Taoist Arts Organisation

Transcription

1 Taoist Arts Organisation Li Family Style As taught by Prof. Li Kam Chan and Prof. Chee Soo The Taoist Arts Organisation is dedicated to promoting and preserving the purity, quality, and completeness of the LI Family System of Health and Martial Arts NEWSLETTER : JUNE 2010 FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE This weekend is the 15 th AGM of the TAO, a good time to take a look at ourselves, where we have come from and where we have got to. Our roots lie with Chee Soo, Tony s teacher, whose organisation was called the International Taoist Society. After his death, a group of students set up the TAO, dedicated to promoting and preserving the Li Family Arts, with Tony as the Technical Director. Tony is like the trunk of the tree supporting a network of club Instructors, which are its branches. Together the roots, trunk and branches nourish and support the students, the twigs and leaves. This issue will take a look at different aspects of the TAO family tree and also contains the second article on Mental Imagery in training. INTERVIEW WITH MARILYN SOO Marilyn met Chee Soo in 1981 and they later married. Since his death, she has continued to be interested in the Li family Arts. She is uniquely placed to tell us about our roots and to give an outside perspective on the development of our Organisation. We are very grateful that she has kindly agreed to contribute to this special issue. I met Chee in February 1981 at one of my daughter s birthday party. My other daughter was living with Keith, one of Chee s students. Chee had been living in London but was thinking of moving to the Midlands. Keith was helping him house hunt and storing belongings for him, ready for the move. Typical Chee - despite a snowstorm so heavy that the police advised him not to continue up the M1 he turned up at Keith s house with a car load of belongings. I was introduced to him. He looked at me and said, You have cold hands cold feet and varicose veins. I thought this was very strange: because of the deep snow I had trousers tucked into knee length boots and a coat on, so he couldn t see my legs at all. I thought what s he talking about? but he had a lovely smile. He was embarrassed at interrupting a family party but I said he couldn t got until he had some cake and tea, He did, but then shot back to London even though didn t know if the road would be open. Later, when he had arranged to come and view a house, it was Marilyn and Chee Soo in Hong Kong half term and, as I worked in a school, I said to Keith I could show him the area and show him where things were. He ended up buying a house in Coventry and 3 months later we were living together. It was a whole new world to me: Chinese culture, his Chang Ming diet and the Arts at first I didn t know anything. I started helping him with the ITS administration and I had to have the colour codes written down : blue card for T ai Chi, yellow for Feng.Shou etc. because I really didn t know anything. I had to learn vegan cookery for him, which was completely new to me. He wouldn t have red meat in the house but he didn t mind if I had fish or chicken. After some months I lost my taste for that and ate the same as him. Even now I eat very little chicken or fish and no red meat. So Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter June 2010 page 1

2 he changed my lifestyle. I didn t mind, he was such a wonderful character. He wasn t doing very much teaching at all in those days. We had some next-door neighbours who were very friendly and adored him. They found out that he used to teach kung fu and persuaded him to start a class in Coventry. Before he moved to Coventry he had gone underground for a while and his former students didn t know if he had emigrated or even died. But, once he started teaching again, word quickly got around and it snowballed until he was extremely busy. He soon had lots of students, who all looked up to him. It took a bit of getting used to. His students only knew one side of him, the teacher, not how he was in his personal life: his wonderful sense of humour and his love of music. He sang to me at our wedding a wonderfully romantic gesture except that he chose the song Please release me, let me go which was typical of his sense of humour. He had a very good voice, when we moved to Wales the local Welsh male voice choir wanted him to join. He was always singing in the house; either singing or drinking cups of tea! We did a lot of travelling for his teaching and holidays. I d never been abroad before and suddenly I found myself touring Australia. While we were there he was teaching T ai Chi in the open air. I was at the table at the side doing the paperwork and he was teaching lines of students. From my viewpoint I could see that a fly kept settling on his nose and he kept flicking off with hand. All the students couldn t see the fly and thought it was a movement, which they dutifully copied. I had such a laugh and then went and told him what was happening. We also travelled a lot to France Germany and Amsterdam. He taught so many wonderful courses in Europe. After a while I started training in the Arts myself. In time I assisted Chee with a children s class we started a group for year olds. I loved learning the Arts but nobody would grade me they worried they would be in trouble with Chee if they failed me but also if they passed me when I wasn t good enough, so it was a no win situation for