Tai Chi Youth Tournaments strive to accomplish goals in harmony with the goals of our Tai Chi Youth curriruculums and programs. These goals are further defined by the TCY Bylaws and Tai Chi Youth Mission Statement.
	1. To lessen violence in the world.
		a. no sparring allowed in TCY schools
			i. Tai Chi Youth believes that forcing students to fight with each other is creating more fighting in the world.
			ii. Sparring, no matter how controlled it is, is violent and dangerous.
		b. no sparring allowed in TCY tournaments
			i. There are few tournaments where someone is not injured or has broken bones.
				ii. Many tournaments keep ambulences nearby to commute contestants to hospitals.
	2. Balancing mind and body of each student
		a. a balanced mind is the foundation necessary to develop spiritual awareness
			i. an unbalanced mind has difficulty learning anything.
			ii. an unbalanced mind clings to concepts creating fanatacism and extremism
		b. utilize the writings of Shaolin Chi Mantis to achieve mental balance
			i. Tai Chi Beginner by Zhen Shen-Lang
			ii. Gongfu Tournament Rules of Shaolin Chi Mantis
			iii. Push Hands Rules by Zhen Shen-Lang
		c. utilize the Muslim 12 Tantui Forms to create physical balance
			i. Reordered by Dr. Kam Yuen
			ii. Defined by Zhen Shen-Lang
			iii. traditionally taught to lay foundation of power and balance for sword training
	3. Spiritual awareness.
		a. concepts of Zen Buddhism
			i. word Zen is a Japanese word. Shaolin Chi Mantis and Tai Chi Youth use this word instead of the Chinese word "Chan" due to America's familiarity of the word "Zen."
			ii. Japanese Zen teachings may be included, rarely, as are the teachings of many other religions and cultures.
		b. concepts of Chan Buddhism
			i. Zen Buddhism originated as Chan Buddhism in China. Zen is the the Japanese word for Chan.
			ii. Chan Buddhism was created and founded by Bodhidharma who also is the creator/founder of Shaolin Gongfu.
		c. concepts of Daoism
			i. Taijiquan was originally created in a Daoist Monastery on Mt. Wudang, near the original Shaolin Temple.
			ii. Daoism is similar to many Native American concepts that teach harmony with Nature.
		d. concepts of Christianity
			i. concepts of compassion
			ii. teachings of nonviolence and tolerance.
	4. utilize Shaolin Gongfu Forms to create spiritual awareness
		a. Shaolin Chi Mantis Beginner program
			i. SCM curriculums are accurately designed to develop the skills and abilities of students.
			ii. Tai Chi Youth is the Shaolin Chi Mantis Beginner Program stretched out from a one year program to a three year program.
		b. Luohan I
			i. The Luohans, this Form is named after are the Buddhist Archangels that guard the Original Buddha in Heaven. To be one of these Luohan is to emulate a high spiritual force.
			ii. The word Luohan, can also refer to a spiritual mortal who has attained Buddhahood, but seeks to live longer to help as many mortals as possible.
		c. Small Circular Fist
			i. Also referred to as "Small Circular Luohan Fist," this Form is designed to create spiritual warriors.
			ii. Master Zhen refers to Gongfu fighting forms as "Dancing with one's aggression." This theory of Master Zhen is that all humans are instinctively violent to some degree. Rather than suppressing this anger, Zhen Shen-Lang teaches that Shaolin Gongfu is a creative outlet for this natural aggression.
		d. Lian Bu
			i. This Gongfu Form has been modified by adding two more kicks into an official Chinese Wushu tournament Form. Master Zhen originally learned this Form from Dr. Yuen who had altered the Form. A dozen years later, Master Zhen relearned this Form from Dr. Yuen's Shifu, Grandmaster Wong Jack Man in San Francisco.
			ii. Tai Chi Youth teaches the more traditional version of the San Francisco Jing Mo Association.
	5. Accomplish Chan = Zen = Universal Mind
		a. see and understand more than our personal perspective
			i. Tai Chi Youth tournaments encourage other Chinese martial arts schools to attend and compete.
			ii. By appreciating other martial arts styles we develop tolerance open-mindedness.
		b. understand others to enlarge ability to see one's self
