2014 Annual Report

Putting Down Roots; ATang Shou Tao Retrospective

North American Tang Shou Tao AssociationPO Box 36235, Tucson, AZ, 85740

www.NATSTA.org

2014 Financial OverviewEXPENSES ($)

Attorney Fees 495.00

Bank charges 2,731.15

Utilities 2,194.64

Office Expenses 6,819.44

Rent 12,000.00

Consulting fees 12,000.00

Airfare and travel 12,357.55

Event expenses 79,552.33

Publishing 3,202.90

TOTAL EXPENSES 131,353.01

INCOME ($)

Membership dues 38,175.00

Event registration 63,800.00

Private donations 14,000.00

Retail sales 1,236.97

TOTAL INCOME 117,212.97

Board of DirectorsPresident Ethan MurchieTreasurer Amara Franko HellerSecretary Kathy Reynolds

Dear Friends,

The North American Tang shou Tao Association is a small not-for-profitorganization working diligently to preserve a portion of human culturalknowledge that we believe to be of great worth to all communities.

Our mandate is to research, preserve, and disseminate the traditionalChinese martial arts of Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, and Liuhebafa, as well as the family-style methods of Classical ChineseMedicine that have been practiced alongside of these arts for centuries.

The training of these “internal” martial arts, while having the potential to be very effective in a fight, are also deep and elegant systems of self cultivation, is a practice that makes a sick person become well and a well person grow stronger. Hard people becomesofter and soft people become harder. When a healer practices these arts, they become a better clinician and a better healer.

We believe that the best way to make the arts more accessible is to actively use what we have learned to help as many people in as manyways as possible. As such, in addition to the regular clinics and classesbeing held across the country, members are implementing projectsthat impact people in our communities — programs that focus on children, troubled youth, veterans health, and various underservedpopulations here and abroad.

We strive to continue training and supporting practitioners and instructors in implementing the methods of traditional gongfu trainingin their communities. Education, events, and publishing all play a rolein developing our members, their schools and clinics, and preservingthe arts they practice and teach.

It is an interesting part of the research of traditional knowledge that the advances in understanding come not from “new” discoveries butfrom a continuous return to the source. For as much energy as we putinto new projects or opportunities, we must put equal energy into maintaining our connections to the elders in our tradition, many ofwhom are lineage holders in China.

This special Annual Report demonstrates through Tang Shou Tao’shistory, our dual path of progressing forward while simultaneously returning to the sources for our principles, values and direction.

Ethan MurchiePresidentInternal Martial Arts

Shen LongXingyiquan

HeroMountainXingyiquan

Taijiquan

Liuhebafa

Kajukenbo

Liang ZhenpuBaguazhang

Cheng SchoolGao StyleBaguazhang

Song ShirongStyle Xingyiquan

Jin Shou TuinaTM

TraditionalChinese Medicine

GongfuHerbal Formulas

Nuad Bo Rarn Thai Massage

MissionMartial and Medical Arts

The North American Tang Shou Tao Associationis a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation, anddissemination of the traditional Chinese martial and medical arts, in order to ensuretheir viability for future generations.

The Association embraces the intrinsic value, and

rich and complex history of the Chinese internal martial and

medical arts. We adhere to the principles, spirit, intent, and

applications these arts represent in our training and practice.

We aspire to preserve the purity of each lineage that we

represent by honoring our founders, and keeping the definitions

and practices clear for the historical record and for posterity.

We strive to deepen our understanding and expression

of our martial and medical arts through cultivating relationships

with our lineage holders and family advisors in China.

We develop instructors to provide the highest level of

competence, understanding, and teaching of the martial and

medical arts so the arts do not become diluted from one

generation to the next.

We provide opportunities for students and instructors

to meet, exchange information, train together, and build a

viable community of individuals dedicated to this work.

THE FIRST DECADE 1990-1999:

Organization and Development During these years, the components that we think of today as theNorth American Tang Shou Tao system were put into place. Thiswas the work of bringing together groups from across the countrywho found themselves involved with the same study of traditionalChinese gongfu, but who did not see themselves as “family” orshare common goals and values. This was conceived and imple-mented by Vince Black with the help of his wife Kim and othersunder their direction.

National Instructor and Sparring Conference: Real time martial technique and character development

The National Conference was created to physically bring members together once a year tomeet each other, share knowledge, make friends,learn lessons, and set goals. Instructors trainednew material to bring back to their schools. Aunique sparring format was implemented earlyon. With no judges, winning or losing, and supported by a fully stocked Chinese medicine “triage” clinic,fights became a tool for self development and growth. This eventhas been attended by 60 to 120 students for more than two decades.

The Association NewsletterBringing schools together, giving members a voice

The Newsletter was created in 1993 as another forum to sharethoughts and bring the community closer. It has been publishedtwice yearly now for twenty years and has grown from a simplesix page broadsheet to a 36 page, professional quality journal.