them and I never got graded! I didn t see Tony for nearly a year after Chee started teaching. Then one day this big guy walked in and said, Hello, I m Tony Swanson. He was lovely, right from the first time I met him he was brilliant I took to him straight away. I don t think Chee had seen him for a couple of years but it was as if they had been together only the day before and he was back in the fold. I remember it as if it was only yesterday. Tony always made us so welcome when we went to London to do courses and he and Chee got on so well. Once, coming back from a course to Tony s house, a man had cut us up in his car and was having a go at Chee. Tony drove up and asked what was going on. Chee just said, Tony sort him out. I thought, How could he do that to Tony? But one look from Tony and the man went on his way. It is true that Chee would frequently stir up trouble and leave Tony to sort it out it was part of Tony s training! I m really so glad that Tony has continued with everything with the knowledge he had from Chee. And he hasn t just continued but he has progressed to do so much more. Chee would be so proud of what he is doing I know he would. After Chee died I said I would take it over the ITS for 12 months and then hand it to different people in different areas. I knew at the bottom of my heart it wouldn t really work. I think Tony of all of them is the one who has kept the system together - he has just gone from strength to strength. * * * * * COMPETITION RESULTS National Forms Championships Open internal hand form Gold medal - Kathrin Meier Internal short weapon Gold - Kathrin Meier Internal hand form traditional advanced Bronze medal Romina Naito National Sanshou Championships Matthis Schneider Junior: Gold medal Julian Darda under 65k: Bronze medal Adrian Merville-Tugg - under 70kg: Silver medal Adam Wood - under 80kg: Bronze medal Our excellent women s team: Charlotte Andrews, Sophie Hutton, Louise King and Kathrin Meier, were all awarded gold medals as we might have expected, although they were deprived of the chance to display their skills, as they were unopposed. Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 2

3 THE USE OF MENTAL IMAGERY IN TRAINING Part II In my first article I introduced the concept of using mental imagery or mind theatre as a means of assisting our training in the Martial Arts. In this article I would like to explore how we might use visualisation and to do so I will return to the study I referred to last time testing the success of people throwing a basketball through a hoop from a set position. In Part I, I explained that the persons who simply imagined throwing the ball through the hoop, and did nothing else by way of practice, did as well in the test as those who actually practiced throwing the ball through the hoop. Now let us take the matter a step further and consider exactly how they went about imagining the act of throwing the ball through the hoop. Let me suggest to you that they may have imagined the act in two possible ways either with themselves associated with the act or disassociated from it. Let me attempt to explain. Associated visualisation involves imagining yourself performing the action seeing it through your own eyes. In the case of the basketball free throws you are standing on the spot, you are holding and aiming the ball, you are throwing the ball through the hoop. Depending on your ability you may be able to feel the ball in your hands, smell that smell peculiar to sports halls and hear the roar of the crowd. As you launch the ball, you will follow its trajectory with your own eyes. In other words you are associated with the action. It is you, inside your own body, doing it. In disassociated visualisation you are watching yourself from the point of view of an observer. From a dissociated perspective, mental rehearsal allows a person to be more like the audience or director of the play or movie. In terms of images, being associated means seeing an experience as if it were actually happening, through one's own eyes as a participant, whereas being dissociated means watching oneself go through the experience -- somewhat like watching a movie of it. Let us now return to our basketball. We wish to improve our ability for throwing it through a hoop and hope that visualisation may help. Do we imagine performing the action in an associated or a disassociated way? Well it depends. Let us suppose that you are absolutely hopeless with a basketball. You couldn t hit a barn door at five paces let alone throw the ball through a hoop. In this case the use of associated visualisation would be most likely to bring about improvement. Imagine yourself there, feeling the relaxation in your body as you hold the ball in your hands, looking at the hoop and following the ball with your eyes as you throw it and watch as it falls through the hoop. Scientific research has proved that such a use of visualisation will indeed improve our ability and a whole new science of sports psychology has grown up around such practices. On the other hand, let us suppose that you are an old hand at basketball and have spent long solitary hours practicing throwing the ball through the hoop. You have become so good that you score with nine out of ten throws. Unfortunately you can only do so when on your own. As soon as any spectators are present you immediately become self-conscious and go to pieces; now you can only score with four out of the ten throws. This is