			i. As students compete together they support each other also. This commeraderie fosters compassion that enables students to understand each other better.
			ii. The more students understand and know each other, the more they see the similarities and differences between them that define each individual.
	6. Attain new perspectives
		a. Tai Chi Youth tournaments require Chinese etiquette and traditional behaviors.
			i. By adopting the behaviors of Chinese culture, they learn new perspectives of social behavior.
			ii. By participating in our Chinese style tournaments, students gain insight into a traditional culture.
	7. Perform excellently in all activities
		a. The goal of competing creates a new reason to achieve excellence.
			i. By learning to achieve excellence in any activity, students learn how to achieve excellence in any activity.
	8. Zen Mental Awareness
		a. Tournament competition is stressful, yet can reinforce the student's ability to relax under pressure.
			i. By creating these events of competition and stress in our students' lives, we also teach them how to relax under pressure.
			ii. As students learn to handle pressure they learn how to minimize stress in their life.
	9. increase health and endurance
		a. Tournaments create landmarks whereby students can measure their own physical development.
	10.improve coordination
		a. The Forms competitions are similar to gymnastics competitions where balance and coordination can be compared and judged.
		b. The Push Hands competitions are contests of balance and coordination.
	11. improve self-esteem
		a. The winning of awards is very rewarding.
		b. Even if a student doesn't win, they feel a sense of accomplishment by accomplishing their goal to perform and compete.
	12. Respect and appreciation of Martial arts lineages
		a. Yang Taijiquan
		b. Shaolin Gongfu
		c. Muslim Tantui
	13. Preserve traditional heritage of Gongfu Forms (artistic treasures of China)
		a. Small Circular Fist
		b. Luohan I
		c. Lian Bu
		d. Yang Taijiquan Short Form of Shaolin Chi Mantis
		e. 12 Muslim Tantui
	14. Promote various Chinese artistic disciplines
		a. calligraphy
			i. Tai Chi Youth students create our banners and signs for tournaments.
		b. watercolor painting
		c. music
			i. TCY Tournaments include music competitions and Lion Dance performances.
	15. Develop awareness of the values of Taijiquan and Gongfu of Tai Chi youth in developing peace of mind, health, well-being, ethics, morality, and lessening violence in America to:
		a. business community
		b. Local and State Governments
		c. Fereral Government
		d. medical community
		e. Departments of Education
		f. Departments of Justice
		g. general public
	16. Per MISSION STATEMENT to create and promote an annual martial arts tournament in California that will not include any sparring or boxing except for Pushing Hands, Crane Wars™ and choreographed routine competitions.
	17. Allow only Chinese martial arts in our Tai Chi Youth tournaments.
		a. Provides opportunity for TCY students to accomplish TCY Belt Rank requirements.
		b. Make judging more accurate with Chinese Gongfu artists as Judges.
	18. Accomplish BASIC GOALS of Tai Chi Youth to teach each student:
To balance their body
     health
     coordination
     exercise
To balance their mind
     emotions
     creativity
     intellectual pursuits
To balance their life
     contentment
     individuality
     ambitions
To expand their abilities
     increased physical potential
     increased mental potential
     increased expectations
To expand awareness
     new abilities create new abilities
     better self-understanding
     understand others better
To benefit society
     decide individual path within society
     be self-sufficient
     help others
Lessen the violence in the world
     be at peace with self and personal history
     spread contentment and confidence to others
     discourage violence in others
Live a good life
     constantly strive to improve all aspects of self
     enjoy and appreciate living and respect all living things
     make the lives of others as good as possible

