About HME Austin
Sifu Adam Mizner
Founder of Heaven Man Earth
Shifu Adam Mizner has a solid and fast growing international reputation as a luminary in internal practices, Sifu Adam Mizner has devoted his life to practice and teaching internal martial arts and meditation (as taught in Theravada Buddhism). He gives seminars in Australia, Asia, North America and Europe. Adam Mizner has intensively trained in Taijiquan with a number of masters of the Huang Sheng Shyan Line and the Yang Shao Hou Line and transfers these systems directly as teachers of the 7th generation of the Yang style Taijiquan.
For those that are unable to attend regular classes, Sifu Mizner has developed a very successful and comprehensive online training course, Discover Taiji.
Curtis Brough
Adam Mizner’s Senior Student
Curtis Brough is the first student of Sifu Adam Mizner, and the senior affiliate at Heaven Man Earth Internal Arts International.
He started training external martial arts at age 16, and taiji, qigong and meditation with Sifu Adam at age 21, including 3 years of full-time initiation as a live-in student. During his years in Thailand, he divided his time between forest monasteries, intensive retreats, and his own training.
He started teaching HME taiji in 2008, and he has been conducting workshops in Asia and Australia since 2015.
Mark de L. Thompson
Leader of Heaven Man Earth Austin Branch
Mark has studied tai chi since 1983 with senior students of Cheng Man-ch’ing in North America and Taiwan.
Mark continues his studies today with the Huang Sheng Shyang branch of the Cheng Man-ch’ing school through Sifu Adam Mizner. He teaches HME tai chi because it is a remarkably compete system and he enjoys belonging to a vibrant worldwide community.
About Taijiquan
Taiji quan [tai chi chuan] belongs to the big family of Chinese martial arts, and more precisely to the current known as “internal school of the fist” (nei jia quan), of Taoist inspiration. The expression taiji quan is commonly translated as “fist – or boxing – (quan) of the ridge (ji) supreme (tai)”, in reference to the ridge beam of the house, symbol of the first principle, universal and omnipresent in Taoism . In the same spirit, one can also translate the expression by “fist of the supreme polarity”, the notion of “pole”, place of this supreme polarity, referring to the instant where yin and yang are still united.
The most common form of taiji quan is performed with bare hands. It is a question of linking a number – variable according to the schools – of codified movements of attack and defense.
Parallel to the execution of this routine, the practitioner exercises at work with partner (tests, martial applications, …), as well as the handling of traditional weapons such as the saber, the sword, or the spear.
Highlights:
- Tai chi chuan is an effective exercise focused on vital energy rather than muscle that can be practiced at all ages regardless of physical strength
- It gently and effectively solves the whole body – muscles and joints – develops vital energy, reduces stress through the work of relaxation that it requires, soothes and clarifies the mind by the concentration it implies.
- It is a non-violent, non-aggressive martial art, in harmony with natural laws.
- The application of taiji quan principles in relational life helps to defuse most conflicts by responding appropriately to verbal and psychological aggression.
The Yang style taught in our school was created by Yang Luchan (1799 -1872), a formidable fighter, nicknamed “the invincible”.
After his death, his art was transmitted from generation to generation within the Yang family. At first limited to the members of the family and to a few selected disciples, the teaching gradually became more and more simplified. Thus, alongside the traditional art of Yang Luchan and his heirs, we find different styles today, of very variable qualities.
The education provided in our school is faithful to the traditional style preserved within the Yang family. It is rooted in the practice of great masters of the lineage, including Yang Shao Hou (1862-1930), Zheng Manqing [Cheng Man-ch’ing] (1902-1975) and Huang Xingxian [Huang Sheng Shyan] (1910-1992). Today, this teaching is broadcast around the world by master (Sifu) Adam Mizner.
About HME Austin
This is an official HME affiliate school led by Sifu Adam Mizner. This ensures high quality and continuous improvement of the courses and the participants.
Heaven Man Earth Internal Arts International was founded by Adam Mizner in 2004, its mission is the propagation of authentic internal arts for health, martial arts and spiritual development. HME offers one of the most complete transmissions of Yang Style Tai chi available today.
HME Austin is a Heaven Man Earth Affiliate school lead by Mark Thompson who has studied tai chi since 1983 with senior students of Cheng Man-ch’ing in North America and Taiwan.
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