Cloud Hands
The Gentle Mind-Body Arts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung
Valley Spirit Taijiquan

Comments, Feedback, Kudos, Reviews
For the Cloud Hands Website

Published by
Michael P. Garofalo

March 1, 2007

"Michael P. Garofalo's long page on Master Chang San-Feng includes quotes,
legends, poems, bibliography, artwork, links, and more. One of the numerous
well-researched pages on his Cloud Hands website, including the page on the
Eight Section Brocade Qigong, and the one describing all 108 movements of
the Yang style long form Taijiquan.
- Dao House - Practical Dao, 3 September 2003

"You have provided a very thorough and valuable resource
for the Taiji community."
- Scott A. Grubisich, Center for Chen Taiji Studies, 10 February 2004

"I just came across your page while doing research for an upcoming presentation - actually I came across
it in the past but because of time constraints did not take the time to visit. That was a mistake, but you are
now saved in MyFavorites. I want you to know that I think you have done an extraordinary service to
the tai chi community."
- Roy W. Geib, Ph.D., Alvin S. Levine Professor of Microbiology & Immunology,
Indiana University School of Medicine, 10 Feb 2007

"Your website is comprehensive and informative. Very nice, Michael!
Have we met? I took a few minutes on this special day in the history of
certain spiritual ideals to cruise Qigong and Tai Chi. Your website was
instrumental in that. It is an amazing jump station."
- Dr. Roger Jahnke, OMD, 16 April 2006, Healing Promise of Qi, Website: Feel the Qi

"Dear Sir, thank you for your Tai Chi Chuan works. Following your writing daily
inspires me and gives me food for my mind. The links are always indispensable!"
-Kiachu Shen Ku, 14 Jan 2007

"What a comprehensive website you have. Well done!"
- Sifu Toni DeMoulin, Santa Barbara, California, 30 October 2004

"Hello Michael, you have a great web site! I can hardly wait to search through all the links.
Your love and appreciation for life and its variety is very evident. Thank you for the time
spent researching and documenting. You have accumulated an ocean full of pearls. I have just
received my certification to teach Tai Chi Chuan this past summer, and my first beginner class
is under way. I am grateful to have discovered such a treasure trove of information."
- Kevin Butler, 15 Nov 2006

"I just wanted to drop you an email thanking you for your webpage
on staff weapons. It was very helpful. My dojo is starting a
cane program and I listed your webpage as a must read."
- Sensei Jason McIntyre, Nidan, Shotokan Ryu Karate Jitsu of Chatham, 2 November 2003

"I wanted to tell you that I think your guide to the 8 Pieces of Brocade
is fantastic and I look forward to reading the completed text. It is
very insightful and has helped me understand what it's all about. I've
been practicing the Chen old form for a couple of years and while we
have a different set of warm-ups with more silk reeling and spiraling
involved, I was always curious about the 8 Pieces of Brocade, having
seen it mentioned in all the Tai Chi magazines and web sites.
Thanks again - great job!"
- Adam Tinkoff, Stamford, Connecticut, 24 January 2004

"You website keeps getting better and better!"
- Master Carmen Farruggia, Sacramento, California, 9 November 2003

Each Month, the positive feedback I get is attached to the last day's entry for the
month in my Valley Spirit Journal; and, added as a blog entry in both Cloud Hands
and Green Way. Thanks to Everyone for the Encouragement!

2,500,000 Webpages Served to Readers
from the Mind-Body Arts Websties:
Cloud Hands:Taijiquan and Qigong; Yoga, Meditation, and Fitness
at www.egreenway.com
from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006.

"Your entries for the Guo Lin Qigong are wonderful. Thank you so much.
This will help more people become aware of it. You have a great generosity
of spirit in providing so much information on your website."
- Theresa Kirke , Tai Chi Chuan Instructor in Ft. Bragg, CA, 27 June 2003
Walking and Tai Chi Chuan

"I liked your article on the Eight Section Brocade. It is now included on my site."
- Dean Johnson, Qigong Association of America, 6 February 2004

"This is an amazing website with pages of Haiku poems, Tai Chi Chuan movements,
spiritual gardening, and other such diverse and interesting topics. This website
is another world. Very Zen. Ancient wisdom for modern times. Go see!"
- Lawrence Michail, Compassionate Dragon, Canada, 27 July 2003

