WHAT IS THE BUTTERFLY TAI CHI SYSTEM?

So, the “Butterfly Tai Chi System” is quite simply the unique t’ai chi system which Sifu Mike teach. The Butterfly was chosen as the symbol for two main reasons: one of the internal arts contained within the overall system is the rare Shaolin Butterfly Style; plus the Butterfly is a symbol for my school and arts in general, emphasizing Transformation, Change, and Beauty.

The backbone of the system is the T’ai Chi/ Internal Arts system which Sifu Mike learned from his teacher, White Lotus Five Form Fist Shaolin Headmaster, Tao Chi Li. His teacher taught a unique traditional system/ curriculum which is one of the main pillars of his overall system, described in detail in Sifu Mike’s book, “The Shaolin Butterfly Style: Arts of Transformation.” Now, his teacher is very much from the old school. His internal arts/ t’ai chi system is not a hodge podge, quite the opposite. It was meticulously constructed by himself with input from his teachers, and is a deep and complete system. At a certain point as Chief Instructor of his system and school Sifu Mike encouraged him to give it a name. Again, being very old school, he told him, “there are enough names, it is what it is.” For those who know him, par for the course. So, Sifu Mike refers to what he shared with him as the “White Lotus T’ai Chi System,” which contains a wide variety of t’ai chi/ internal arts elements and styles all seamlessly woven together into a cohesive curriculum. It is not an “inch deep, mile wide” system but full of depth and variety. The main foundational elements include:

-Traditional T’ai Chi Concepts and Principles

-T’ai Chi Qigong and Temple Exercises

-A variety of arm swing and throw hand methods

-Bamboo Legs Exercise- multiple variations

-T’ai Chi Stepping Methods

-T’ai Chi Rowing Methods

-Neigong Methods and Standing Postures

-Qigong For Health/ Healing

-Free-style/ Shamanic Qigong

-8 Directional Stepping Methods-solo, partner, weapons

-T’ai Chi Circle Walking- solo, partner, weapons

-The T’ai Chi Circle Group Exercise

-T’ai Chi “Pinball” Group Exercise

-Pre-Push Hands Drill

-Rolling Arms Methods- single and double arm, stationary and moving, many variationss

-The White Lotus Yang Short Form:

-This is the foundation set taught, it is a traditional version of the Yang style put together into a unique format/ progression. It has been influenced by Dr. Daniel K. Pai’s studies and teachings of the Yang style as well as Sifu Mike’s teachers own experiences and inspirations (he studied with many t’ai chi/ internal arts experts for decades). When Sifu Mike demonstrated this set for Dr. Maung Gyi he told him it was very similar to the famous teacher, writer and CIA agent Robert W. Smith’s version of the Yang style. This makes perfect sense given his teachers and Dr. Pai’s backgrounds and connections on Taiwan, though again it is loaded with what Sifu Lloyd Day humorously called, “Pai Sauce.”

Sifu Mike initially learned this 40 movement set over the course of 1.5 years while attending classes 4 days per week with constant self practice and practice with fellow students. His teacher taught in a temple like atmosphere, extremely focused, meticulous and pure training. Students learned 1-2 movements per month (some postures repeat). Along the way and over the years Sifu Mike learned many variations of this set. His teacher likes to use an old teaching method often-times: he almost never performs the same movement/ technique/ rhythm/ flow/speed the same way twice! This way he encouraged students to pay attention, and he could teach multiple variations of how to perform the techniques and set all at the same time- if you paid attention. And yes, Sifu Mike gave his training his rapt attention.

The main ways this (and many) sets can be performed are as follows: Crane Step, Lotus Step, Direct Step. 3 Frames/ 3 Depths of Stance. Feet flat while weight shifting, as well as using the “floating toe/ heel” methods. Multiple rhythm/flow patterns and speeds. All of these methods can be mixed and matched. Again, the actual movements/ postures also have variations, including combining the Yang and Butterfly styles into a fusion “Butterfly/ Yang Style.” A tremendous fusion, Sifu Mike received scores of 10,10,9.9 for his performance of rare “Butterfly/Yang Style” a few years ago at the well known Ocean State Grand Nationals in Rhode Island.

