The Dragon's Head Blog: Banquet and National Program in Vancouver, British Columbia

Going back to basics and building solid foundations were the focus on April 23 and 24 in Vancouver as Andrew Hung, Executive Director of the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, led 119 participants through a national program.

Some came from the USA and from Canada’s Eastern, Central and Western Regions to join us in the Pacific Region centre, but most participants were from the eight Pacific Region branches.

“It is amazing what Master Moy left us,” Andrew said at the start of the program, before leading us back to the foundation of danyus and toryus and slowing our movements in Grasp Bird’s Tail to let us focus on every rise and drop.

Later, we turned from the spine in Whip to One Side and relaxed our backs with Push Needle to Sea Bottom. Andrew emphasized that the push from the floor using both feet is the engine that drives our tai chi, and by the end of the workshop we were exploring how to make our movements more internal.

Saturday evening our own kitchen and many volunteers provided the fuel for our annual To Your Health banquet. About 215 participants, friends, relatives and invited guests enjoyed a multi-course Western dinner, followed by a second sitting for the 40 volunteers who prepared and served the food.

On Sunday we held our Annual Regional Meeting and learned that in our organization too, a strong foundation is all-important. Andrew summed up that the foundation of Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi is indeed solid, but that we must continue to work hard to maintain and further grow it.