"I started with this blog, reading about mind/body work and just cascaded through the rest
of the site. Very cool! Mike, I found your sites to be interesting and in alignment with
my own interests and personal journey."
- Michael Casko, Healing Partners, 4/4/06

"You have done exceptional work to gather so many resources. I have
had a quick glimpse, I'm very impressed, and I'm hoping to come back
to learn more things from your resource."
- Master Paul Lam, M.D., Australia, 1 December 2003

"Congratulations on your webpage! You have done an impressive amount of
research and collecting. I look forward to exploring the links you have posted."
- Dave Barrett, Portland, Oregon, 8 December 2003, Yang Family Taijiquan Teacher

"I have enjoyed your website. It is very informative and comprehensive,
and, most of all, open-minded. Thank you for hosting such a resourceful website."
- M. C. Chuang, San Francisco, CA, 6 October 2003, Student of Master Tony Wong,

"Dear Michael, Always your site is there when one is in need for substantial advise on spiritual matters. I am browsing
your whole site in search of a good video on Qigong, particularly, the "Eight pieces of silk brocade". As the offer is so
wide and is hard to recognize who is a real Master in this practice I would appreciate your opinion on a good video or
DVD for me to start my practice. I understand you are not affiliated with commercial enterprises. I dare to ask you
about it because some time in dealing with bibliography you make valuable remarks on some few exceptional books.
Again I salute you and send you my gratitude for the well of knowledge and wisdom you share with us in such a
generous way. All the very best from Finland,"
- Hernando Sabogal, 2 Nov 2006

"I happened upon your website today and felt like I had rounded the
corner to find a magical garden. Such a wealth of information, so
deftly proffered. As a student of tai chi, a practitioner of chi gung --
and an avid gardener -- I simply wanted to thank you. Please
know that your efforts are appreciated. Peace!"
- David Gunter, Sandpoint, Idaho, 19 August 2003

"I found your Cloud Hands website several weeks ago and have been gradually
working through the forms listed, and finding great benefit from them.
I'm just emailing to thank you for the great resource - I find your descriptions
extremely clear and easy to follow compared to other methods online."
- Blue, 9 June 2003

"I have used your site as a great resource over the past few years and find the information very
well explained and easy to access, thank you for putting in the time to open up the details of the
arts we love to everyone."
- Shifu Neil Ripski, 24 Nov 2006

"Thank you for creating and maintaining such an informative webpage
on Sun style Tai Chi Chuan."
- Carlton Chin, 11 November 2003

"Lovely website!"
- Bett Lujan Martinez, Dayan Qigong Teacher,
Possible Society, 7 November 2004

"Your site has grown very well and is most informative. Thanks for all the
effort to bring the information to everyone in the martial community."
- Dwight Cambell, Willamette Valley Tai Chi, 2 April 2004

"I want to congratulate you for your excellent idea to share the
Eight Section Brocade. I will use your website to learn these
techniques and, when I can, to share them with others.
Thank you for your gift."
- Dr. Felix D. Petrar, Maramures, Romania, 17 October 2004

"Thank you!" effusively for your amazingly well researched Yi Chuan web pages. Indeed, for those with eyes to recognize
what you've done, the Standing Meditation information alone that you've gathered together is bodhisattvic work of the highest
order, in my view. I was in the process of trying to uncover more information in that regard � beyond the usual texts which
I own - i.e. Warriors of Stillness, and The Way of Energy, so on. I had some small success, but your site goes far, far
beyond anything I could have uncovered on my own except over years. ...
You are to be praised, sir! I mean that sincerely. I've only briefly scanned your other pages, but they, too, are daunting.
Your "master librarian" skills are much in evidence, as is your obviously long Zen training and the fruition thereof. I find
your site delightful and instructive on many, many levels."
- Micky Disend, author of "Power Hypnosis," 14 July 2006

"The Five Frolics! I read the Bear...and loved what you wrote! The history
and spiritual meanings of the poses was fascinating. Forgive me if this question
is answered on your site - I missed that part! My question is, where can I
find out how to do the poses you named and explained? Is that located on
a different part of your site - or is this still under construction? Then about
those other four animals... will you be filling all that information in? Michael,
a thousand thank you's! Your site is fascinating and has a ton of information
and wisdom � like a puzzle. I do appreciate all the time and love you�ve put
into your site! Just thank you! Michael, you are touching so many lives!"
- Nancy Hightshoe, 4 February 2006