where disassociated visualisation has been found to be advantageous. By becoming a spectator and watching yourself performing the action it is possible to remove the emotional charge from it. By imagining yourself seated in the crowd and observing as you successfully perform the throws, you distance yourself from your feelings of self-consciousness and, over time, will improve your ability to perform in front of crowds to the standard of your private practice. In other words, if one visualizes in a disassociated manner, ``from the outside'', one will be more emotionally objective, or at least one's emotions will be about the experience of success, rather than fear of failure. This allows us to gradually drop the emotions, which are causing the problems. Obviously I have only touched upon the subject of visualisation in a very superficial way. It is a massive subject, which is encouraging more and more research, especially in the field of sports psychology. I have deliberately avoided using Martial Arts as an example in the use of visual imagery. It would not however take much imagination to see how it may be of use in our practice and I hope that you may give it some thought and perhaps have a play with it. You may well be pleasantly surprised at the results. Keith Painter Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 3

4 MASTER CHEE SOO and the TAO Intro Twenty-nine years since I met Master Chee Soo, fifteen years since the inception of the Taoist Arts Organisation and a few weeks from my 68 th birthday, I have been invited to write about some personal remembrances of the early days in Coventry with Chee Soo and, eventually, the change to the TAO. Before T ai Chi Having been regularly involved with Aikido for six years (late 1960 s/early 70 s), the David Carradine Kung Fu television series really attracted me especially the techniques, the Master/Student relationship, the traditions and philosophy. For three years, during the late 70 s, I attended monthly Yang style T ai Chi classes locally the old 108 long form! A good beginning! The lady instructor, who came from London to do the class, eventually stopped coming. In 1981, my friend, Christine, and I heard of a Chinese man teaching T ai Chi and Kung Fu in Coventry (10 miles from our town, Leamington Spa!). As soon as possible, we went to Coventry and were warmly welcomed into the small weekly Wednesday evening group by Master Chee Soo and his wife, Marilyn, who was, at that time, an active student in the class. From that time, we attended almost every one of his classes that he held in the Midlands area as well as all of his mid-week, alternate weekends, Easter, Summer and other classes that he held. Master Chee Soo Lao Bah (Old Uncle) He had a great sense of humour and had moments of silliness and giggling fits sometimes setting us off, too! He was a warm, friendly, easily approachable man. His main focus was to teach the Arts and write his books. Marilyn (his right hand man ) organised the courses, venues, finances, uniforms, memberships, the records of Master Chee Soo s various Societies, communications, etc. Lao Bah was a respectful and familiar title used by others when referring to Master Soo, while a few long-timers sometimes referred to him warmly as the old man! Chee Soo with Diana Rigg he used to do fight arranging for the programme The Avengers. Driving Lao Bah drove scarily fast! Those who knew him down South had a nickname for him: Flying Seahorse. He preferred powerful white Vauxhall saloons and had the letters SOO in his number plates. Seahorse It was also during the Chee Soo Years that we learned of the Li family crest the male Seahorse wearing a Chinese peasant s hat and that it was handed on to Master Soo by his teacher, Li Kam Chan. Later, in 1995, when the TAO was set up, the logo was changed, I honestly felt the main connection with Master Soo and the Li family had been severed. I missed it! A while later, I realised that the umbilical cord needs to be cut for the newborn to persevere. Also the new land horse symbol suggests much more than optimistic new beginnings, opportunities and possibilities. Home Master Soo and Marilyn had a very nice modest house in the South area of Coventry. They were both so warm and welcoming when Christine and I visited their home. The Li family crest seemed to be everywhere: paintings, ornaments, items of Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 4

5 seahorse pottery (made by one of Master Soo s students), decorated material, etc. In a small extention to the rear of their building, Master Soo had his own den ; his work area with wall shelves crammed with martial arts videotapes and books. Also so many books on anatomy, mechanics, philosophies, plants, massage, yoga, etc. On a big desk were his well-used electric typewriter and an old beige small screen computer (running DOS in 1980 s before Windows!). Fascinated, I asked him about the computer and he told me he was practising sticky computer! We visited them a few times usually by invitation. Classes and Teaching However Master Soo taught the Arts in his earlier years, I found that the way he taught his classes allowed the Arts to be easily approached and, at the same time, enjoyed. Classes were never long enough for me even the whole days! I always looked forward to the classes. Over the years, he held his classes mainly at a school near where he lived Alderman Callow School except for a 3-week Summer School, which