How to Join the University of Louisville Tai Chi Club

 

      We welcome anyone who is interested in learning more about Tai Chi to join our group. Tai Chi is a no-impact exercise that promotes mental and physical well-being. Tai Chi can be effectively learned and practiced by people of almost any age and physical ability. If you have limited mobility or injuries, we will work with you to help you realize the rehabilitative benefits of practicing Tai Chi.   

 

   To get started, simply show up at any of our practices (see our practice schedule) or contact our instructor, Carl Meeks at carl@kentuckytaichi.com or 502/693-7724.

 

   First month of membership is FREE! No experience necessary! Join us to learn about the practice and philosophy of Tai Chi and its many health and well-being benefits. We will teach you the postures. If you decide to join the University of Louisville Tai Chi Club (and we hope you will!), there are three requirements for membership:

 

 

? Join the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.

 

  

   The UofL Tai Chi Club practices Yang Family-style Tai Chi and is affiliated with the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association as our professional, international organization, as required by the University of Louisville Intramural Sports Federation.

 

IYFTCCA online Membership Form

 

   We are proud to learn from Master Yang Jun, 6th generation descendant of the creator of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Son of Yang Dao Fang and grandson of Master Yang Zhen Duo, Master Yang Jun is the future bearer of the Yang Family heritage.

 

   See Master Yang Juns seminar schedule, including the annual seminar in Louisville, Kentucky!

 

  

 

 

 

  Get an I.D. to gain entry to the UofL recreational facilities.

 

 

Click here for information about UofL Intramural Sports facilities membership.

  

   Currently enrolled students and active university staff and faculty can gain entry with your university I.D.

 

   Community members can purchase a Sports Club Federation ID to gain entry. The fee for this ID is $10 per semester and will allow you access into recreational facilities during club practice time only.

 

From UofL/Campus Life/Intramurals/Clubs:

   Sports Club membership is not limited to university students, faculty, and staff. Community members are allowed in all of our non-competitive clubs, at the discretion of the individual clubs. Club membership should never be more than 50% community members.

   Those community members must purchase a Sports Club Federation ID, at the cost of $10/semester, in order to gain entrance into club facilities. This ID is valid only during the times of scheduled club practices and does not allow the community member access to Intramural Sports facilities at any other times.

   This ID can be purchased at the Humana Gym.

 

 

   Directions to the Humana Gym (courtesy of the UofL Fencing Club): http://louisville.edu/rso/fencing/index_files/Directions.htm

 

   UofL alumni and dependents of UofL faculty and staff can also gain entry. Click here for information about these memberships.

 

 

 

 

? Pay monthly dues.

 

 

$20

if you are affiliated with the University of Louisville

 

**currently enrolled student, active faculty or staff

 

 

$30

if you are not affiliated with the University of Louisville

 

 

   The majority of your dues are used to supplement your continuing Tai Chi education, usually through subsidized attendance at workshops and seminars. A small amount of your dues is used to fund club-sponsored events and to procure club promotional materials.

 

   Our Treasurer collects your dues at the first of every month and provides a Treasurers report. We accept cash and checks.

 

 

 

Membership FAQs

 

 

1.

Do I have to be affiliated with the University of Louisville?

2.

What are the benefits of membership?

3.

When do you practice?

4.

Where do you practice?

5.

Do you practice rain or shine?

6.

What should I wear?

7.

Where can I park on Belknap campus?

 

 

1. Do I have to be affiliated with the University of Louisville?

 

   You do not have to be affiliated with the University of Louisville to join the UofL Tai Chi Club. We welcome everyone to learn with us. If you are not a currently enrolled UofL student or an active UofL staff or faculty member, you will need to purchase a visitor identification card to gain access to the Student Activity Center Gym.
 

 

2. What are the benefits of membership?

 

▫

Improved mental and physical health!