"Hi Michael. I am student of Master Aiping Cheng and am basically surfing the web
to make sure links and info on our school is accurate. I think your Sun style tai chi
project is a great thing. It is wonderful to see a site that provides unbiased
information and lineage."
- Shirley Chock, 17 December 2005

"I have enjoyed all of your guides and articles. I know that if I have a question
I just need to go to your Cloud Hands website and I usually always find an answer. Thanks!"
- John, from Phoenix, 25 April 2006

"I discovered your website a couple of months ago while looking for some info
on the 5 steps method.   But only now does it start to dawn on me how big
the website really is.   What a treasure of info, links, etc."
-   Studiecentrum voor Taiji, Marc Heyvaert, 28 February 2004
This website includes some translations of information from Cloud Hands into Dutch.

"Het internet bevat werkelijk een schat aan informatie. Vandaag kwam ik terecht op de site van Michael Garofalo.
Zijn site heet 'Cloud Hands Taijiquan and Qigong' en ziet er zeer eenvoudig uit, maar vergis je niet, je komt al
gauw terecht in een kluwen van links, artikels, bedenkingen, gedichten en aforismen, enz. Indien Engels voor
jou geen probleem is, dan moet je beslist eens een kijkje gaan nemen."

"It's great to have a person with a librarian's mind involved with
the Taiji community. Also the mind of a poet."
- - Michael Shaman, 14 November 2005

"I really love your Tai Chi website, specially the webpage on Baduanjin."
- Tristan, 13 July 2003

"Nice of you to use my quote on BaguaZhang from Sonshi forum and gave credit
to the site. ... I am the person nicknamed the Cardinal who wrote that article. It
was also nice of you to use quotes from Joe Crandall's book and credited him. He's
an associate of mine. Suggested that you can link the title of those books he
wrote to his site. ... Other than that, Interesting site!"
- Cardinal, October 13, 2005, Baguazhang, Eight Diagram Palms Shadow Boxing

"I was impressed with the depth of the information presented at your website.
I really appreciate and admire the research you have put into the arts we both
so enjoy. I would like to ask if I can use some of the information from your
Eight Section Brocade Qigong webpage for a college course I am teaching
on the set. Thank you!"
- Neil Ripski, Eight Shadows Fist, 5 March 2006

"I just found your Cloud Hands website via a posting on the EmptyFlower Forum.
I think it is an incredible piece of work. Thank you for creating it!"
- Richard Blance, 29 October 2003

"Your website is one of the most useful Tai Chi websites on the Net.
I'm studying in Metro Detroit under Sensei Romanelli. Although we
study a variation of the Yang style, I think your website will have a lot
of useful information. Thank you for creating such an informative website."
- Jeff Charles, Detroit, Michigan, 14 November 2003

"I am a Tai Chi practitioner here in California. I have recently become interested in
the short staff and am going to add it to my studies. I wanted to thank you for
your webpages on the staff and Tai Chi as they were of great help in my research.
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge on the subject."
- Paxton Mobley, 12 November 2003

"Cloud Hands - Wow! A definite must-read!"
- Taijiquan - CoWiki Web Collaboration Tool Website, 7 February 2004

"Dude ... loved the site! Just wanted to share that with you. More information
there on the Sun Style than any place else I've found. Thanks a load!"
- Perry Garten, Aurora, Colorado, 16 January 2004

"Thank you so much Mike for publishing the 53 movements of the sword form
online. I have searched long and hard for this information. Thank you for sharing
and for your hard work! Aloha.
- Precious James, 3/27/06

"You provide a great service for our Tai Chi community
in maintaining your informative and useful site."
- Sam Masover, Berkeley Tai Chi, California, 19 January 2005

"Love your website! It's at the top of my bookmarks,
and I've learned much from following your leads."
- L. Win "Rusty" Morgan, British Columbia, Canada, 2 April 2004

"I would like to also compliment you on all the work you've put into your site.
Last weekend I had only come across your Taijiquan links page. I realized
today that I actually came to your website before when I was researching
the Eight Sections of Silk Brocade. Your notes were a helpful supplement
when I just started Qigong three months ago. I am also finding a great deal
of useful background information on various Taiji forms, classics, etc."
- Yazen Joudeh, 23 March 2004, New Orleans, Louisiana