had to be held a University of Warwick nearby. I remember that, sometimes, when I asked for his guidance, Master Soo would show me without explanation, I tried to replicate it and, with a grin, he looked me in the eyes, then looked upwards and moved away. Eventually, I realised that he was actually communicating more than just the technique! Ho Hum! Nothing changes! Over the years, with attendance from students in France and Germany increasing, Master Soo s Summer Courses became very involved: Week One, T ai Chi (including forms, weapons, partner work, drills, K ai Men, Tao Yin); Week Two, Feng Shou (forms, partner work, weapons, etc.); Week Three, Health & Massage (Anmo massage techniques on live bodies with oil, plus much note-taking re meridians, points, anatomical info re muscle structures, organs, Chang Ming Diet details, herbs, daily energy changes according to planetary movement, etc., etc.). Wonderful stuff! During Master Soo s last few Summer Courses (held in the campus at Coventry s University of Warwick), I remember Richard Singleton (who later became a member and Instructor with the TAO) enthusiastically focusing the preparation and cooking of the lunches for approximately 60 students on macrobiotic/vegetarian lines; wonderfully tasty, energy food - perfect for our activities! (Richard had so many requests for recipes that he later typed out a Chang Ming Recipes booklet. I still have my copy!) Chi Shu was taught occasionally on a Saturday with Feng Shou on Sunday. Fees Occasionally, there were a few times when I couldn t afford to pay the class fee and Marilyn said, That s all right don t worry! Pay when you can! Just come! That s how they were! Sport Aid for Africa T ai Chi May, This worldwide event to help the starving in Africa! Almost everyone else seemed to be focussing on running or some other sport event to raise donations. Two weeks before the event, Christine and I thought we would do something different T ai Chi for Africa! I obtained official permission to hold this event in a local park. We invited Master Soo who accepted our invitation for him to lead the group. The local newspaper and Midlands radio ran announcements gave us nice publicity. So big signs on big bandstand, big plastic containers to receive donations a wide expanse of grass and they came! We started on time and Master Soo and Marilyn joined us. Master Soo took over! A great success! Over about three hours, a changing crowd of about 60 people doing T ai Chi form and some simple Sticking Hands. The newspaper ran another article after the event saying nice things! All the donations (a few hundred pounds) went to the Sport Aid organisers. Master Soo said later that he was pleased with it all. Books After some years of Master Soo s continuous focus and application, his five books were published in 1983/4. (Of course, I still have my copies!) Translated into many languages - I remember seeing a copy of T ai Chi Ch uan book Whether you are a branch, a twig, a leaf or a bud on the TAO family tree.. Summer School is not the same without you. (See back page for booking form) Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 5

6 in Hungarian (or was it Polish?). They are not only historical contacts with a previous step in the Li family style lineage, they still serve as good references to all that the TAO continues to teach. In this way Master Chee Soo is still teaching us! Wales Master Soo and Marilyn moved to South Wales in Although he continued to run Easter and Summer classes in Coventry (and other classes elsewhere I don t know!), his Midlands instructors continued holding regular classes and missing him. We heard in 1994 that he was planning to return to Coventry. Chee Soo at a Coventry Summer Course in the 1980s Goodbye When Master Soo left his body on August 29, 1994, it was a big shock to everyone who knew him. The crematorium chapel in Cwmbran was packed and I was one of many mourners standing outside by the door, straining to hear what was happening inside. It was said later that this small chapel had never had so many mourners before! The car park for packed and vehicles were parked for hundreds of yards up the main road. It was incredible! So many people! Members from France, Germany and Holland (I was told) who had just recently returned home from attending Master Soo s Summer Course in Coventry, heard the news and came back again! As well as immediate family, Master Soo s daughter, Lavinia (herself still involved in Martial Arts) was there, others came from down London way and way up North. So many people all of whom had been touched because Master Soo s own lifelong dedication to the Lee family style Arts! I was introduced later to a few people who had come a long way because some years ago he helped us deal with a serious problem. The reception was held in a large church hall in Ebbw Vale where we all had the opportunity introduce ourselves and exchange our memories and appreciate Our Teacher one more time. And, with the deepest of bows, say Shur Shur, Lao Bah! Thank you, Old Uncle! Taoist Arts Organisation A short while later, word went around that a number of Instructors had approached instructor Tony Swanson (based in the London area) to continue to teach us. Christine and I met Tony when he came up to Master Soo s classes in Coventry in the early 1980 s and we could see he knew what he was doing. Tony - having been with Master Soo since the 1960 s was greatly respected by other