Tai Chi Youth was incorporated March 3, 1996, in Salt Lake City Utah.
Tai Chi Youth held its' TCY and SCM First Annual Chinese Gongfu & Taijiquan Tournament in November 1997.
The following year...................

EASTERN WISDOMS

The Taijiquan (Tai Chi) and Gongfu (Kung Fu) of Tai Chi Youth is provided by Shaolin Chi Mantis, a traditional Chinese martial arts school founded by Master Zhen Shen-Lang.

Although Master Zhen has created many unique curriculums and drills that teach the basic concepts of Chinese Gongfu, the actual martial arts dances are as traditionally accurate as possible.

Master Zhen spent several years mailing videotapes back and forth to other Chinese martial arts Shifu around the world in an effort to verify and make the Forms of Shaolin Chi Mantis as traditionally accurate as possible. The final result was universal acceptance that the Shaolin Chi Mantis Forms properly represent Chinese traditions and the Chinese heritages bestowed upon Master Zhen.

Master Zhen has been featured in KUNG FU MASTERS MAGAZINE and invited to martial arts events from China to Europe. Zhen Shen-Lang has presided over Black Belt testing of several different martial arts schools, Center Judged many tournament events of other schools, given the title "Honorary Chinese," and paraded in the annual San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.

Tai Chi Youth, founded by Master Zhen, is composed of the same Forms of Shaolin Chi Mantis, approved internationally as Chinese heritages.

Following the Chinese HAN DYNASTY, 207 B.C. - 220 A.D., was the PERIOD OF DISUNITY, 221 - 589 A.D. During this Period Of Disunity, China was divided into separate states. In the north, foreigners invaded China. In the south, dynasties fought for power. The founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, created Zen Buddhism and suddenly the SUI DYNASTY, 589 - 618 A.D., was born which reunified northern and southern China.

Self-improvement and self-contentment are achieved in the same manner as they were 1,500 years ago. The Chinese developed Gongfu and Taijiquan in their pursuit of enlightenment and improving health. There are many eastern wisdoms Tai Chi Youth proudly teaches with the confidence and experience of hundreds of years of testing in China and now America.

Eastern wisdoms are a benefit to everyone of every nationality of every religion of every ambition. Tai Chi Youth owes part of its success to these philosophies and traditions which help our students to live better, be healthier, and benefit everyone.

Thanks to Master Zhen and Shaolin Chi Mantis, the wisdoms of China and the ancient traditions of Gongfu and Taijiquan can be accessed by America's youth.

Tournaments provide a deadline or goal date for students.
By establishing a time and place where each student will be tested or competing, the students have more identifiable goals.
By having goals, Tai Chi Youth students learn important aspects of real life and the business and academic worlds.
By achieving goals, Tai Chi Youth students learn important skills for real life, business, and all life endeavors.
By competing, students learn an important part of survival and life. Tai Chi Youth creates a unique type of competition whereby students may try to win, but don't have to hurt their opponent or make them feel like losers.
Competition is a basic instinctive desire of humans. Rather than trying to fight this desire, Tai Chi Youth diverts this competitive nature into events that benefit the individual, the school, and entertain the community.
Tai Chi Youth competitions satisfy TCY Belt Rank advancement requirements. These requirements do not specifiy or require the student to attain any level of victory or trophy. The requirement is only that they must compete. So, each Tai Chi Youth student actually WINS and accomplishes something no matter what score or trophy they achieve in the tournament.
Tai Chi Youth tournaments are another vital and worthwhile part of our programs and schools.
Thank you to all those who have participated, volunteered, competed, and sponsored our tournaments.

Tai Chi Youth is founded upon compassion, nonviolence, and good health.

Our tournaments are based upon the same principles. We enjoy watching our students and other students compete in an environment that is not based upon making someone else lose.

Despite the competitive nature of any of our events, we only want to see all the competitors do their best. We strive for the fairest and most consistent judging practices also. Judging Seminars are held prior to all our tournaments.

The Bylaws of Tai Chi Youth state specifically that SPARRING IS NOT ALLOWED in either our classes or our tournaments.
We do include a traditional form of Tai Chi sparring called Push Hands which is won by getting your opponent to lift one foot off the ground or lose their balance, without any punching or kicking.

The other form of sparring we include in our tournaments is called the CRANE WARS. This event was invented by Master Zhen Shen-Lang for our elementary school programs. It was enjoyed so much by the adults also in other classes, that it has become a standard event in our tournaments.