When you see excellence, you should try to surpass it.
When you see the opposite, examine yourself.
- Lao Tzu

"Thanks very much for the website on staff weapons. I've been
mining it for three nights now, and have a long way to go.
A rich mine indeed!"
- Tom Ramsay, 28 October 2004

"I've used your webpages and found them very interesting and well done."
- Marco Morena, Italy, 21 April 2004

"Loved your Tai Chi web site. Very nice, artful and interesting.
Wonderful job!"
- Wes Tabler, Berkeley, California, 19 November 2004

"It is amazing to see such a comprehensive page dedicated to Dayan Qigong."
- Sifu Adam Wallace, Center for Traditional Qigong and Taijuquan,18 September 2004

"Great website! Very comprehensive."
- Ty Wheeler, Body Balance, Grass Valley, California, 15 June 2005

"Excellent instructions and lots of information on the health benefits of each move."
Eight Section Brocade Resources, 24 May 2004

"I am beginning to explore qigong and taijiquan. I was impressed with your
bibliographies and resource pages. You have amassed a lot of information.
I was also impressed with your description of the Eight Section Brocade.
- Dean Martineau, Seattle, 10 May 2004

"Thank you! Your website answers many stirrings in me. Seriously, I cannot
express in words how grateful I am for finding your posted information.
Finding your website organized the way it is ... well, It's a blessing."
- Sally Turpin, California, 24 April 2004

"The Five Frolics! I read the Bear...and loved what you wrote! The history and spiritual meanings
of the poses was fascinating. Forgive me if this question is answered on your site - I missed that
part! My question is, where can I find out how to do the poses you named and explained? Is that
located on a different part of your site - or is this still under construction? Then about those other
four animals...will you be filling all that information in? Michael, a thousand thank you's! Your site
is fascinating and has a ton of information and wisdom � like a puzzle. I do appreciate all the time
and love you�ve put into your site! Just thank you! Michael, you are touching so many lives!"
- Nancy Hightshoe, 2/4/2006

"People like you make the Internet a real blessing."
- Stanley Atamanchuk, 20 April 2004, Tao Te Ching

"I�m impressed with your ranking and depth of lists on your website."
- William Weng, 25 May 2004, Li's Tai Chi and Kung Fu Academy

"Mahalo (thanks) for your website and information ... I asked and I
received ... I've been thinking about tai chi, taoism, ying yang, etc. for
awhile and up comes your site and information. It's just great timing.
Anyway, your site is so well organized with references and all. I was
trying to figure out what type of person could do this for free and then
read your biography - you've got a great heart and waste no time - so
many projects. I guess you live in the now, eh? Anyways, mahalos
again for the info - hope you keep it up."
- Roy Owen Inouye, Hawaii, 28 May 2004

"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your website.
The site is a veritable Alladin's Cave of knowledge.
Please keep up the good work!"
-   David Chan, London, 9 September 2004

"Lately, while wondering in the labyrinths of the virtual world, I suddently found
myself at the doors of your beautiful garden. After a short walk...I was delighted
by its usefull content, where the abundance of quantity has been well balanced
and supported with high quality! I will return there often, when the time allows,
to relax, slow down and remember. In your green way, you collected many of
my favorite mind foods, like: Zen, poetry, nature, spirituality, meditation, quotes,
yoga and much more. All these dehypnotizing messages, presented in a clear
and simple way. "
- Kevork, Syria, 29 September 2004

"Mike, came across your gardening website tonight as I was looking up info
on zhan shuang. Have to say it's a terrific compilation of inspirational quotes.
Inspiration for me anyway, since I'm a horticulturist and can relate to the
humor of heart and head that's represented. Thanks for one of the the
best pages I've ever run across on the web!!!"
- Greg Nance, 18 February 2004

"Great website Mike! Thank you for posting all this inspirational
and useful information. God Bless you."
- Al K., Crete, 14 October 2004

"Happened across your links - very nice and thanks for taking the time to
do so. Excellent articles! Especially the one on silk reeling, and how it
moves energy, explained in a way I had not seen which helped me
understand some internal processes. I do a little bagua, circle walking
around three outside posts, usually in martial applications. But, once
I focus, the internal conversations start and the chi wisdom becomes
so subtle. Wow!!"
- Brad Nicholson, 5 November 2004

