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 / Intermediate classes are offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:45PM and 7:00-8:00PM respectively, typically in two month sessions 3 to 4 times a year.
If you are interested in joining Fall 2026 sessions (to begin mid-September / early October), please reach out by email now to field questions and join the waitlist for those upcoming 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 Foundations Classes
Tai Chi Foundations will be offered this Fall on Wednesday evenings from 6-6:45 pm from Sep 16-Nov 18 (~2 month / 10-class full session). The class will focus on core tai chi movements: how to coordinate energy from well aligned legs, move that energy through the core and upper body, and guide the hands through coordinated pathways. No prior tai chi experience is necessary. However, students who have taken tai chi before or have experience in other martial arts are likely to find these “basic” exercises very useful for refining their fundamentals. The class will be taught by Steve Kaufmann, the founder of our school, with 50 years of experience in multiple styles of tai chi and a master teacher in aikido.
Tai Chi Basics & Intermediate Classes
Tai Chi Basics & Intermediate will be offered this Fall on Wednesday evenings October 7-Nov 18 (7 classes). Unlike previous years, seasonal sessions will be self-contained and topic-specific (instead of learning a single form over the course of a year). This Fall we will focus on the solo Chen style silk reeling movements, anticipating a class session on paired silk reeling / push hands movements in the Spring. Silk reeling movements build strength, flexibility, and coordination in the legs and lower body that translates sensitivity and power into the hands. Students with an active movement practice of any kind (yoga, martial arts, etc.), those with prior / present tai chi practice of any style, or know some or all of the Chen short or other forms are a good fit for this class. We will use chapters 2 and 3 of Wang Hai Jun’s DVD/video series on Silk Reeling (see here for reference) and other references as a guide.
Tai Chi Class Cost
- Paying for class: Class sessions are $150 for 2 month “full” sessions (~7-10 classes) and half sessions (4-5 classes) are $75.
- For classes Steve teaches (Tai Chi Foundations), bring a check (made out to Steve Kaufmann) or cash for the full session amount to the first class.
- For classes Mike teaches (Basic & Intermediate Tai Chi), payment can be made online for full or half sessions
- 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 15-20 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 when available 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 use only) non-marring tai chi / martial arts shoes allowed on the mat.
- Other Equipment: Some classes require other equipment. Example: 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 loaner swords available.
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 Duke 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.
For questions about our Tai Chi program, please email us at taichi@openskymartialarts.com or see our contact us page for instructions on watching a class. Note that while aikido is offered year round, tai chi takes practice breaks between sessions to encourage solo practice.
Tai Chi Instructors
Our tai chi teachers, Steven Kaufmann and Mike Dolan Fliss, studied for years with Tai Chi 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. We are lucky to have had his influence on our school.
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 Kaufmann are the the co-founders of Open Sky. Steve primarily teaches tai chi at Duke University and, while semi-retired from teaching regularly at Open Sky, occasionally offers tai chi classes.
See the Instructors page for a more detailed martial arts biography for Steve.
Mike Dolan Fliss began training in martial arts over 35 years ago and was introduced to tai chi 25 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, though they are unique arts.
See the Instructors page for a more detailed martial arts biography for Mike.