Baji Association is organising a Tuishou seminar to introduce the principles of Tuishou under the guidance of Master Lü Baochun. The seminar will take place in Arabian nuorisotalo on the 26th to the 27th of October 2024.
WHY TUISHOU?
Tuishou, or push hands, is an exercise in which the fundamentals of movement are explored with a partner. It is suitable for a wide range of practitioners of oriental arts, regardless of tradition. This seminar is also suitable to those who have no previous experience on push hands or whose interest is not in martial arts. Master Lü´’s principles in push hands is that these techniques can be practised from understanding and internalising the basics all the way to discovering, mastering and introducing inner movement. The aim is to learn high level control of yourself through contact with your partner. The seminar is thus not a competition to win your partner, but a practice method to help each other to find that control inside. The seminar is structured according to the student so that everyone can participate, regardless of their starting level.
Under Master Lü’s guidance, this seminar is sure to have something to offer for everyone, whether you are an experienced practitioner or a newcomer! So please join us, and bring a friend!
PRICE
One day 60€ Full weekend 100€
PLACE
Arabian nuorisotalo, Arabianpolku 1 A, 00560 Helsinki
SCHEDULE
Saturday 16:00-18:00 Practice 18:00-19:00 Break 19:00-21:00 Practice
Sunnuntai 10:00-12:00 Practice 12:00-13:00 Lunch 13:00-16:00 Practice
REGISTRATION
To register for the seminar, please use this registration form. Please remember to register as soon as possible to secure your place at this great seminar. Last date for registration is 19.10.2024.
Once you’ve received the confirmation email, you can pay the course fee to Baji ry account FI96 4108 0013 1692 17. Write “Tuishou Seminar” in the message. You can also pay for the seminar at the location by card or sports vouchers.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
For more information about the seminar, please email: baji ( ät ) baji.info .
A nice start to another great season. Here’s some more information about the upcoming season and events therein.
The autumn season begins on Monday 2nd of September and the last set of practice in the autumn season is on Thursday 12th in December, and the autumn season ends with our Christmas party on Saturday 14th of December. Our Schedules have been updated on our website and will be actively kept up to date as changes occur – take note of the outdoor training in September!
The association bank account has now been successfully changed (the reason; the association’s bank Handelsbanken is shutting down their Finnish branch entirely – our new bank is OmaSP). Don’t be shy about using the sign-up system now to sign up for our courses so you can receive the new bank account number in the bills sent through the sign-up forms!
Exceptions in Schedule 2024 (Autumn)
2.9 Season start as intended in Brändö is och gym 9.-30.9 Monday lessons outdoors in Itäkeskus (Kajaaninlinnantie 10, 00900 Helsinki). 10.10 lessons cancelled 11.11 Master Lü away, lessons held by substitute 9.-12.12 Master Lü away, lessons held by substitutes
Upcoming Events
Tuishou seminar 26.-27.10 Arabian nuorisotalo, Helsinki. Autumn meeting 14.12.2024 [location to be announced closer to December],Helsinki. Christmas Party 14.12.2024 Restaurant Osaka Sushi,Helsinki.
The summer has been kind in regards to both weather and training, and now it’s time to turn our heads toward the autumn season!
The autumn season begins on Monday 2nd of September and our training places remain the same as last season. The last set of practicein the autumn season is on Thursday 12th of December, and the autumn season ends with our Christmas party on Saturday 14th of December. Our Schedules have been updated on our website and will be actively kept up to date as changes occur – take note of the outdoor training in September!
We also ask for your patience with paying for the season, as between August-September our association’s bank account will change, and it will take a while to make this change for all our payment services. We will update you once this is done.
During the autumn we plan on hosting at least on weekend seminar, on which there will be more information later.
Hope the summer has treated you well! Rumour has it Helsinki Day was a great success for our association – thank you kindly to all who attended!
