Tai Chi classes at Open Sky | Tai Chi classes at Duke University | What is Tai Chi | Tai Chi Instructors | Resources for Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi Class Offerings
Tai Chi Foundations and Tai Chi Basics classes are offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:45PM and 7:00-8:00PM respectively.
Our 2026-2027 sessions will begin again in the late Summer / Fall 2027. Please reach out to field questions and join the waitlist now for those classes.
Classes are paid for in sessions around two months long, often with a break between sessions. Classes within a session build on each other. Missing an occasional class due to other life commitments is completely understandable, but students should be able to make a routine of committed attendance and some home practice to benefit best from our program. There are no “drop in” classes. We find this longer commitment and common start point maximizes success for students.
Returning students are encouraged to repeat forms and classes after learning them to best internalize the movements, receive more detailed corrections, and routinize their practice.
Tai Chi Class Cost
- Paying for class: Payment can be made online for full or half sessions ($150 for full ~10 class session; $75 for half session, 4-5 classes). Please pay online if you can – this saves precious time before and after class. The first class of the new year (first class in September) may be tried for free. Intermediate students can attend both classes (Mon and Thu) for the same cost.
- Aikido cross training discount: Current members of the Aikido program may attend Tai Chi classes Mike teaches for a discounted rate of +$40/session for full class sessions and +$20/session for half 4-5 class sessions.
Tai Chi Class Logistics
- Arrival Time: Classes start and end on time; it is best practice and good martial arts etiquette to arrive 10-15 minutes early to settle into a practice mindset and begin your personalized warm ups. Likewise, plan on coming 15 minutes early to the first class of the session to get acquainted with the school & sign waivers if you are new. Dues can be paid in person, but paying online (see below) saves time.
- Waivers: All students will need a current practice insurance waiver on file. This can be emailed in or completed in person. Please find the waiver on the New Students page.
- Clothing: Any loose, comfortable clothing is welcome. There are no uniforms required.
- Shoes/feet: Bare feet or clean soled (indoor only) non-marring Tai Chi / martial arts shoes allowed on the mat.
- Other Equipment: Some classes require other equipment. The sword form requires a sword – ideally, purchase your own for the year’s class (a “jian” around 30 inch blade, 39-40″ total), though there also will be swords available. You can try out swords in early classes before deciding which you want to buy.
For other questions, please email Mike at taichi@openskymartialarts.com.
Tai Chi Classes at Duke University
Steve Kaufmann teaches Tai Chi in the Physical Education department at Duke University.
Students can find the Tai Chi course syllabus here.
What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is an internal art of self-defense that harmonizes the external body with internal energy. Its external movements stretch and strengthen the fascia of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, while the unique spiraling and twining movements massage the body’s internal organs circulating chi energy throughout the body. Studies by Western scientists continue to document more and more health benefits for students of all ages who practice this ancient art.
Open Sky Tai Chi classes teach basic Tai Chi movement in a step–by–step way. Movements are repeated and refined. These slow movements of Tai Chi, such as silk reeling exercises and forms, allow students to observe and feel their own body in motion. As legs and belly strengthen, awareness of back alignment increases and posture improves. Students will learn to recognize and release upper body tension and become increasingly supple through daily practice of Tai Chi movements. As students feel their own posture and balance improve, energy flows, healing and strengthening the body.
Times & Dues: Open Sky offers Tai Chi classes year round, in 5 class to 10 class sessions. Classes are typically either foundation-focused (for beginner students and those wanting deep practice) or form-focused (for intermediate students).
For questions about the Tai Chi program, please email us at taichi@openskymartialarts.com or see our contact us page for instructions on watching a class.
Tai Chi Instructors
Steven Kaufmann and Mike Dolan Fliss studied Tai Chi with Grand Master Wang Hai Jun, a master teacher of the Chen style of Tai Chi at the highest level. Wang Hai Jun was the first non-Chen family student to be traditionally trained in Chen Village in Henan in modern times. His teacher, Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, is one of the “Four Golden Tigers” of Chen style Tai Chi.
Mike Dolan Fliss began training in martial arts over 30 years ago and was introduced to Tai Chi 20 years ago. Mike was inspired by meeting Grand Master Wang Hai Jun to take Chen style Tai Chi training seriously after early practice healed old injuries and provided surprising martial applications.
He enjoys the deep conditioning of the Chen forms, particularly the Lao Jia, Xin Jia, spear, and sword forms, and enjoys push hands and martial applications of practice. He has done occasional demonstrations locally for World Tai Chi day, and finds the movements of Chen Tai Chi to be useful for understanding Aikido, and vice versa.
See the Instructors page for a more detailed martial arts biography for Mike.
Steve Kaufmann began his studies of Tai Chi over 40 years ago, before studying with Wang Hai Jun, along with a lifetime of Aikido and meditation practice. He has studied with such notable Tai Chi teachers as William Chen, Lou Kleinsmith, Paul Gallagher, Lindsay Williams, Kumar Frantzis, and Nick Gudge.
Steve and Jesse are the the co-founders of Open Sky.
See the Instructors page for a more detailed martial arts biography for Steve.
Steve primarily teaches Tai Chi at Duke University and is semi-retired from teaching at Open Sky.