Instructor CurriculumsStandardizing instruction and certification

Curriculums were created for systematic teaching of the varioussystems and preservation of the knowledge contained withinthem. Criteria and testing were developed for Instructor and Assistant Instructor certification. Today the Association has 36 certified Instructors and 42 certified Assistant Instructors. Founder Vince Black with President Ethan Murchie (background)

Traditional Chinese and Gongfu Medicine ProgramsIncluding medicine in our martial education, as practiced by our ancestors

Programs were developed to teach the various theoretical and practical aspects of the medicinewith an emphasis on the techniques and knowledge passed down to Vince Black from Hsu Hong-Chi — tuina protocols, herbal formulas, and medical tehniques to treat classmates, friends and family non-professionally.

Research and Development Study GroupsEstablishing our martial and medical lineages

The late 1990s saw the advent of the Research and Development Study Group in order to do the intensive work necessary to pass on the wide variety of materials Vince Black hadpersonally researched and accumulated throughout his life. Thisgroup met in Tucson every second month for many years to trainunder Vince’s direction. This work helped prepare a generation ofInstructors to take responsibility for the preservation of the artsand Association administration.

Field Research TripsDeepening cultural and martial lineage roots

Multiple field research trips to China were conducted. Groups ranging from two to twentypeople were sent on an almost yearly basisthroughout the nineties to both expand our Assocation’s connections among the broaderChinese gongfu community and to deepen therelations with practitioners we already knew.

PublishingKeeping a promise to Liang Zhenpu lineage holders

The English edition of the book Liang Zhen Pu Eight DiagramPalm by Li Ziming was published in 1993.

Senior Advisor Dr. Yu Chien-Hwa

THE SECOND DECADE 2000-2009:

Consolidating and MaturingThe second decade was characterized by the maturing of a gener-ation of practitioners within the Association so that they wereborn and raised, as it were, with a shared set of goals and values.The passing of responsibility for the Association from Vince andKim Black to this younger generation and the reorganization thataccompanied this, were major factors during these years. Therewas a focus on strengthening relations between Associationschools and younger members with senior practitioners, andbuilding the medical knowledge base of the Association.

Senior Chinese Advisor TourLearning directly from lineage holders

The year 2000 saw Senior Advisor, the late Liang Kequan, spendthree months living in Tucson and touring schools across the continent. This set the tone for the next decade, during whichseveral senior lineage holders of our martial and medical arts became Advisors to the Association. Much of our resources werespent bringing these Advisors to teach in North America.

Medicine ConferenceEstablishing medical arts education

A Medicine Conference was added to the National Conference in2003 to provide focused training in both the theory and practiceof Chinese medicine for all members. More and more studentsbegan to pursue Chinese medicine as a career choice.

Lineage System CommitteesPreserving and teaching our martial and medical lineages

System Committees were formed representing the martial art andmedicine lineage styles taught in the Association. Committeestook on the responsibility of specializing in a body of material; researching, teaching, and hosting retreats for members. System Committees replaced the Research and Development Study Group, hosting at least four retreats per year.

Senior Advisor Li Cang with Founder Vince Black

Executive CommitteeStreamlining Association operations

The logistics of running the Association were taken over by an Executive Committee comprised of the President, Vice President(s), Treasurer and Secretary. This was a major step towards making the organization sustainable and self-reliant.

Li Runxi Takes DisciplesBecoming a part of the Shanxi Xingyi lineage

In 2005 a group of five Association members became recognizedas Disciples of Li Runxi in Shanxi Province, China. This openedthe door to more intensive training and also led to a deepeningappreciation of the family relations shared between Chinese Advisors and members of the Association. Li Runxi took severalmore Disciples in 2008 during a training conference in Thailand.

Thai Massage Field ResearchIntroducing a new traditional medical bodywork system to Association members

Field research was begun in Thailand into Thai Massage and traditional Thai medicine. Thisbrought a wider breadth of training in manualmedicine to the Association and immensely increased our under-standing and logistical capacities in the area of field research.

American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia RecognitionIn 2006 the method of tuina practiced in the Association was recognized by the American Association of Bodywork Therapiesof Asia (AOBTA) as a distinct method and was named Jin ShouTuina™. Association members are able to be recognized at a national level as Instructors or Practitioners of Jin Shou Tuina.

PublishingPreservation for future generations

The Association’s translator John Groschwitz published an Englishedition of The Xingyi Boxing Manual by Jin Yunting in 2004.

Senior Advisor Li Runxi with his father Li Guichang pictured in the background

THE THIRD DECADE 2010-CURRENT:

Preparing for the FutureThe beginning of this decade has beena happy conjunction of many long-standing projects coming to fruition,and an increased logistical capacityamong Association members. There is a focused inquiry among theyounger generation of Instructors into how to build on the foundation of twenty years that we are in the process of inheriting. Along with this there is a great deal of energy being spent on strengthening ties between the younger generations of the Association and our Chinese Senior Advisors. Visits with Advisors Liu Shuhangand Li Runxi were increased in frequency this decade.

501(c)(3) Not-for-profit StatusIn 2012 the Association was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Thishas opened up possibilities for future growth and organization.

Liu Shuhang Takes DisciplesBecoming a part of the Gao Yisheng Bagua lineage

In 2012 Liu Shuhang took a group of 13 Disciples,which was a major step in the official transplanta-tion of the Gao Yisheng family style of Bagua intoNorth America, and served to strengthen personal connectionsbetween the Association and the Gao Yisheng Bagua family.

