to the beach to spread the word. A day to spend time in the community of Dunedin. Lots of watchers. Lots of interested people admired the quiet tai chi set. — Pegoty Packman

Renovations at the International Center in Florida have entered a new phase. Renovation of Building E, the practice hall, has begun. Larger washrooms and an 18,000-foot  air conditioned practice hall will welcome program attendees starting in early 2018. Demolition of the interior of Building E began on August 20.   The dragon was moved to […]

Luana Goodwin has told the Tallahassee Democrat how her Taoist Tai Chi® arts story is long, complicated, and difficult because it’s been a journey not only of physical changes but emotional discovery as well. Diagnosed years ago with panic attacks, Laura  says that now she is pushing through the fear to tell her story. “It’s […]

Providing a sense of community is part of our Taoist Tai Chi teachings. Cooking for one another, sharing meals, and working together are also part of the experience. A Japanese lunch and a movie captured all of these elements for the Dunedin branch. Plates of handmade sushi and rice and noodle dishes were prepared and […]

Every other summer the Portland branch puts on a two-day rummage sale  This year’s sale was huge and brought equally huge results with sales reaching over $7,000.  It was hard work by many which paid off for the society.  Participants prepared for the event by donating treasures, working for two days pricing donations, making signs […]

The Portland branch celebrated Awareness Day by participating in the Oregon Walkways event in the Lents neighborhood.  Demos, info and even a little instruction were presented to interested passers-by.

Participants from Dunedin joined the Dunedin Blue Jays this past Saturday, in a charity event for Ronald McDonald House. There were two lanes of bowling, lots of fun, toryus, donyus, as well as a delicious Italian buffet!  Ronald McDonald was there with the Ace, the Blue Jays mascot, to round out the fun with the whole […]

The Portland, Oregon branch was invited to do demonstrations and teach the first few moves at Portland’s first tea festival.  TeaFest PDX was a huge success drawing a full capacity crowd.  We found it easy to smile as we demoed for these happy festivalgoers.  They gave us a great location, the weather was hot and […]

The Taoist Tai Chi center in Louisville, Kentucky was privileged to host thirty Down syndrome teenagers from a local day camp named Achieving Dreams.  We not only had fun, we also exchanged many high-five’s and lots of sweet hugs–all the while managing to work on the first eight moves of the set!