Sifu Mike when teaching this set to beginners emphasizes an even smooth flow and rhythm; the Crane Step as it builds strength and balance; and a medium size frame and stance. From there variations can be introduced for the serious student.

*Other elements/forms/styles contained within the White Lotus T’ai Chi System include:

-Buddha Palm Qigong

-T’ai Chi Ling Po (Lien Bu Quan Taiji Set)

-All manner of tui shou/push hands methods and drills, including the Pa Men and partnered Lotus Step Tui Shou, Receiving Pushes, Pushing Practice, application drills, qi development and sensing drills (eyes open and closed), and more

-Bamboo Training, Willow Training, and other principle/energy developmental drills/ methods

-”No Touch” Tui Shou

-T’ai Chi Mook Jong Training

-T’ai Chi Ruler Drills

-T’ai Chi Staff Drills

-2 T’ai Chi Chien/ Sword Sets

-Wu Cun Fighting Application Set- Wu Chun is a rare and powerful style developed by Dr. Pai’s grandfather, Dr. Gyi was very impressed with this style when Sifu Mike demonstrated it for him

-Pai Yueng T’ai Chi- another rare style developed by Dr. Pai’s grandfather

-Wu Chun T’ai Chi Dao/ Saber Set

-Lotus Stepping Footwork System- solo and with partner/tui shou/push hands

*this is only a portion of Sifu Mike’s teacher’s full White Lotus Internal Arts System, that which he is familiar with. His teacher also preserves a large number of other rare arts from Dr. Pai’s tradition, that of GM Wu Jen Dai, Dr. Tao of Taiwan, other Koushu Teachers, and various others.

The Butterfly Tai Chi System Open Hand Form Progression is as follows:

Butterfly Open Hand Tai Chi Form Progression:

*White Lotus Yang Style-public
*Ling Po Tai Chi (Tai Chi Lien Bu Quan), linear N-S tai chi set- public
*Butterfly/Yang Style- private lessons
*Pai Yueng Tai Chi- private lessons
*Wu Chun "Fighting Application" Set- private training

-Five Elders Tai Chi Progression:

*Lee Style
*Ng Style- linear E-W set
*Shin style- all of these available via private training or seminars

*as for Sifu Mike he has also studied with or learned from a variety of t’ai chi/ internal arts experts and styles: traditional Hong Kong Yang Style, Chen Man Ching Style, William C.C. Chen style, Chen Style, Bak Fu Pai t’ai chi and Taoist/ Internal methods, other Taoist styles/ methods, various Bagua styles, Sun style Taiji, Yim Wing Chun, and more. He has also created his own methods based upon his experience and studies, such as Butterfly Bagua Training and the Butterfly/Dragon Long Ring Handle Taiji Dao Set.

Over the past 34+ years Sifu Mike has taught these methods to many thousands of students in this area (Central Connecticut) following in his teacher and his teachers’ teachers’ footsteps. He has specialized in working with special needs groups/ individuals of all kinds: street to brain injuries, psych. wards to prison, college to hospital, spiritual retreats to extreme weapons combat; as well as the “average person.” Sifu Mike considers himself only a humble student in service,

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.

Sifu Mike way back when at the Grand Opening/ Open House of his teachers new school location in Newington, CT- White Lotus Martial Arts Center, est. 1977. This is a posture from the rare Wu Chun Tai Chi style

Sifu Mike in a posture from the Wu Chun Tai Chi “Fighting Application” set. This rare style was developed by Dr. Daniel K. Pai’s grandfather and passed down to Sifu Mike’s teacher and then to him (Sifu Mike’s teacher was Dr. Pai’s Chief Instructor and live-in disciple who was trained to be his successor).

Sifu Mike’s teacher Lao Shr Tao Chi Li teaching Tai Chi at the St. Francis Hospital Fitness Center circa 1992.