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Tai Chi principles #1
Straightening the Head - Stand straight and hold the head and neck naturally erect, with the mind concentrated on the top. Do not strain or be tense; otherwise, the blood and vital energy cannot circulate smoothly. From the book "Yang Style Taijiquan" by Yang Zhen Duo When starting your journey this is the first principle you should focus on. A lot of new students always ask about breathing such as when and where should I breathe? I always tell them to breathe naturally and f
the elder
Nov 25, 20251 min read


Master Trusty's resume
April 1997 – Began professional martial arts training at Smith Martial Arts Academy. January 1999 – Started teaching at the Brown belt level at Smith Martial Arts Academy. August 2000 – Obtained 1 st dan Black Belt. June 2004 – Purchased Smith Martial Arts Academy from Grandmaster Randolph Smith, Sr., assuming full responsibility for school operations, including class coordination and instruction. March 2005 – Began training with Tai Chi master Ralph Dehner. June 2008 –
the elder
Nov 17, 20251 min read
History of Spiraling Willow
In 2004, Master Trusty acquired Smith Martial Arts Academy, where he had been training for over seven years. The academy was renamed Five White Tiger Martial Arts in 2008. In March 2019, Master Trusty closed the storefront, a year before the pandemic. His lifelong dream was to conclude his martial arts career as a Tai Chi Instructor. The year 2020 provided him the opportunity to decide on his future direction. By 2024, he shifted his focus to Tai Chi as the primary art and re
the elder
Nov 10, 20251 min read
Welcome to Spiraling Willow
This blog will explore Tai Chi principles, along with Master Trusty's experiences and insights from over 30 years in both hard and soft martial arts styles. A new blog will be published every week. The first one will debut on 11/9/25. Make sure to follow us as we guide you through a martial arts journey.
the elder
Nov 5, 20251 min read
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