Next week we will have our last free Wednesday evening training in Hesperia Park, and afterwards it’s time to hit the first intensive course week of the summer between the 15th of July to the 18th. The schedule for the first intensives are as follows:
The intensives cost 25 euros per lesson, or you can buy the summer season pass for 150 euros which will allow you to participate in all 12 intensive lessons during the summer.
The next intensive weeks will be Mon-Thu 29.7 – 1.8 & Mon-Thu 12.-15.8 with the same prices and schedule.
Should the weather allow, we will be arranging a picnic for our gongfu family on Saturday the 20th of July from 15:00 onwards in Lastenlehdon puisto ( Ruoholahdenkatu – Lapinrinne – Lapinlahdenkatu, 00180 Helsinki).
The park has nice even ground for some training, grass to sit on, trees to take shade under, and some fun playgrounds for kids to enjoy, should you take your family with you! The event itself will be free, but we do expect you to bring your own food & drinks. Should you run out of something, there are plenty of restaurants and shops around for potential refills.
See you! Training regards, Baji Association spokesteam
In 2025 it is finally time to return to the roots of gong fu into China! All of those who have been before can regale you with tales of how worthwhile and legendary these trips always are, so mark the dates into your calendar and start saving up! The trip takes place between 9th to the 20th of June 2025. The trip is open to all regardless of your skill level – if you wish to learn from master Lü, you are welcome!
A more detailed travel plan will be available closer to our departure, but for now you need to know:
Our trip begins from Hong Kong. We will stay in Hong Kong for one night, and move onto Guangzhou by train.
Hong Kong does not require a visa, but China proper (Guangzhou & Guilin) does – remember to apply for a visa before the trip! (we’ll give out more detailed instructions on this as well closer to the trip).
From Guangzhou we will move on into Guilin, which according to master Lü “everyone should visit once in their life.” From Guilin we’ll move back to Guangzhou and from there to Hong Kong and fly home.
Everyone needs to book and purchase their own flights & hotels. You may join and leave the trip as best suits your schedule (earlier, in the middle, or near the end, etc). We’ll give out the dates and places of master Lü’s hotels when available. Based on his hotel reservations, you can aim to either have the same hotel, a nearby one, or join us later on in the trip.
During the trip, master Lü will occasionally collect money from everyone for our collective train trips, meals & sightseeing payments as a group. Because of this, we recommend you reserve a lot of local cash on hand (note; Hong Kong & China proper use different currencies).
The trip consists of interchanging training & tourism days. During training days we usually have training in the mornings, during lunches and in the evenings. On tourism days we either tour sights together as a group or on our own – more information on this later as well.
We are also in discussion of the possibility to meet local martial artists or a master. We will give you more info on this when we have it.
In short:
9.-20.6.2025 Hong Kong – Guangzhou – Guilin – Guangzhou (+ flight home from Hong Kong)
Book your own flights & hotels. We will let you know where & when master Lü is staying so you can book yours accordingly
Get a visa for China proper
We’d recommend saving up approximately 1500 – 2000 euros for the trip (inclusive of your stay) + flights on top
Reserve a lot of cash for the trip, as master Lü will collect it for payments as a group for dinners, trips & sightseeing.
Oh boy! Anyone else struck with travel fever? Because us announcers certainly are! We will give out a more detailed travel plan & guidance once we have it, but in the mean time, if you have any questions about the trip, you can email your questions to baji [ at ] baji.info .
Thank you everyone for a great spring season! Summer absolutely does not mean a break from training!
As we have done in previous years, this year as well the association will be hosting free summer training in the summer. We assemble on Wednesdays at 18:00 in Hesperia Park, by the old sugar factory wall.
On Helsinki Day on the 12th June 2024, the association and the styles we teach will be on display. Everyone and anyone is welcome to try out any and all styles we teach. Welcome and feel free to invite your friends to get to know the activities of the association!
