Tai Chi Chuan in Riverside, Loma Linda, & Redlands CA

03/29/2026

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Workshops at UC Riverside
UCR Student Recreation Center

https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b862cb79-d991-4755-a860-ab6aaab75fb5

Kuang P'ing - Guang Ping Yang Style T'ai chi ch'uan The Mirror Form (4/12) 3:15 Sunday

This Older Traditional Style of t’ai chi ch’uan was taught to Harvey Kurland by Kuo Lien Ying who brought this style to America. Kurland is one of the few remaining first generation students of Kuo. This form is said to be originally taught by Yang Ban-hou, son of the founder of Yang style, Yang Lu-chan, both being martial art instructors for the Imperial Guards. We will work on the original version taught by Kuo. We will work on the Mirror version.
https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b862cb79-d991-4755-a860-ab6aaab75fb5


T'ai chi Tao - Taiji Tao Broadsword Dance (5/3)
3:15 Sunday
T'ai chi Broadsword is one of the major weapons practice in the art of t'ai chi ch'uan. A single edged sword. The form taught is the Yang Tchoung style broadsword. Review and continuation. The techniques and form will be taught by Harvey Kurland who will explore the applications of the forms. Bring a practice sword or stick, no real swords are allowed on campus. https://taichifist.com/tai-chi-sword/
https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b862cb79-d991-4755-a860-ab6aaab75fb5


T'ai chi and Red Boat Pushing Hands Application (5/31)
3:15 Sunday
We will work on the fundamental pushing hands drills, application of the form and the Red Boat Style partner drills. Red Boat Drill came from F*k Yueng who was a master of southern Style combined Kungfu forms called the Red Boat style, some call Yueng Ch'uan. Taught by Harvey Kurland who studied with him and his top applications student David Harris. Pushing hands drills came from Tchoung Ta-tchen who certified Kurland as a Master Teacher, Sifu, of his system. Wear long sleeves. More at www.taichifist.com
https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b862cb79-d991-4755-a860-ab6aaab75fb5

03/28/2026

Our emphasis in our classes is improving balance and lowering blood pressure. Appropriate exercise at UCR Student Recreation Center No magic tricks. We teach is a step by step manner. We teach, long symmetrial form, Kuang P'ing form, pushing hands, San Shou form, Fast form, broadsword, straight sword, and walking stick. More at taichifist.com

03/22/2026

UCRSRC T'ai chi class is starting in a couple of weeks.

T'ai chi ch'uan Beginning. Starts 4/8/26 7:00 PM
UCR Student Recreation Center

Wed, Apr 8 2026 - Wed, May 27 2026 Every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 PM
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a traditional Chinese Martial Art practiced as a
health promotion and wellness exercise. It was proven to be good for
coordination, balance and is low intensity Aerobic exercise. It is an
Internal Form of kung fu. T'ai chi is used for stress reduction,
lowering blood pressure, improving balance as well as a traditional
martial art. The class will be taught in a step by step method and
include ch'i kung breathing exercises, traditional health promotion
exercises and a step-by-step instruction in the Yang Style Symmetrical
Form. Researchers from LLU showed the curriculum we teach at UCR improved balance and lowered blood pressures in adults and Diabetics with neuropathy. Harvey Kurland is officially certified by the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan Association.

Sign up online or at the SRC front counter.

Note: Winter is still up, make sure you click on Spring Quarter.

https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=1e72e372-1bab-407e-bfc6-8904e084cef4

Advanced T'ai Chi Ch'uan 8:00
For those who completed the First form

https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=5005c5f6-ad29-40fb-9c11-91ac6998e270

This class teaches the symmetrical Old Form of Yang
style system in a step by step method. Curriculum includes Standing
Meditation, O'mei Ch'i Kung (Emmei qugong) Symmetrical Long Form,
Pushing Hands, San Shou Application Form, Sword and Walking Stick.
Hsing-I ch'uan (Xing Yi quan) and pa-kua chang (baguazhang) are also
taught. Kurland is a 6th generation Yang style instructor and is
certified as Chief Instructor by the CTCCA and has over 50 years of
experience.

Advanced students are encouraged to work out with the
beginning class to do the basic exercises and ch'i kung. Wednesday
7:15-8:45PM. More on this system at : https://taichifist.com/lineage/

Sign up online or at the SRC front counter.

WORKSHOPS
Note they posted them in reverse order, last one shows up first.