No other martial arts program or rehabilitation program or youths-at-risk program offers all the following programs in one fun-to-learn curriculum:
	Compassion
	Criminal Rehabilitation
	Drug Rehabilitation
	Gang Prevention
	Meditation
	Mental Health
	Music Training
	Philosophy
	Physical Development
	Public Speaking and Public Performance
	Reading and Writing  (English and Chinese)
	Qigong Breathing Exercises
	Self-confidence and Self-awareness
	Self-defense
	Self-esteem
	Shaolin Kung Fu (as seen in the David Carradine TV series)
	Spiritual Concepts (derived from many different religions)
	Stress Reduction and Prevention
	Yang Style Tai Chi
	Yoga Stretching

We've been teaching this curriculum since 1992. Tai Chi Youth programs have been taught in a variety of locations to various age groups from 1st graders to senior citizens. Master Zhen's wealth of experience and variations of our programs has proven this curriculum can even be taught to handicapped and blind students.

Our Buddhist philosophies make us reluctant to say that "We are the best," but our logical scientific minds must admit the truth, We are the best youth development program in the world that we know of.

After we fulfill our initial fund raising programs to launch Tai Chi Youth's new school, we will seek funding to launch a scientific study to publish proof that Tai Chi Youth provides all the benefits that only some communities, some agencies, and all of our students are aware of.

PUSH HANDS

Don't Punch 'em -- Push 'em!

Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) does incorporate a wide variety of Punches and Strikes and Chops and Kicks. However, it is the concept of Pushing that the sport PUSH HANDS or PUSHING HANDS relies on.

Taiji is most famous for its relaxed slow motion movements. When practicing alone, the student is generating energy from within and pushing it out the hands and feet.

Taiji practice also involves absorbing the energies of the universe. Whether the student is absorbing energy from the oxygen he/she breathes, or soaks up the vital energies of the trees around them, they are learning to be AWARE for these forces of Nature.

In Push Hands, the student learns to be aware of the opponent's energy. This is also referred to as "Sticky Hands" or "Chi Sao."

As the student feels the opponent's hand pushing toward their shoulder, they learn to divert the opponent's arm as they also shift their body out of the way.

These defense movements then become offensive movements as the student now utilizes the opponent's thrust towards where they were and cause the opponent to lose their balance.

In Pushing Hands, a competitor wins a point by merely causing the opponent to LIFT ONE FOOT off the ground.
The Judges stop the competition, the scorekeeper adds a point, the timekeeper pauses the stopwatch, then, when the Main Judge has repositioned the contestants back to their starting position: the match is restarted, the stopwatch restarts, and the Judges watch carefully for a point to be scored.

The Judges are also trained to watch for EXCESSIVE FORCE. Too hard of a push, grabbing, or joint locks are not allowed in Push Hands competitions. Judges can issue warnings and award points to the injured contestant if excessive force is used.
Thanks to the Tai Chi Youth and Shaolin Chi Mantis JUDGING SEMINARS and PUSH HANDS SEMINARS that precede our tournaments, no contestant has yet to be disqualified for inappropriate behavior or excessive force in our tournaments.
The Tai Chi Youth Nonprofit Education Organization was created to reduce violence in the world and improve the well-being of as many people as possible. The TCY Tournaments reinforce these concepts by creating a competitive atmosphere that is nonviolent, compassionate, and fun.

Tai Chi Youth tournaments are required by our TCY Bylaws to enrich our communities and provide opportunities for our Tai Chi Youth students to achieve their Belt Test requirements.

Tai Chi Youth tournaments provide valuable opportunities for our students to create events that are accomplishments like any business endeavor. This teamwork is valuable experience for our students in learning how to work in the business and corporate worlds.

Tai Chi Youth tournaments enrich our communities by giving the public rare glimpses at Chinese culture and history.
Students develop valuable skills and self-confidence by competing in these public events. Learning to overcome stress and stage-fright enables our students to overcome the limitations or fears they may otherwise impose on themselves.
Self-esteem is another byproduct for our students as they attain awards or just feel a sense of accomplishment for enduring the stress of competition and public performance.

By donating to our TCY Tournament Fund, you are helping cover the costs of promoting and financing these public events. The more we can afford to provide for our students, the more rewarded they will feel. This public support also creates an appreciation for the public and community from our students.