PublishingPartnership of trust between the Cheng School GaoStyle Baguazhang family and the Tang Shou Tao family

In 2013 the Association facilitated the English translation andpublication of Gao Yisheng’s Cheng School Gao Style BaguaBoxing Manual, a significant work covering Cheng School GaoBagua as well as the history, ethics and virtues governing thepractice and teaching of martial arts.Senior Advisor Liu Shuhang

Vince Black Takes DisciplesMoral, ethical and spirit leadership

In 2013 Vince Black took a group of 13 Disciples, which was increased to 16 in 2014.This is a group of students with close personalrelationships with Vince and are tasked with ensuring that as the Association grows and evolves it remains true to the original vision of Vince and his teachers.

New Senior Advisor Dr.Yu Chien-HwaNew perspectives on manual medicine

Dr. Yu Chien-Hwa was our guest at the 2013 National Conference where he shared his family’stuina method. This was preceded and followedby research trips to visit his clinic in Taipei, Taiwan during 2011 and 2014. Vince Black metDr. Yu’s father, Master Yu Wen-Tong, many years ago in his Taiwan clinic. Dr. Yu is carrying out his father’s wishes to workwith our Association, adding to our manual medicine techniques.

One Hundred Year Memorial Celebration for Li Guichang Students demonstrate for a large martial art audience in Taiyuan, China

In January 2014 a delegation of twenty Association members participated in memorialcelebrations in Shanxi Province, China. Student demonstrationswere prepared under Li Runxi’s direction, to be performed in honorof his father, Li Guichang, Vince Black’s teacher. Participating inthis event was a historical day for both the Tang Shou Tao and theChinese lineage holders of Li Guichang’s Xingyi.

Dr. Li DingDeepening our Qigong and medical knowledge

Dr. Li Ding was our guest at the 2014 National Conference wherehe taught his Meridian Qigong method, as well as treated patientsand shared clinical insights. In addition, planning was begun topublish a Meridian Qigong study guide based on his work.

Senior Advisor Dr. Li Ding

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2015-2025:

Growth for the Next DecadeThe following areas of activity are important to further establish ourorganizational roots and sustain the work of our mission.

Educational Conferences and Events We have in recent years developed a deficit of $20,000 in the runningof our Conferences. This is largely because of rising costs and the timesensitive nature of the work we are doing with our Chinese Senior Advisors who, as they get older, will find it more difficult to travel andteach the more rigorous aspects of their arts. A pressing issue is howto finance these important activities to avoid a deficit.

A major part of this challenge is the cost of conference facilities thatare quickly rising out of our price range. The two possible solutions to this problem are to find a facility that can accommodate our needsat a reasonable price or to acquire our own facility. In either case,costs are one concern and having an environment conducive to the study and transmission of our material is the other. We have no clear-cut solution, but we are continuing to explore options.

Development of Instructors and SchoolsThere are many ways to run a successful Tang Shou Tao school. Our criteria for success are not straightforward. An Instructor withtwo “good” students is preferable to one with forty “bad” students.The experiences of senior practitioners and instructors are there to help us avoid common mistakes, and to make the most of our efforts — particularly for those following the model of combining a medicine practice with teaching and training gongfu.

We currently have many members building Chinese medicine practices, either with acupuncture or with bodywork. We feel this is an excellent way to embody the tradition (though by no means theonly one). Plans are underway to increase our capacity to supportmembers in setting up and running enterprises focused on the combined practice of medicine and martial arts. The stronger our individual schools and clinics, the stronger the Association, thus, thisaspect of our operations will be a primary focus in the next five years.

Preserving Knowledge Through Publications Translation and publishing have been a relatively small but important part of the work of the Association, and this work will continue. Several new translations from Chinese are already underway, as well as several original works being produced by Association members.

In addition, our web presence will be updated in 2015 to include articles, photos and videos to better serve as a resource for individual members and member schools.

Serving Communities Through Outreach Outreach has always been a part of the Associations activities:

• Childrens clinic at Four Winds Health Center in Tucson, AZ providing free treatment to children, many with disabilities.

• Indigo Project in Flagstaff, AZ, providing classes in qigong andgongfu to at risk youth.

• Navajo Healthcare Project in Crystal, NM, providing treatment to the underserved population on the Navajo reservation.

• Community clinics in Mae Tao and Thunkanon, Thailand, providing treatment to villagers affected by low intensity conflict and live land mines.

• Community clinic at Seven Star Gongfu in Portland, OR, providing treatment to underserved populations.

• Veterans Program at Four Winds Health Center in Tucson, AZ, pro-viding Qigong classes and Chinese medicine treatments to veterans.

One of the challenges we face is the difficulty in communicating whatwe do to people not directly involved. Our outreach programs haverepeatedly demonstrated that experiencing Tang Shou Tao medicineand physical culture is the surest way to do this. We will be workingto implement model outreach programs which can be duplicated in member schools that wish to become more involved in their communities. We see this as a major component in strengthening our schools and carrying on the work of the Association.