10 Year Anniversary of 9/11 to be a Day of Healing for Martial Arts School in Long Beach, CA

Long Beach, CA, September 01, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Commemorations of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. will be ubiquitous across the country. Television networks have aired and will continue to air specialized programming commemorating the ten year anniversary of the infamous day. Americans will hold vigils and services, remembrance walks and concerts. Our emotions will be heightened as we relive the anger, sadness and fear we felt when we learned that 2,753 fellow Americans were killed right here on our soil.

However, a martial arts school in Long Beach, Ca. has decided to commemorate the event in a slightly less traditional manner. Sifu Bryan Talbot, head instructor at West Coast Wing Chun, decided to hold a four hour Chi Kung healing workshop entitled "The Path to a Healthier Life with Chi Kung” on September 11 at the Belmont Shores Chalet in Long Beach from 1pm to 5 pm. The workshop will be taught by renowned Chi Kung healer and martial artist, Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, and has decided to open it to the public. “I wanted to provide the community with the opportunity to learn an art that promotes self-healing. How can we expect to heal the world from violence and war when everyday we battle our own inner turmoil? Peace and healing starts with each one of us. This is an opportunity to find peace within yourself.”

It may seem odd that a martial arts school emphasizes inner peace. Talbot explains, “With the Americanization of martial arts, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Kung Fu originated with the Shaolin monks in China. Spirituality is inherent in the art.” He goes on to explain that the Chinese characters for Wu Shu, or martial art, literally translate to “end of violence.” “When we fight,” he explains, “we are not fighting an enemy. We are fighting ourselves.”

Chi Kung is a system of mental and physical training used to develop and direct vital energy within the human body. Chinese martial artists use chi kung as the method for developing inner power or chi. However, Chi Kung is by no means uniquely used by martial artists. The traditional Chinese medical community uses Chi Kung for achieving curative and restorative functions in the body, the Chinese general public practice it themselves for self-healing purposes and to achieve optimum health, and the religious community uses Chi Kung to attain enlightenment.

The practices of Chi Kung are differentiated by varying types of training: dynamic, static, and meditative. Dynamic training involves special movement and applies to exercise such as Tai Chi. Static training requires the practitioner to hold the body in a particular posture. Meditative training involves focus on specific ideas or intent, and breathing patterns. By learning correct posture, movement and how to activate relevant acupuncture points, a practitioner's benefits may include improved health. increased relaxation physically and mentally, increased energy and vitalization.

Grandmaster Kwok is a licensed acupuncturist and has just recently retired from a career in Psychiatric Nursing in Manchester, England. He has practiced and studied Chi Kung for nearly fifty years and travels around the world teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu and Chi Kung at his affiliated fight clubs with locations on six different continents. Grandmaster Kwok is quickly becoming a world wide authority on Chi Kung healing and was recently acquired by a professional UK soccer team to treat team members injuries with Chi Kung healing.

Inquiries about the Chi Kung workshop to take place on September 11 may be directed to Sifu Bryan Talbot at westcoastwingchun@ipmankungfu.com or by calling 562-612-7332. Testimonies made be viewed at www.ipmankungfu.com/seminars.html. West Coast Wing Chun will be holding Chi Kung classes under the Grandmaster Samuel Kwok lineage in the coming months.

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