Berks Tai Chi

I truly enjoy  the practice and teaching of Qigong and the "internal" styles of martial arts. My specialty is Taijiquan (also known as Tai Chi or T'ai-chi Ch'uan), but I have also had instruction in Bagua Palm (Pau Kua Chang), Xingyi  Fist ( Hsing Yi Chuan), and Liu He Ba Fa (Water Style Boxing)       

 My first teacher of Taiji and Qigong was Rick Marth. Rick was a student of E.C. Lee  when he lived in Reading, PA.

Since 1998 I've been studying with Betsy Chapman and Sara Gellhorn. In 2005 I became their first student to be awarded a black sash in chinese internal arts.

Coach Chapman is a certified national level judge and long time student of  Master Peter Warr. Master Warr, my "Taiji Grandfather", is a disciple of Chen Yu He, whose teachers included Yang Chen Fu, Sun Lu Tang, and General Zhang Zhi Jiang of the Nanjing Academy. Master Warr has also held the position of Vice Chairman of the International Wushu Federation Technical Committee.

Sara Gellhorn learned both external and internal styles of Chinese martial arts from Master Nick Scrima, founder of the International Chinese Martial Arts Circuit (ICMAC). She has won national championships in both forms and push hands competitions. Sara continues to study Fu Family arts with Master Jose Johnson, another former national champion and top student of Master Nick Gracenin. Coach Gracenin studied with Master Bow Sim Mark, and is one of the most respected practitioners of Chinese martial arts in the U.S.

Thanks to my teachers and to Masters Warr, Scrima, Johnson, and Gracenin.

Thanks also to many others who have provided me with advice and instruction, including...

Master Pat Rice, director of "A Taste of China" (ATOC), who made it possible for me to study with...Grandmaster Yang Zhen Duo, Master Yang Jun, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Grandmaster Liang Shou-Yu, Dr. Daniel Lee (my practice partner in Master Liang's seminar), Sam Masich, Dr. Felix Chang, Professor Li Deyin, Kathy Gracenin, Dr. Yang Yang, and Yang Ying, who was kind enough to have me join her on stage during her performance at ATOC.

Yang Ying (Erhu) joined by Jan Gyomber (percussion) Shenandoah University July 2007

 Thanks also to Carolyn Jaffe and Judy Mellor (JMT), Dorian Abel (Reiki and Yoga), Linda Rocco (Yoga), and Marie Perfect (Massage, Vibrational Therapy, and Universal White Time Healing).

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you all !

Jan Gyomber

My Recovery

    I've been interested in body/mind/spirit work since I was young, but was unsure how to procede. I took classes in yoga, karate, Aikido, and enjoyed them all, but it just didn't click until I found the chinese internal arts.

    Unfortunately, it took a serious illness to get me to really practice seriously. Colds, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and finally discovery of malignant tumors, one the size of baseball in my chest, put me down and almost out. My Doctor was great, but chemo was rougher than I expected. The illness and its' treatment sapped my strength.

    I began practicing Qigong flat on my back until I could stand. I started practicing taiji (tai chi) once I could stand for a few minutes. Carolyn Jaffe and her partner, Judy Mellor added acupuncture and JMT.

    The suport of well wishers, combined with the concern and care of my oncologist, JMT sessions, and the practice of taiji and qigong led to my improved health and vitality.

    I have since continued my studies of Taijiquan, Qigong, and Reiki, as well as Advanced JMT with Drs. Jaffe and Mellor, and now devote a good part of my time and energy to practicing and helping others get the benefits of these energy arts.

   Jan Gyomber has been an exercise and wellness consultant for over 20 years. He has been studying Taiji and Qigong since 1993, and was the US Wushu Union 2005 national gold medalist in Yang style Taijiquan. In 2006 he was awarded a USWU gold medal for his performance of Liu He Ba Fa.

Jan also was gold medalist in Yang style at the 2009 ICMAC national finals.

Jan was invited to help host the Grandmasters of the 5 main styles of Taijiquan at the historic International Taijiquan Symposium at Vanderbilt University, July, 2009

In May of 2009 Jan presented 2 workshops at the Taijiquan Enthusiasts Festival. At the 2011 festival he also acted as Master of Ceremonies for the "Sharing Our Arts" demonstrations.

At the 2012 NQA national confrence in Vancouver,Washington, Jan presented the workshop, "Tai Chi as Qigong".

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 Currently on the board of directors of the National Qigong Association 

Certified Level III Advanced Instructor NQA

Certified Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor

Certified Advanced JMT practitioner

Developer of SAEFET

Developer of AKCT

Universal White Time Mineral Healing level III 

Professional Member National Qigong Association

www.nqa.org

Member International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association www.yangfamilytaichi.com