03/22/2026

The following article makes the case for t'ai chi ch'uan being good for the heart. It may not work for everyone. Most of the studies use Yang Style which is what we practice. In our our classes several students have told me that their blood pressures went down after starting classes. In many cases their doctors reduced the dosage of their blood pressure pills. I used our t'ai chi and ch'i kung exercises in an Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation program in the early 1980's when I was the Exercise Physiologist for the Hospital based program. - H Kurland

Tai Chi Benefits Your Heart
Several types of gentle Chinese exercise have been found to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels
Consumer Reports
By Andrea Rock
March 15, 2016
Over the years, research has shown that tai chi and other traditional Chinese exercises—which all involve specific postures and gentle movement, combined with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation—can be good for well being in a variety of ways.
Tai chi benefits (and those of similar practices) include easing back and knee pain, improving balance and stability in older adults or people with Parkinson's disease, and improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Now you can add heart health to the list of tai chi benefits.
New Findings on Tai Chi Benefits
A recently published study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that exercises such as tai chi, qigong, and baduanjin helped reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol in people with cardiovascular disease.
The researchers, led by Chen Pei-Jie, Ph.D., president of Shanghai University of Sport in China, reviewed 35 studies that included 2,249 people with cardiovascular disease. The studies randomly assigned participants to one of three kinds of groups: those that performed traditional Chinese exercises for several weeks; those that regularly performed another form of exercise, such as endurance training or aerobics; and those that did not engage in formal exercise programs or increase their activity.
The researchers then compared the blood pressure and cholesterol levels of all participants. When it came to blood pressure, those in the Chinese exercise groups saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number) drop by more than 9.12 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by more than 5 mmHg, on average.
This may not sound significant, but these reductions were greater than those found in studies of rigorous aerobic exercise. According to UpToDate, which reviews scientific research, regularly engaging in aerobic exercise resulted in average blood pressure drops of only 4 to 6 mmHg systolic and 3 mmHg diastolic.
The team also found that people who practiced traditional Chinese exercises had small, but meaningful reductions in their levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. However, these forms of exercise did not significantly improve participants' heart rate, aerobic fitness level, or scores on a general health questionnaire.
More Research on Tai Chi Benefits to Come
Pei-Jie and his team also note that some of the studies had limitations that may have skewed results. For example, in some studies participants were followed for only a year or less and in most cases those who evaluated the results also knew which participants were in each exercise group. So the researchers plan to conduct new studies in an effort to confirm the benefits of traditional Chinese exercises on cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
If you're interested in reaping tai chi's benefits, keep in mind that these types of centuries-old exercises can be practiced while walking, standing, or even sitting, so they are appropriate for people at a variety of fitness levels. In fact, a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involving older adults who had suffered fall-related injuries, showed that those who subsequently received six month's worth of weekly tai chi classes were 50 percent less likely to experience an injury-causing fall later on than study partipants who received leg strengthening training.

"I suggest that older adults learn tai chi exercises in a class, and practice at home at least once a day," says study coauthor Mau-Roung Lin, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, at Taipei Medical University.

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03/12/2026

Introduction to Pushing Hands Workshop Sunday
UC Riverside

03/03/2026

According to Harvard T'ai Chi is one of the 5 best exercises, also Walking , Weight training and Swimming are mentioned. I also recommend strength training for my students. Can even be body weight exercises. Not all t'ai chi teachers do, but I do. Majority of research showing benefits from T'ai chi was from Yang style. Research on our curriculum showed significant improvement in balance and blood pressure.

5 of the best exercises you can ever do
Harvard Health Publications Harvard Medical School

