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World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (WTCQD)

The last Saturday in April every year plays host to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day. It is part of a global effort to promote the healing aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong within our society. For the second year running YHGInverness participated in this global celebration by hosting a free Qigong seminar/workshop. Sifu Hepple, Chief Instructor at YHGInverness, conducted the seminar on the Yi Jin Jing, (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) which is a Qigong set or ‘form’ thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The set was taught step by step until complete. Once the whole set had been learned, the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body was discussed. During Qigong exercises Qi, or internal energy, within the body is manipulated for specific health purposes. This can be achieved by moving your body in a certain way to stimulate specific organs of the body or using your mind’s eye, will or intention to lead Qi around your body or through certain meridians of the body. Using your mind and body together with coordinated breathing increases the function of many systems of the body. It also reduces stress and fatigue, calms the mind, improves circulation and many other documented health benefits. Qigong can be practiced by anyone and although it originated in China over 2000 years ago, it is still practiced today by people all over the world, from all walks of life.

The seminar ran over the scheduled time by quite a bit, so thank you to everyone who attended and managed to focus for the whole seminar. Also thank you to everyone who helped make this a successful event, including anyone who shared our Facebook posts and helped to spread the word. Hopefully YHGInverness will continue to make this a regular event every year and continue to preserve the art for future generations. Special thanks to the organisers of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day who help to promote this art worldwide. Without their efforts we would never have all come together at the same time for their common vision of health and healing on a global scale.

If you are interested in finding out more about Qigong or would like to attend one of our Qigong classes, please visit our Qigong page: https://www.yhginverness.com/qi-gong-classes/

 

Participants of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (25.4.15)
Participants of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (25.4.15)
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FREE Qigong Seminar/Workshop for World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

In honour of the World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy, Inverness will be hosting a FREE seminar on the Yi Jin Jing or Muscle-Tendon Strengthening Qigong. Beginning at 10am on Saturday the 25th of April.

The Yi Jing Jing is a qigong set, thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The exercises in the Yi Jin Jing set feature soft even movements which will invigorate the limbs and organs of the body. Practice of the set will improve your flexibility and balance, muscle tone and strength. It is particularly beneficial to your breathing and has many documented health benefits.

The Yi Jin Jing set is easy to learn and suitable for beginners as well as people of all ages and skill levels. The set will be taught step by step by Sifu Simon Hepple, the chief instructor at Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy. Once the complete set has been learned, we will discuss the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body.

After the seminar, The Yi Jin Jing will be added to the comprehensive qigong curriculum at Yee’s Hung Ga, Inverness, so don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to learn this set absolutely FREE!

This seminar is open to all members of the public, you do not have to be a member of the school to join in. If you would like to attend, you only need to turn up on the day. The seminar begins at 10am so please arrive in good time for the beginning. Participation is mandatory so please do not turn up expecting to be able to sit and watch. If you would like to make your attendance known then here is a link to the Facebook Event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1593102387624817/

You should wear loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes or trainers. Bring a drink with you. If you wish to make notes, bring a notepad and pen with you too. There is no strict age limit to the event however please exercise common sense if you are thinking of bringing very young children. You can always contact Sifu Hepple beforehand, via the Contact Us page of this website, if you are at all in any doubt.

 

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Cubicles

Whilst YHGInverness was closed for the festivities, we were also busy doing some work inside the changing room. With the help of Graham, Kenny, Davis and Seamus, Sifu constructed three new changing cubicles for students to have a little more privacy whilst they are getting changed and psyching themselves up for their classes throughout the coming year ahead. Any new or interested students who would like to come along and see what Hung Ga is like should have a look at THIS PAGE

Here are a few photos taken during the process.

The side panels for the cubicles
The side panels for the cubicles
Checking the alignment of the first panel
Checking the alignment of the first panel
Strengthening the whole construction with a cross beam.
Strengthening the whole construction with a cross beam.
Here you can see that the cubicles are pretty spacious for getting changed in.
Here you can see that the cubicles are pretty spacious for getting changed in.
In the original design, three doors were going to be re-used, one for each cubicle.
In the original design, three doors were going to be re-used, one for each cubicle.
The original idea of re-using doors was shelved, for the time being, and curtains were put up instead for simplicity.
The original idea of re-using doors was shelved, for the time being, and curtains were put up instead for simplicity.

 

 

 

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New Year, New Start

two thousand and fourteen
Happy New Year

We would like to wish everyone a happy new year. 2013 was amazing for YhgInverness and we are hoping that 2014 will be even more memorable.

To kick off the new year we have re-introduced the Qi-gong and Tai Chi classes at a more user friendly day and time. They will begin on Saturday the 4th January at 3.30-4.30pm. As always, the first class is free. You can find out more information HERE. Qi-gong is great for your mind, body and spirit and these classes are suitable for most people of all ages and abilities.

Gift certificates will still be available throughout the year, so if you know someone who wants to train but lacking in motivation, this would be the perfect gift for them. You can find out more info HERE.

If your new year’s resolution is to get fit, have fun, lose weight, make new friends, learn something new, or just to be able to defend yourself, Yee’s Hung Ga has everything for you. To begin your new journey, it’s a lot easier than you might think. You can find out what to do HERE.

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Lunar New Year 2013, Year Of The Snake

Yee’s Hung Ga Inverness has been busy over the Lunar New Year period. A traditional Lion dance parade, arranged by SHIMCA, passed right outside the front doors of our school, on Inverness High Street.

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Lion dance parade

Sifu Hepple demonstrated the Chun Choy Dai Do (Spring Autumn, Great Knife), or Kwan Do, before a screening of a Jackie Chan film, as part of the Forres Chinese New Year celebrations.

There was also a seminar on the legendary Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. This seminar focused on Wong Fei Hung and what made him famous. Snake techniques were used to demonstrate the martial skill which made him renowned throughout China and the rest of the World. Here are a few photos from the seminar:

New Year

 

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Lunar New Year Demonstration and Seminars

Yee’s Hung Ga Inverness students were invited to attend an insightful day of seminars and introductions to other martial arts, last weekend, by the Scottish Fighting Arts Society.

Birthday Seminar

The event was organised by Alan Mitchell from the Smithton Kempo School and seminars were hosted by instructors from Hapkido, Kempo, Ju-Jitsu and also from Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy.

The seminars were very insightful, giving students and instructors a glimpse into the world of other styles and systems which they may not have been introduced to before. There were many similarities between the various arts which demonstrates the common bond that we share. It was refreshing to see the differences in similar techniques and the thought processes behind them. “We all have similar goals but go about it in different ways.” Sifu Hepple, from Yee’s Hung Ga, stated during his seminar. “We are all part of the same family, yet have different paths.”

Here are a few photos from the day:

Sifu Hepple has also been invited to host a free seminar and kung fu demonstration in his home-town of Forres, for the coming Chinese New Year celebrations.

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Sifu Hepple will be performing the Chun Choy Dai Do (kwan do) on Friday the 15th of February, in the Forres Town Hall shortly before the martial arts film at 6.30pm.

Karate Kid low res

Sifu Hepple will also be hosting a free seminar on Saturday the 16th of February in Forres House at 2pm where you can find out about the legendary Chinese hero, Wong Fei Hung and try your hand at some Hung Ga Kung Fu fighting techniques.