instructors. The TAO was born in February, With a new teacher, new logo, new uniform, new spelling of the family name, new organising structure, new energy, new focus new spirit! Everything new puts a strain on what has gone before but the yins and yangs sort themselves in time. Here we are, fifteen years later, with as Tony has said before - so many great successes in competitions, so much respect from the wider Martial Arts community, such a great feeling between us. We are still together and carrying the flame that Master Soo has handed to us - thanks to Tony, who has such great knowledge and such great responsibility; he has proved he is the right man for the job. I am so very happy, so privileged and honoured to have shared this journey thus far! John Zetterstrom Student of Master Chee Soo Student of Seenzarm Tony Swanson Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 6

7 FOUNDER MEMBERS In this fifteenth anniversary issue it seems the right time, not only to look at our roots, but also to celebrate our branches. The TAO spreads far and wide and, to achieve a broad spread, a tree needs strong branches. These would be our founder members. There are 41 members of the TAO who joined at the outset and are still active members of the Organisation. As Jane Frew commented in the last issue when analysing the students attending the Easter course, it is very unusual to have such a large number of people maintaining their interest, commitment and practice over such a long period. Fifteen years is a significant period of time in people s lives. Those who were young and single now may have families to support. Those who had families now may have grandchildren to visit. Some who were in the prime of life are now nearing retirement and a significant number demonstrate the value they derive from their practice by continuing through their retirement years. All of them make time in their lives for their practice to continue a graphic demonstration of the extent to which they value it. 13 of the Founder members are Pan grades. However most of them are assisting, formally or informally with the training of more junior students in their clubs, sharing their wealth of experience and demonstrating by their persistence that it is quality of the journey, not the speed you travel, that matters. 28 of these Founder members are Instructors. Instructors are the weight bearing boughs, which support the canopy of the organisation by running the clubs. Those Instructors who have been with the TAO from the start have been strengthened over the years by the training the TAO has offered them in the past. In its 15 years it has become a qualified ITEC college, teaching anatomy, physiology and massage. This course of study was followed by a significant number of our Instructors giving them a depth of understanding and skill, which significantly boosts the quality of the teaching they offer. The TAO also qualified as a registered NVQ centre (even before the BCCMA) offering an NVQ in Sport and recreation in the context of Chinese martial arts as well as many other things from key skills level 1 to human resources level 4. Again, these courses were followed by many of our Instructors, further developing them as teachers and trainers. When one looks at the 28 Founder member Instructors you find that 21 of them run TAO clubs.. By comparison there are 21 black jackets in the organisation that are not founder members and only 7 of these teach classes for the TAO. What makes the difference? It is pure speculation perhaps it is the additional training they have received that gives them the confidence or perhaps, having come from the old regime of the ITS they have a different attitude. Perhaps it is a mixture with other personal factors coming into play for each individual. However it is fair to say that these statistics support the proposition that their loyalty and commitment are key to the very strong structure the TAO has built up over the past 15 years. The Technical Director has led the Organisation through all of these developments and has personally done amazing work in raising the profile of the TAO nationally and internationally. He has set the highest standards of practice and teaching within the Organisation. But it is the solid and consistent support of the Founder members, which has ensured that the TAO continues to have a network of strong regional clubs in which the high standards of teaching are maintained and offered to a range of students. Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 7

8 ON THE TAO S 15 TH ANNIVERSARY In the days before the TAO, while I was still training with Chee Soo, I was very selfish about my own training and, though teaching classes, had no aspirations or grand thoughts of setting up an organisation. At that time I had a loyal group of students in the London area and that was all that seemed to matter. After the loss of my teacher my loyalty to Marilyn and Chee s memory meant I had lots of decisions to make. At the end of the first year after Chee s death when Marilyn chose to step down as the controlling head of the ITS, after much soul searching I decide I would leave, rather than stay where I perceived at the time I would not be able to promote positively the Art of my teacher and his name. I did not want to get caught up in the petty egotistical arguments that followed Marilyn s step down as there was no precedence given in these arguments to the skill and knowledge of the