I just spent three and a half days at a tai chi/internal martial arts workshop in Bandon, Oregon, a picturesque small town that stretches along some of the most beautiful coastline I’ve ever seen.
I picked up my tai chi teacher Gene Burnett in Ashland, just across the California line, and we drove together to the Sunset Motel in Bandon, where we all stay. The Sunset Motel sits directly above a flat beach punctuated with numerous rocks and seastacks, and it’s the ideal venue for outdoors tai chi.
Most of the participants and instructors came from Seattle, including Andy Dale, Michelle Pleasant, and organizer Ken Wright. The classes I took focused on Sanshou, our partner tai chi form; bagua and related applications, including joint locks and throws; push hands and applications; and defense against knife attacks.
I also took several long walks along the beach at sunrise and sunset, which corresponded with low tide.
Here are some of my pics. You can see more Bandon beach photos on the main Northern California Hiking Trails website.
Gene Burnett and Neil Buettner do tai chi applications on the beach at Bandon. (Photo by John Soares)
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Just before sunset at Bandon beach. This is the new picture on my desktop. (Photo by John Soares)
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Joel Hartshrone doing bagua circle walking. Bagua is a sister art of tai chi. (Photo by John Soares)
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Face Rock, the famous Bandon landmark. Can you see the woman looking up and to the right? (Photo by John Soares)
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Starfish at low tide. (Photo by John Soares)
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Morning qi gong on the Bandon beach. Note the flat and packed sand. (Photo by John Soares)
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Bandon beach at sunset. (Photo by John Soares)
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Seagull at Sunset Motel above the Bandon beach. (Photo by John Soares)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
John,
Your desktop photograph is spectacular. What a varied life you lead!
The Joel Hartshrone photo is interesting for the posture and body motion implied. It caught my attention.
Thanks for sharing the photographs. They inspire me to learn Tai Chi!
Sid
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Hello Sid. Glad you like the photos. You may be able to find a good tai chi teacher in Guatemala or Nicaragua.
Very very cool, John!