Updated: February 29, 2016 originally Published: September, 2014
If you're not an athlete or serious exerciser — and you just want to work out for your health or to fit in your clothes better — the gym scene can be intimidating. Just having to walk by treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight machines can be enough to make you head straight back home to the couch.
Yet some of the best physical activities for your body don't require the gym or ask you to get fit enough to run a marathon. These "workouts" can do wonders for your health. They'll help keep your weight under control, improve your balance and range of motion, strengthen your bones, protect your joints, prevent bladder control problems, and even ward off memory loss.
No matter your age or fitness level, these activities can help you get in shape and lower your risk for disease:
1. Swimming
You might call swimming the perfect workout. The buoyancy of the water supports your body and takes the strain off painful joints so you can move them more fluidly. "Swimming is good for individuals with arthritis because it's less weight-bearing," explains Dr. I-Min Lee, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Research has found that swimming can also improve your mental state and put you in a better mood. Water aerobics is another option. These classes help you burn calories and tone up.
2. Tai chi
This Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation is good for both body and mind. In fact, it's been called "meditation in motion." Tai chi is made up of a series of graceful movements, one transitioning smoothly into the next. Because the classes are offered at various levels, tai chi is accessible — and valuable — for people of all ages and fitness levels. "It's particularly good for older people because balance is an important component of fitness, and balance is something we lose as we get older," Dr. Lee says.
Take a class to help you get started and learn the proper form. You can find tai chi programs at your local YMCA, health club, community center, or senior center.
3. Strength training
If you believe that strength training is a macho, brawny activity, think again. Lifting light weights won't bulk up your muscles, but it will keep them strong. "If you don't use muscles, they will lose their strength over time," Dr. Lee says.
Muscle also helps burn calories. "The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, so it's easier to maintain your weight," says Dr. Lee. Similar to other exercise, strength training may also help preserve brain function in later years.
Before starting a weight training program, be sure to learn the proper form. Start light, with just one or two pounds. You should be able to lift the weights 10 times with ease. After a couple of weeks, increase that by a pound or two. If you can easily lift the weights through the entire range of motion more than 12 times, move up to slightly heavier weight.
4. Walking
Walking is simple, yet powerful. It can help you stay trim, improve cholesterol levels, strengthen bones, keep blood pressure in check, lift your mood, and lower your risk for a number of diseases (diabetes and heart disease, for example). A number of studies have shown that walking and other physical activities can even improve memory and resist age-related memory loss.
All you need is a well-fitting and supportive pair of shoes. Start with walking for about 10 to15 minutes at a time. Over time, you can start to walk farther and faster, until you're walking for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week.
5. Kegel exercises
These exercises won't help you look better, but they do something just as important — strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder. Strong pelvic floor muscles can go a long way toward preventing incontinence. While many women are familiar with Kegels, these exercises can benefit men too.
To do a Kegel exercise correctly, squeeze the muscles you would use to prevent yourself from passing urine or gas. Hold the contraction for two or three seconds, then release. Make sure to completely relax your pelvic floor muscles after the contraction. Repeat 10 times. Try to do four to five sets a day.
Many of the things we do for fun (and work) count as exercise. Raking the yard counts as physical activity. So does ballroom dancing and playing with your kids or grandkids. As long as you're doing some form of aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, and you include two days of strength training a week, you can consider yourself an "active" person.
For additional information on this and other questions about getting started on a healthy exercise program, buy Starting to Exercise, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

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03/03/2026

They are part of our roots, Dave was a student and Certified teacher by Tchoung Ta-tchen as well as #1 student of F*k Yueng and student of Raymond Chung. F*k Yueng taught what was called Red Boat Style we will do some of his basic drills in our next workshop. Bruce mentioned was Bruce Lee. Video by Master Andrew Dale.

This is the history of Mr. Yueng and Dave. They prefered to stay out of the spotlight but loved sharing their skills and understanding of the martial arts.

02/24/2026

This research study looked at our t'ai-chi ch'uan curriculum and the effect on both normal and diabetics with Neuropathy in terms of balance improvement. The researchers found a significant improvement in balance in all participants over 8 weeks. This was run like a normal class, step by step by lead instructor Harvey Kurland and Assistant Instructor Myra Allen. Curriculum was the same as our other classes at UC Riverside, Riverside Community College, Redlands Aikikai and Loma Linda University (no longer have classes there)
Effect of Tai Chi Exercise Combined with Mental Imagery Theory in Improving Balance in a Diabetic and Elderly Population.
Alsubiheen A, et al. Med Sci Monit. 2015.
Harvey Kurland was the Lead t'ai chi ch'uan instructor for this study and was assisted by Myra Allen. The Symmetrical Yang Style form was taught to all participants similar to our regular classes. Testing was done by a team of Physical Therapists. All participants showed a significant improvement in balance after 8 weeks of training the Tchoung-Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan Form. Interview with The Chief Researcher showed between a significant improvement in balance. Of interest is that the post test was stopped after a set time so improvement shown may have been much better but total post test was stopped at a predetermined time as the participants reached the time limit for the test.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: One of the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM), peripheral neuropathy, affects the sensation in the feet and can increase the chance of falling. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) training combined with mental imagery (MI) on improving balance in people with diabetes and an age matched control group.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen healthy subjects and 12 diabetic sedentary subjects ranging from 40-80 years of age were recruited. All subjects in both groups attended a Yang style of TC class using MI strategies, 2 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Each session was one hour long. Measures were taken using a balance platform test, an Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, a one leg standing test (OLS), functional reach test (FRT) and hemoglobin A1C. These measures were taken twice, pre and post-study, for both groups.
RESULTS: Both groups experienced significant improvements in ABC, OLS, FRT (P

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02/24/2026

UC Riverside Student Recreation Center T'ai chi ch'uan class www.recreation.ucr.edu

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

Introduction to Pushing Hands and Red Boat Exercises

T'ai chi and Red Boat Pushing Hands Application (3/15)

https://recreationregistration.ucr.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=b862cb79-d991-4755-a860-ab6aaab75fb5

