EXCELLENT EDUCATION

TAOIST ALCHEMICAL STUDIES CENTER TASC

Since 1990, TASC or the Taoist Alchemical Studies Center has been researching Taoist culture and educating students in Belgium and the neighbouring countries via our China Arts College (CAC). We are committed to helping students learn all there is to know about Taoist practices and philosophy. Learn from professional Taoist experts and discover your hidden possibilities through the practice and philosophy of Taoist Internal Martial Arts, Taoist Internal Alchemy, and Taoist Qigong. Get in touch with us today to learn more!

TAIJIQUAN CLASS

Our Taijiquan classes are designed to give you access to all there is to know and practice about Taijiquan.

Learn how to develop neijin (energies), yi (focus and concentration) and apply these in realistic martial applications and learn to use them to improve or restore your health. Develop strong yet flexible legs and back, learn to relax, and gain insight in how the body and mind work. We teach Yang style developed in Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s by Dong Yingjie and Tian Zhaolin lineages and we also work with the Yue Huanzhi substyle. We teach stances, sets, traditional weapons (staff, straight sword, sabre, fan, halberd), and real martial applications (tuishou, sanshou, free [contact] fighting). Don't expect the common, superficial type of Taijiquan, but realistic, authentic, fun, and serious practice!

YUANQIGONG CLASS

Using the principles of Taoist Internal Alchemy from more than 1,000 years ago and Taoist health and meditation practices, Yuanqigong gives you the perfect tool to become a healthy, relaxed person.

Practice includes standing (Zhanzhuang with spontaneous movement) and seated meditation (Zuowang or Sitting and Forgetting), breathing exercises (Tingxifa or Listening to Breath/Wuxifa or Five Breathings Method), self-massage (Ziwo Anmo), short sets of exercises (such as Wuqinxi/Play of the Five Animals, Qinglonggong/Exercises of the Bluegreen Dragon, etc.), walking exercises (such as Baxian Xinggong/Walking Exercises of the Eight Immortals), and so on. We also provide you with the necessary background information to help you understand why, how, what and when to practice. And the training is also great fun!

BAGUAZHANG & XINYIQUAN INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS CLASS

Baguazhang from the Liang Style (Beijing) brings you a beautiful and powerful version of the Internal Martial Art of the Eight Trigrams Palms.

We teach health practices (Bagua Qigong), stances and energy practice, sets, weapons, and realistic martial applications. The oldest Internal Martial Art (17th century) is Xinyi(liuhe)quan, an art kept secret for about three hundred years in a few Hui (Chinese Muslim) villages of Henan Province. The movements of ten animals (such as tiger, dragon, snake, swallow, monkey, etc.) form the basis of the practices and give this martial art its second name: Shidaxing or the Ten Big Forms. This is how it is known in Southeast China, where we studied it. Its techniques are very direct, freshly wild, and extremely practical and realistic. Furthermore, its practice is based on Taoist alchemy. Learn the stances, movements, sets, health practices, martial applications, weapons and real fighting skills. Both martial arts are not really world famous (yet), but judging by the enthusiastic reactions of our students, they should be!

NEIDAN/INTERNAL ALCHEMY CLASS

Considered by all Taoists to be the hightest form of practice, Taoist Alchemy has a lot to offer.

All current schools of Neidan or Internal Alchemy rely heavily on what was taught by the originator of our tradition: Zhang Boduan (984 - 1082). We teach the Yinyang Tradition of the Southern Alchemy (Jindan Nanzong Yinyangpai), a practice that is highly social, very practical, and aims for authentic effects and fights illusions and hallucinations (common in many so-called alchemy schools of today and yesterday). Transmitted by many a generation of highly skilled alchemists, doctors, and scholars it has been tested to the utmost to give you the safest results and the highest chance of progress and understanding. Learn the philosophy, understand the workings of your microcosmic body and the secrets of the Macrocosm, and feel the "side-effects": health, vitality, creativity, enlightenment, and joy of life. What are you waiting for?

OTHER CLASSES

Taoism is in the first place a practice, a way of life, but we understand that you may be looking for more profound theoretical knowledge, too.

If you want to understand the practices, you will also need to study the philosophy, the written sources (and the language they are written in, namely Classical Chinese), Chinese Taoist Medicine, and Chinese culture in general. We can provide that knowledge through lectures, theoretical courses, individual programs, and books. Take a look at our program for what is available or let us know if you have specific requests and we'll see what we can do for you.

IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE

ABOUT CHINA ARTS COLLEGE/CAC

Our school, China Arts College, offers you superior quality of education. Founded in 1990 by Professor Dr. Dan KJ Vercammen and Master of Taoist Arts An Woestenborghs it preserves, transmits, and safeguards the teaching of old Taoist alchemical, martial and medical practices of the Jiangnan region of Southeast China.

Two Taoist inspired practices originating from more northern parts of China, namely Liang Style Baguazhang (from Beijing) and Xinyiliuhequan (originally from Henan Province, but adopted by Jiangnan or Southeast China experts) are also taught. All information and practices we pass on are based on modern scientific research, too, which is performed at TASC, our research institute. Prof. Vercammen is an anthropologist, philosopher and sinologist (PhD degree Ghent University, Belgium, 1990; postgraduate studies Fudan University, Shanghai 1985-6) but also a Chinese Taoist doctor and alchemist, and a martial arts expert with more than 40 years of experience. We have created a warm and inviting college where you can study at your own pace and where you can be sure that you get the best education. We want all of our students to develop their skills, yet studying at CAC also means learning about your existence and applying what you learn in your daily life. We therefore don't want our students to learn empty forms or aim for impossible, unreal results, but try to help them find their individual potential. This makes the incorporating of Taoist experience and knowledge on a personal level possible, so that you can make your life richer, better, healthier, and longer. We deliberately limit the number of participants in our classes, and offer individual and online one-on-one sessions.