Art that should continue or be taught; they seemed to be concerned only with personal gain. So I left - with great regret, as I had been a student of Chee s for over 26 years and, considering the time I used to spend travelling and training, it left a big hole in my life. After being approached to form a new group, it again took a lot of soul searching before I agreed, but I felt that the best way to serve the Arts was to teach it to the best of my ability. My strategy was to maintain the highest standards to prove to the world that the Art that I was taught was of high calibre and so that my teacher s name would be honoured for the years to come. To do this I needed the help and support of many people, the Founder Members and some others who gave me the confidence to push forward. They have helped the TAO to achieve much in the 15 years, including external achievements: the ITEC college and NVQ centre previously mentioned but also progress with our core purpose. We have climbed a long ladder to gain recognition that the Arts and Chee deserve from the Martial Arts fraternity. From being a new organisation without a figurehead we have progressed to one that has achieved the highest awards. We have become executive members of the BCCMA with myself becoming Chair and our Instructors have earned external coaching awards, NVQs etc as well as our own high quality grades. We have proven ourselves in all aspects of competition from forms to full contact fighting with numerous national, European and world medallists. We have become a organisation truly equal in opportunity having a good balance of male and female students and instructors and members many ethnic groups. None of this would have been possible without the continued support and hard work and dedication of the remaining Founder Members. I will be eternally grateful, to them and the others since that have allowed me to honour my teacher for the things that he taught me. I am also deeply grateful to Marilyn for her continued support of our efforts to continue Chee s legacy. Tony Swanson Technical Director * * * * * To those attending Summer School More fun and frivolity is planned on our now regular social evening in aid of the Kombat Kids. This is again being organised by Jane Frew and Julie Stanton. Jane would like to remind you to bring a little bit of cash for the evening, to cover expenses for refreshments and to buy raffle tickets. She would be happy to receive any donations of raffle prizes. She also has a few remaining DVDs of last year s concert at 5 each. She can be contacted on jfrew2001@yahoo.co.uk Among the many things planned for the concert, Julie intends to stage a selection of numbers from Grease this year. Those of you who participated in the Can Can or the Chippendales extravaganzas last year or wish to be part of the fun can get lyrics and costume information if you her on p.stanton@homecall.co.uk If the idea of performing alarms you (and you find no benefit in disassociative visualization as recommended by Mr Painter!) please don t worry as every performer requires an audience willing to relax and enjoy the performance. Many thanks to all contributors to this issue, especially to Romina Naito for the special celebratory art work on page 7. Please send contributions to the September issue of the newsletter by 20 th August 2010 to the Editor: Anne Manasse, 7 Gowan Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2PS. Tel annemanasse@blueyonder.co.uk Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 8

9 COURSE DETAILS 2010 Summer Course Booking Form Venue Ratcliffe College, Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester LE7 4SG Date Sunday 25th to Friday 30th July, 2010 Course Instructor Master Tony Swanson, T.A.O. Technical Director COSTS Training 125: Non-refundable Booking deposit and Training Fee required to secure your place on course. In UK please make cheques payable to T.A.O. Full Board and accommodation (supplied by Ratcliffe College) please pay in cash on arrival at the course To Book: Please send your completed booking slip and an to James Lumsden. He will send back acknowledging receipt of deposit and booking form. Deposit to be paid to James Lumsden or Marie Hartshorn in the UK, Annette Böffinger in Germany or Dominique Gantier in France. There is a limit of 60 places available. Single rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Closing date for bookings 2 nd July For further information: Please contact the James Lumsden giving him as much notice as possible. He can supply prices for those wishing to camp or to participate in training without accommodation. He can also assist those with special dietary needs and any other queries. Course Organiser: James Lumsden: 10 Lawford Road, London, W4 3HS, UK. jhlumsden@btinternet.com Tel: Mob: Booking Slip Please reserve me a place on the TAO 2010 Summer Course. I enclose / send separately my payment of 125 and I understand this to be a non-returnable deposit. Board and accommodation fees are 225payable in cash on my arrival at the course. I understand it is my responsibility to ensure that my insurance is up to date before participating in training. Name : T.A.O. Membership No : FULL Address : E- mail Address : I require a single room Yes / No Dietary Preferences Normal Vegetarian Other (please specify) Breakfast Lunch and Dinner Copyright is asserted on behalf of individual authors, photographers and the TAO TAO Newsletter April 2010 page 9