We will work on the fundamental pushing hands drills, application of the form and the Red Boat Style partner drills. Red Boat Drill came from F*k Yueng who was a master of southern Style combined Kungfu forms called the Red Boat style, some call Yueng Ch'uan. Taught by Harvey Kurland who studied with him and his top applications student David Harris. Pushing hands drills came from Tchoung Ta-tchen who certified Kurland as a Master Teacher, Sifu, of his system. Wear long sleeves. More at www.taichifist.com

02/20/2026

You are Never Too Old to Start Exercising???
Is there any point to exercising if you are older? Don't make the mistake of believing that if you haven't exercised earlier in life, there’s no point in starting now!
The reviewed research investigated the odds of healthy aging. During the 8 year study, participants were defined as healthy if they did not develop major chronic disease, depressive symptoms, physical or cognitive impairment (Hamer M, et.al., 2014).
The conclusion is that significant health benefits were seen even among participants who became physically active relatively late in life.
What is surprising was that compared with inactive participants the ones that were moderate or vigorously active just once a week were healthier, although being active more than once a week was better.
Just get off your couch and start, or encourage your elders to begin. By Didrik Sopler

I added the references below, Harvey
Br J Sports Med. 2014 Feb;48(3):239-43. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092993. Epub 2013 Nov 25.
Taking up physical activity in later life and healthy ageing: the English longitudinal study of ageing.
Hamer M, Lavoie KL, Bacon SL.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Physical activity is associated with improved overall health in those people who survive to older ages, otherwise conceptualised as healthy ageing. Previous studies have examined the effects of mid-life physical activity on healthy ageing, but not the effects of taking up activity later in life. We examined the association between physical activity and healthy ageing over 8 years of follow-up.
METHODS:
Participants were 3454 initially disease-free men and women (aged 63.7±8.9 years at baseline) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a prospective study of community dwelling older adults. Self-reported physical activity was assessed at baseline (2002-2003) and through follow-up. Healthy ageing, assessed at 8 years of follow-up (2010-2011), was defined as those participants who survived without developing major chronic disease, depressive symptoms, physical or cognitive impairment.
RESULTS:
At follow-up, 19.3% of the sample was defined as healthy ageing. In comparison with inactive participants, moderate (OR, 2.67, 95% CI 1.95 to 3.64), or vigorous activity (3.53, 2.54 to 4.89) at least once a week was associated with healthy ageing, after adjustment for age, s*x, smoking, alcohol, marital status and wealth. Becoming active (multivariate adjusted, 3.37, 1.67 to 6.78) or remaining active (7.68, 4.18 to 14.09) was associated with healthy ageing in comparison with remaining inactive over follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sustained physical activity in older age is associated with improved overall health. Significant health benefits were even seen among participants who became physically active relatively late in life.
And another article
Br J Sports Med. 2014 Feb;48(3):220-5. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092814. Epub 2013 Sep 3.
150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week predicts survival and successful ageing: a population-based 11-year longitudinal study of 12 201 older Australian men.
Almeida OP, Khan KM, Hankey GJ, Yeap BB, Golledge J, Flicker L.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Physical activity has been associated with improved survival, but it is unclear whether this increase in longevity is accompanied by preserved mental and physical functioning, also known as healthy ageing. We designed this study to determine whether physical activity is associated with healthy ageing in later life.
METHODS:
We recruited a community-representative sample of 12 201 men aged 65-83 years and followed them for 10-13 years. We assessed physical activity at the beginning and the end of the follow-up period. Participants who reported 150 min or more of vigorous physical activity per week were considered physically active. We monitored survival during the follow-up period and, at study exit, assessed the mood, cognition and functional status of survivors. Healthy ageing was defined as being alive at the end of follow-up and having a Patient Health Questionnaire score 27, and no major difficulty in any instrumental or basic activity of daily living. Cox regression and general linear models were used to estimate HR of death and risk ratio (RR) of healthy ageing. Analyses were adjusted for age, education, marital status, smoking, body mass index and history of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.
RESULTS:
Two thousand and fifty-eight (16.9%) participants were physically active at study entry. Active men had lower HR of death over 10-13 years than physically inactive men (HR=0.74, 95% CI=0.68 to 0.81). Among survivors, completion of the follow-up assessment was higher in the physically active than inactive group (risk ratio, RR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08 to 1.30). Physically active men had greater chance of fulfilling criteria for healthy ageing than inactive men (RR=1.35, 95% CI=1.19 to 1.53). Men who were physically active at the baseline and follow-up assessments had the highest chance of healthy ageing compared with inactive men (RR=1.59, 95% CI=1.36 to 1.86).
CONCLUSIONS:
Sustained physical activity is associated with improved survival and healthy ageing in older men. Vigorous physical activity seems to promote healthy ageing and should be encouraged when safe and feasible.

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