T'ai Chi Chih^® Northern California

Greetings to all. My name is Seon Keun Oh, thirty-six years old South Korean. I have been in Religious life for about 11years - member of the Marist Brothers of Schools. Over 300 Marist Brothers minister in different schools in New York, New Jersey, and a few other States in the east coast. I taught at a high school for a year and worked at a retreat center for three years in Seoul.

I have a great love and passion for the poor - human and other-than-human. This passion eventually led me to Sophia Center in Holy Names College in Oakland. Sophia Center has taught me the need that we revision the basic story of our lives and participate in the Great Work of personal, cultural, and ecological transformation. Its curriculum is created around the Fourfold Wisdom of the New Science, Indigenous Peoples, Women and Classical Traditions of the World.

Some day in April, one of my teachers invited a Tai Chi Chih teacher, Denise Clark, and had two sessions of Tai Chi Chih. The students, myself included, were amazed by its immediate effect and simple form. Since then, I have practiced Tai Chi Chih together with other students, watching the video tape. Soon I discovered wonder and beauty of Tai Chi Chih and was able to continue to learn and practice thanks to Denise Clark and Athene Mantle. I attended Athene’s class and shared with her my wish to bring Tai Chi Chih back to Korea. I believe that Tai Chi Chih will be a great help to people. I am particularly concerned about the health, physical, mental, and spiritual, of the elderly and the poor. I am well aware of their struggle amid in the fast changing culture and lifestyle.

In the beginning I was not able to dream to take this teacher training due to my situation: I don’t have the budget for the training. And I am also going back home some day in January next year, which means I am not qualified for the training by this November. [Note:Seon Keun is referring to Ed’s suggested two year practice and maturation period prior to attending Teacher Training] However, Athene and Denise have encouraged me a lot, generously providing me personal lesson and finding possible ways for me to participate in the teacher training. I continue to practice Tai Chi Chih, dreaming to share its beauty with the people in Korea, particularly those who are in need. Wisdom’s Blessings to you all.