Donors are treated like royalty at our tournaments. This gives donors an opportunity to see who and what they are supporting. Students get an opportunity to show their appreciation, and Tai Chi Youth gets an opportunity to reward our donors and bestow some gifts such as T-shirts, tickets, and refreshments.

Tai Chi Youth tournaments also foster goodwill between different martial arts schools as we encourage their students to compete and their instructors to judge our events.

Your donations to Tai Ch Youth support and benefit a vast number of people.
Your donations to Tai Chi Youth make the world a better place.
#
"Xie-xie." (Thank you in Chinese).

Tai Chi Youth was founded in 1996. Our first ALL CHINESE tournament was held November 1997. This was the FIRST Kung Fu tournament ever held in Utah. At the time of this writing, there has yet to be any other Kung Fu tournaments in Utah besides the tournaments held by Tai Chi Youth in 1998 and 1999.

Most Gongfu martial artists won't compete in Karate tournaments because our style and concepts are so different from Karate.

Karate tournaments are also based around sparring and some Kung Fu schools, such as Shaolin Chi Mantis and Tai Chi Youth, prohibit their students from sparring and fighting.

So Tai Chi Youth has provided rare opportunities for Chinese martial artists to compete and compare their styles and techniques.

The Judges of Tai Chi Youth tournaments are also Gongfu artists, so competitors are judged more accurately and with better understanding.

The TCY Annual Tournaments and Push Hands Competitions were successful financially also. Thanks to sponsorships from the local community and participation of other Kung Fu schools, all Tai Chi Youth tournaments except one, showed a financial profit.

These Utah Tournaments were a testing ground for the Tai Chi Youth organization. Thanks to these experiences we are capable of organizing tournaments with confidence and experience. We are anxious to enlarge them more and provide even more entertainment value and cultural heritage with our events.

The communities of Utah also benefitted from these events because the members of the community were given rare glimpses of Chinese traditions and Chinese ethnic arts they otherwise would never have seen.

Tai Chi Youth encourages other Chinese Taijiquan and Chinese Gongfu schools to perform routines and exhibitions at our tournaments. All students, competitors, and audiences enjoy watching the various Chinese martial arts schools perform Lion Dances, choreographed routines, and traditional martial arts at our events.

By encouraging other Chinese martial arts schools to participate and perform at our events, Tai Chi Youth and Shaolin Chi Mantis have fostered goodwill between schools that otherwise may have been hostile towards one another.

The Utah tournaments created by Tai Chi Youth and Shaoin Chi Mantis have proven the value of these events to be much farther reaching than we initially dreamed. Students, competitors, martial artists of other schools, Instructors, Shifu, and the general public have all enjoyed our events and heralded Tai Chi Youth as a valuable organization promoting peace and harmony in the community.

We look forward to creating more tournaments and providing venues for more martial artists to interact peacefully and more communities to appreciate the ancient traditional arts of China.

BREATHING IS THE BASIS OF LIFE
You breathe or you die. However, like any activity, there are proper and improper ways to breathe. When panicked or fearful, the chest tightens and shallow breathing is quickened within the upper lungs. The converse of this is the natural breathing of a baby, the efficient breathing of an opera singer, or the powerful breaths of a trumpet player: slow, relaxed breaths low in the stomach area. Expanding the lungs downward like bellows allows the largest volume of air and best oxygen absorption.

Try it right now! Take four deep, slow, low breaths downward that fill your lungs and push your relaxed stomach outward. It is the natural way we were born to breathe. The relaxation you will feel is enhanced by the other aspects of Tai Chi practice.

The mind relaxes when the breathing relaxes. Just as the mind affects breathing, so does breathing affect the mind. Low, slow breathing automatically signals the body to relax. As soon as the body relaxes, the mind relaxes inadvertently. Tai Chi teaches the student to relax their mind by relaxing their breathing. Contentment is not difficult, it is natural. When natural physical techniques are relearned, life becomes healthier and decision making also becomes healthier.

This healthy feeling that Tai Chi students adjust to becomes the basis of how the students think, act and live. A content person does not desire to abuse, harm, or conflict with other persons. Rather than taking drugs, Tai Chi is more effective and healthier in rehabilitating youths, criminals, even elderly cancer patients.