The summer’s intensives will be held on the following dates:
The intensives will mirror the content of the spring & autumn training programs as follows:
Mon Yang & Chen Taiji & Tuishou
Tue Yang & Chen Taiji
Wed Master Lü’s Fighting Principles & weapons
Thu Qigong & Chen 24
The intensives last for two hours between 18-20 and cost 25 euros per lesson.
Alternatively, you can purchase a summer season pass for 150 euros and train as much as you can during the summer. The location for all summer training will be Itäkeskus, at Kajaaninlinnantie 10, 00900 Helsinki.
Should the weather allow, we will be arranging a picnic for our gongfu family on Saturday the 20th of July from 15:00onwards in Lastenlehdon puisto ( Ruoholahdenkatu – Lapinrinne – Lapinlahdenkatu, 00180 Helsinki).
The park has nice even ground for some training, grass to sit on, trees to take shade under, and some fun playgrounds for kids to enjoy, should you take your family with you! The event itself will be free, but we do expect you to bring your own food & drinks. Should you run out of something, there are plenty of restaurants and shops around for potential refills.
Last but not least we’d like to mention that master Lü will be travelling to teach this summer: Teaching Taiji in Paris, France between 5. -7.7 Teaching Taiji in Bosön, Sweden between 10.-14.7. (We have always heard nothing but good things about this summer event!)
Some information in relation to the ending spring season & upcoming summer season. If you have any questions, feel free to poke the board via email or at training!
The association spring meeting will be held on the 30th of April at 17:00 at Talin siirtolapuutarha, Pitäjänmäentie 32 (Metsäpolku 32), 00370 Helsinki. You can find the agenda here. If you’re planning on showing up, please confirm your attendance by texting our chairman Congi at xxxxxxxx so we know how much food to reserve for the meeting. (You can also call him if you get lost or the gates to the cottages is locked, so we can come open the door for you!)
The spring season ends on Thursday 16.05.2024. To celebrate the end of a successful spring season, we’ll be hosting a Tuishou-seminar on 18.-19.05.2024; more information can be found here.
The summer’s intensives will be held on the following dates:
Mon-Thu 15. -18.7
Mon-Thu 29.7 – 1.8
Mon-Thu 12.-15.8
The intensives will mirror the content of the spring & autumn training programs as follows:
The intensives last for two hours between 18-20 and cost 25 euros per lesson. Alternatively, you can purchase a summer season pass for 150 euros and train as much as you can during the summer. The location for all summer training will be Itäkeskus, at
Kajaaninlinnantie 10, 00900 Helsinki.
We’re also planning on throwing together, should the weather allow, an association hosted picnic (with training), the place, date and time will be specified later. We are also planning on releasing more detailed information on our summer 2025 trip to China later in the summer.
The autumn season starts on Monday 2nd of September.
Baji Association is organising a Tuishou seminar to introduce the principles of Tuishou under the guidance of Master Lü Baochun. The seminar will take place outside in Itäkeskus on a beautiful weekend between the 18th & 19th of May, 2024.
WHY TUISHOU?
Tuishou, or push hands, is an exercise in which the fundamentals of movement are explored with a partner. It is suitable for a wide range of practitioners of oriental arts, regardless of tradition. Under Master Lü’s guidance, techniques can be practised from understanding and internalising the basics all the way to discovering, mastering and introducing inner movement: in other words, the seminar is structured according to the student so that everyone can participate, regardless of their starting level.
This seminar is sure to have something to offer for everyone, whether you are an experienced practitioner or a newcomer!
PRICE
Saturday 60€
Sunday 60€
Full weekend 100€
PLACE
Kajaaninlinnantie 10, 00900 Helsinki
SCHEDULE
10:00-12:00 Practice
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-16:00 Practice
REGISTRATION
To register for the seminar, please use this registration form. Please remember to register as soon as possible to secure your place at this great seminar. Last date for registration is 17.05.2024.