▫

Opportunities to advance your Tai Chi education subsidized with club funds

▫

Individualized instruction from Carl Meeks, 2005 Tai Chi Instructor of the Year and a member of the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame

▫

Discounts on seminars and products offered by the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association

▫

Opportunity to meet and practice with other local Tai Chi enthusiasts

 

 

 

3. When do you practice?

 

   We have two practice schedules - one for indoor practice (cold weather months) and one for outdoor practice (warm weather months). Indoor practice is held in the University of Louisville's Belknap campus Swain Student Activity Center (SAC) Gym, Aerobics Room. Outdoor practice is held on the University of Louisville's Belknap campus in the Quadrangle and in Cherokee Park at Hogan's Fountain.

 

   Our current practice schedule, including updates and changes and directions to practice locations, is posted on this site's home page at www.uofltaichi.com.

 

 

4. Where do you practice?

 

   We have two practice schedules - one for indoor practice (cold weather months) and one for outdoor practice (warm weather months). Indoor practice is held in the University of Louisville's Belknap campus Swain Student Activity Center (SAC) Gym, Aerobics Room. Outdoor practice is held on the University of Louisville's Belknap campus in the Quadrangle and in Cherokee Park at Hogan's Fountain.

 

   Our current practice schedule, including updates and changes and directions to practice locations, is posted on this site's home page at www.uofltaichi.com.

 

 

5. Do you practice rain or shine?

 

   We practice rain or shine! Tai Chi is intended to be practiced outside, in nature, on a daily basis. Kentucky weather is too cold for year-round outdoor practice, but we do practice outdoors during the warm months (approximately May to October). We have access to overhead shelter for our outdoor practice sessions. We practice indoors at the UofL Swain Student Activities Center Gym, Aerobics Room during the cold weather months.

 

   Our current practice schedule, including updates and changes and directions to practice locations, is posted on this site's home page at www.uofltaichi.com.

 

 

6. What should I wear?

 

   Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that you can move in. Yoga clothing works well for the practice of Tai Chi. So do big t-shirts, scrubs and exercise pants.

   Wear shoes without a lot of tread. Athletic shoes like basketball shoes or skateboarding shoes with flat tread work better than running or walking shoes, which tend to have grabby tread. You will need to pivot on the ball of your foot during some Tai Chi postures and during the transitions between some Tai Chi postures. Choose a shoe that does not inhibit your movement but does support your foot and ankle. You can also practice Tai Chi barefoot.

 

 

7. Where can I park on Belknap campus?

 

   Parking is available on campus. Belknap campus parking map. Weekday and weekend parking restrictions differ. All Belknap campus parking lots EXCEPT YELLOW PERMIT (dorm) LOTS are unpatrolled - thus free parking - on the weekends. Yellow permit lots are restricted and patrolled 24/7.

 

   The parking facility closest to the Swain Student Activities Center (SAC) is the University of Louisvilles Floyd Street parking garage visitors lot. Visitor parking is available for a fee. The facility is well lit and is a very short walk from the SAC.

 

   If you would like an escort to your car, the University of Louisville Department of Public Safety offers a free escort service seven days a week from dusk to dawn. Call 502/852-6111.

 

From UofL Campus Life/Intramurals/Membership Information:

 

   Parking is always somewhat of a challenge on any college campus. You have several options with your membership. If you are going to primarily be using the SAC you may want to look into purchasing a "Green or Purple" permit from the Division of Parking. Their office is located in the courtyard of the garage next to the SAC. Tell them you are going to be a regular visitor to campus and that will qualify you to purchase a "Green or Purple" permit. The Green permit costs $88 per year; the Purple $72 and each are pro-rated at different times of the year. The difference in the two is the Green gives you access to the garage or Papa John's all day, the Purple only after 5:00 PM.

 

   There are no tickets written after 7:30 PM weekdays so you may feel free to park in any lot after that time. The permit enables you to park in the area of the garage using the main entrance of the street. You also have the option to use the hourly rate section of the garage on a daily basis. The entrance for that area is next to the railroad tracks, off the oval in front of the SAC. This is not your best option though. Hourly rates apply during the day. After 5:00 PM you must insert $2 into the ticket machine to open the gate and allow you to enter the garage hourly rate area. The meters on the street will give you 75 minutes for your quarter and are City of Louisville meters patrolled by Louisville police/parking staff.

 

  

   You may also park in the J.B. Speed Art Museum parking garage.