Many students have claimed they would not even be alive today were it not for Master Zhen's Tai Chi Youth classes.

OUR ALL-CHINESE TOURNAMENTS

Prior to Tai Chi Youth, there had NEVER been a Kung Fu or Tai Chi tournament in Utah.

At the time we are writing this, 2002, there still has not been a Kung Fu tournament in Utah.

When Master Zhen first moved to Utah, he competed and was a Judge in almost every Utah Karate tournament held for two years.

#This was especially rewarding and educational since Master Zhen had never competed in a tournament before.
Traditionally, the Chinese do not view Kung Fu or Tai Chi as a sport. Kung Fu was developed for WAR COMBAT. Tai Chi was developed to attain immortality.

Unlike Japanese martial arts which had only a few allowed and official styles of the Samurai, the Chinese never outlawed martial arts and hundreds, perhaps thousands of martial art styles developed in the last ten centuries.
There were boxing matches in China, but judging one Kung Fu style against another was considered impossible.
How would a judge rate the animated Monkey Style Kung Fu against a Tiger Stylist?
Politics and personal preference would obviously be the deciding factors.
Well, even today, judging two Kung Fu Masters against each other is really impossible.
However, judging Kung Fu students is much easier.

Major mistakes are not necessary to rate students against the perfection they seek.
Tai Chi Youth has pioneered a 'Judging System' for Kung Fu and Tai Chi. This has been tested in our tournaments for several years and proven to be satisfactory to competitors and audiences.

Judges are trained in judging techniques, concepts, and even how to write the scores and present them to the competitors and the audience for clear viewing. Tai Chi Youth wants judging to be as easy, fair, and efficient as possible.

Tai Chi Youth also sponsors FREE DEMO TOURNAMENTS preceding each of our events to train the judges better and give students a chance to improve their performances by competing for free and for the practice. (It's hard to teach someone how to judge unless you have students to practice with.)

Tai Chi Youth was founded by Master Zhen Shen-Lang on principles of nonviolence and compassion.
We are pleased to promote these concepts in a competitive environment also. In our tournaments, everyone is a winner.
Another unique aspect of Tai Chi Youth Tournaments is the absence of sparring.

Master Zhen was adamant that sparring is destructive to the soul, body and abilities of students.
Master Zhen made certain that the Bylaws and Mission Statement of Tai Chi Youth, Inc., were specific about this since so many people desire to fight, desire to hit other people, and in many cases desire to be hit by someone.

There are ways that Tai Chi Youth satisfies the desire for violence and physical contact, but they are more controlled, more restricted, and less violent than sparring.

While designing and developing the Tai Chi Youth curriculums, Master Zhen invented many Youth games and contests.
One of these games became so popular in both youth and adult classes that it also became a tournament favorite.
The "Crane Wars" is a brilliant contest invented by Master Zhen. Perhaps someday it will be an Olympic event.
The "Push Hands" competitions are a traditional Tai Chi contest. Master Zhen designed a set of rules that has caught the interest of the of the AAU Amateur Athletic Union.

Since Karate stylists are so fond of physical competition, these two events, "Crane Wars" and "Push Hands," have been the only two events they are allowed to compete in.
Karate stylists have been allowed to compete in our Push Hands competitions IF they attend a PUSH HANDS SEMINAR prior to the tournament and receive a "pass" from the seminar instructor.
This is both to prevent them from embarrassing themselves and protect the other competitors from being injured by "Black Belt Bullies."

This is not a prejudice against Karate.
There are plenty of Karate tournaments held nationwide in almost every US city.
There are however, very few Kung Fu tournaments held in the United States. Tai Chi Youth strives to create more opportunities for Kung Fu and Tai Chi stylists.

Tai Chi Youth students will continue to compete in Karate tournaments, where allowed, and enjoy these friendly atmospheres.

But, in order to give better attention to the numerous Chinese arts styles, who have been misunderstood and misjudged in Karate tournaments, Tai Chi Youth strives to judge and promote these very differing Chinese styles, utilize only Kung Fu Masters for judges, and promote a Chinese atmosphere and portray aspects of China's culture that are still completely unknown to most people.