Once you’ve received the confirmation email, you can pay the course fee to Baji ry account FI78 3131 3002 4255 77. Write “Tuishou Itäkeskus” in the message. You can also pay for the seminar at the location by card or sports vouchers.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
For more information about the seminar, please email: baji ( ät ) baji.info .
Master Lü Baochun’s 10th Easter Camp follows the Five Steps of Taiji program. The training proceeds from external practice gradually into the internal practices of Taiji. The Easter Camp is a unique opportunity to all Taiji practitioners to benefit from master Lü’s transmission of ancient teachings and the principles of internal Taiji in a comprehensible and executable form. Master Lü’s Five Steps of Taiji advances from mastering the external structure and movement step by step into the discovery of internal movement and gaining control over it.
The camp will have two training groups: the foundation and advanced groups. We will start training on Friday together as one group and focus on examining the aspects of the two first steps. These are the basic building blocks of all Taiji training; posture and movement. On Saturday, Joona Sillanpää, who is one of master Lü’s most advanced students in Taiji, will continue teaching the foundation group by delving deeper into posture and movement as a solid base in form training and free movement. While finding continuous flow of movement and internal connection, the foundation group can also proceed to the next level of the program, and start to integrate breathing and energy into their training. The advanced group will start on Saturday with master Lü by examining breathing and energy in movement in detail. When a solid base for external and internal training has been found, the advanced group will continue the journey into the 4th step, Mind. At the end of the camp we will review all the steps as one group.
The Easter Camp is open to all Taiji practitioners, regardless of training level, style or tradition. Foundation group is intended for everyone, from beginner to advanced. Teaching is in Finnish and English. The advanced group is intended for Taiji practitioners who have a solid base of external practices and are ready to step into internal training. Teaching for the advanced group is in English. This camp is not about learning the external form or correcting it, but it is about the essence of your Taiji-training. In the classes we will use the two first parts of the traditional Yang style -form, two parts of Chen-style Yi Lu -form and Qigong for training. It is not essential to know these forms, and if you like, you can also use your own form in training.
We will start the mornings with one hour of Qigong exercise as one group. Personal questions and discussions about training and philosophy of Taiji are encouraged. If the weather is fine we will also train outside. Sunday night we will have an evening party. The price includes 23h of training, accommodation, meals (3 x breakfast, 4 x lunch, 3 x dinner, 3 x evening snack), sauna and Baji beanie. Accommodation is in single/double rooms, budget/hotel-standard options. It is possible to attend the camp without accommodation (meals reduced – fri: dinner, sat and sun: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Mon: no meals). The camp is held at Kisakallio, Lohja. www.kisakallio.fi
Carpools can be arranged from Helsinki centre, harbours and airport. If you are travelling from abroad, we can help you with accommodations and transportation and other info.
PRICES
Foundation – double budget 511€ / double hotel 531€ / single budget 586€/ single hotel 606€ /
no accomodation 398€
Advanced – double budget 581€ / double hotel 601€ / single budget 656€ / single hotel 676€ /
no accommodation 468€
Registration by 13.3.2024 by e-form. Room arrangements (by 13.3.2024), additional information, carpools and other info: heikki.poussa[ a ]gmail.com
Friday 29.3.2024 12.00 Arrival 12.00-13.30 Lunch 13.30-17.00 Training 17.00-19.00 Dinner 19.00-21.00 Training 21.00-22.00 Evening snack
Saturday 30.3.2024 08.00-09.00 Qigong 09.00-10.30 Breakfast 10.30-13.00 Training 13.00-15.00 Lunch 15.00-17.30 Training 17.30-19.00 Dinner 19.00-21.00 Training 21.00-22.00 Evening snack
Sunday 31.3.2024 08.00-09.00 Qigong 09.00-10.30 Breakfast 10.30-13.000 Training 13.00-15.00 Lunch 15.00-17.30 Training 17.30-19.00 Dinner 19.00-20.30 Training 20.30- Evening snack and sauna
Monday 1.4.2024 08.00-09.00 Qigong (self-guided free training) 09.00-10.30 Breakfast Check-out before training 11.00-14.00 Training 14.00-15.00 Lunch 15.00 Easter camp ends
THE FIVE STEPS OF TAIJI
1. POSTURE. This is the key to step inside of Taiji. You can never emphasize the importance of posture too much: this is the foundation that everything is built on. With correct posture you will find the necessary external structure and right alignment to reach balance and connection in your body. All joints are in a natural position, relaxed and open.
2. MOVEMENT. When you have reached correct posture and structure you can start to move, keeping this structure and connection at all times in training. With correct movement you will connect your postures in the form, harmonize the movement and keep external connection in the body throughout the form.
3. ENERGY, QI, BREATHING. It is time to recognize the subtle effect of breathing in movement; to find the natural rhythm of breath. You are not changing the breath, but just following it, naturally joining it. Breathing will start the movement and end it. When you have relaxed enough, Qi will appear and start moving in the body with breathing. The movement of energy will move your body. You have stepped to the internal side of Taiji. Your internal movement will be expressed as external movement.
4. MIND, YI. The first three steps have tamed your monkey mind and in your practice you are experiencing a deepening feeling of solitude and inner peace. It’s time to “grasp” the Qi and start to control it with your mind. Your mind will lead the energy and the movement of energy will be expressed as external movement.
5. SHEN, SPIRIT. This is a level that not many have achieved. It cannot be described in words and therefore cannot be studied in theory. When the first four steps are ready, Shen will emerge.
The Five Steps of Taiji are a continuum. You cannot continue to step two without mastering step one to a certain level. Each of the steps will keep developing through years of practice and throughout your lifetime. It is not a mistake to go a step down and return to basics: we all have to do that at some point during our Taiji-journey. Nobody has absolute or perfect posture nor movement, but with correct training and guidance, we are all getting closer to it.
Master Lü Baochun is a living legend of traditional chinese martial arts, who has trained martial arts his whole life and Taiji over 40 years. Master Lü´s fluent English and knowledge of internal power, meditative side and the fighting ability of Taiji will guarantee the participants a huge leap forward in their own practice. Master Lü emphasizes the importance of questions from students and will give personal assistance to all students. Joona Sillanpää has studied and trained Taiji for over 20 years as a student of master Lü. Joona is also teaching Taiji at Baji Association’s weekly Taiji courses. Joona is training Qigong, Yang and Chen style Taiji and has achieved a high level of knowledge of the external and internal principles of Taiji.
See you at the camp! Warm regards, Baji Assoiation announcers
It’s time again to get together to relax and feast at our association’s Christmas party. We’ll be gathering at the already familiar Chinese restaurant Happy Food Garden (Kalevankatu 23, 00100 Helsinki).
We’ll start with on Saturday 16.12.2023 at 4 PM with the association’s autumn meeting, where we will discuss among other things the plans & budget for 2024 as well as vote on the new board for 2024. After this meeting at 6PM we will begin the Christmas party! The evening is going to be full of nice food, drinks as well as awesome people! The price will be 20€ per person and you pay it when you come in. Drinks you can buy from the bar.
PARTY MENU
– Tomato and egg soup
Vegetarian options – Eggplant with Chinese vinegar – Mapo tofu – YuXiang meat strips (vegetarian version) – Chinese mushrooms and vegetables – Stir-fried potato strips – Dumplings (vegetarian)
Meat options – Kung Pao chicken – Fried beef – Octopus with soy bean sauce – Fish in spicy sauce – Duck with chives – Dumplings (meat)
You can sign up for the Christmas party from the following link, be sure to sign up because space is limited (let us know if you’re bringing an avec too). Our maximum capacity is 36 people and every year we’ve had 32-35 people attend. So remember to sign up no later than 11.12.2023 to reserve your spot!
See you there!
With seasonal greetings, Mimosa Baji Association Spokesperson & Accountant