"I am writing to thank you for making the list of movements for
the Yang style long form available on your website. Due to certain
commitments I am unable to attend classes with my instructor as
often as I would like and I often find myself forgetting the sequence
of movements in the second section. With your list to remind me
of the correct sequence I have found that the quality of my daily
practice sessions has increased significantly."
- Vaughan Greagg, 8 November 2004

"I came upon your Sun style Taijiquan website by happy accident
the other day. I thought you did an outstanding job bringing together
all that information on the Sun style Taiji. I myself practice Sun style
Taiji and enjoy it quite a bit. I just wanted to let you know I had
stopped by and was very impressed. Also, being over 40, I found
the other section on older folks' fitness to be helpful and interesting."
- Brian Kennedy, Taiwan, 30 October 2004

"Lots of good stuff to read here. An extensive piece on the Eight
Fine Exercises too (also called the Eight Section Brocade).
- Eight Willows Kung Fu Research Group, March 2005

"I wanted to let you know that your walking quotations web site has been a true inspiration
to me over the past year. I broke my leg one year ago this past weekend, which has involved
two surgeries, and your quotes have been signatures on my e-mails since then.
Keep up the good work!!!"
- Robbyn, 20 February 2006

"I stumbled across your tai chi/qigong website a few days ago. I've recently
begun studying Wu style Tai Chi in Austin, TX. I just wanted to tell you what
a GREAT job you have done! Thank you very much. What a fantastic resource
you have created for people like myself. I work offshore and it is difficult to
continue to practice with guidance from my teacher. Your explanation of
the 8 Section Brocade qigong excersices is informative and motivating."
- Elmo Short, 20 March 2006

"I usually don't respond to peoples requests on web sites for feedback, but I just
had to say that your work on Tai Chi is awesome. When I needed information on
learning the 24 posture Yang short form, your web site was wonderful in helping
me get all the knowledge I would ever need. I plan on exploring your other web
pages and learning more about Chen style Tai Chi and eastern philosophy.
Thanks again ."
- Jim Evans, March 26, 2005

"I was excited to see the body of work you have done on the Eight Section Brocade. and the
clarity with which you state the information."
- Frank Plucker, 26 March 2005

"I am studying Tai Chi and happened apon your VERY informative myriad of pages
on the topic. Thank you very much for your compilation, creation, and recording
of all of this wonderful information."
- Dave, 12 January 2006

"I've googled into the Valley Spirit Journal, Poetry and Cloud Hands, and also
visited the Green Way and Spirit of Gardening. IMPRESSIVE! Postings on the
"older" websites are sometimes very long, but useful as reference. Maybe an
update notice or referral to your currently maintained blogs and websites would
be useful to stray visitors? May I wish you and yours a new year full of hope,
health and happiness."
- Ren Qizhen, 10 January 2006, The Way of Long Life and Long Vision

"It's great to have a person with a librarian's mind involved with the Taiji community.
Also the mind of a poet. Thank you!"
- Michael Shaman, 14 November 2005

Reviews, Awards, and Praise for the Spirit of Gardening Website

Reviews, Awards, and Praise for the Poetry Notebooks of Michael P. Garofalo

Thank You!

Websites Linking to the Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong Website

Qigong Association of America

Dao House: Of Discourses and Dreams

Compassionate Dragon Healing Links

Rochester Chen Style Taijiquan

Shotokan Karatejitsu of Chatham

Taijiquan - CoWiki Web Collaboration Tool Website

Lee N. Scheele's Taijiquan Links

Studiecentrum voor Taiji

Tai Chi Productions by Paul Lam, M.D.

White Cloud Sanctuary

Choi's Kung Fu: Dul Mu Do Association

Eight Willows Kung Fu Research Group

Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia: Zhang Sanfeng

Gentlewellness Taoist Resources

The Most Popular Webpages Served by Cloud Hands

1. Staff Weapons: Taijiquan

2. Eight Section Brocade Qigong

3. Cloud Hands Homepage

4. Yang Family Traditional Long Form, 108 Movements

5. Short Form, 24 Movements, Beijing Standardized, Yang Style

6. Chen Style Taijiquan

7. Sword (Jian): Taijiquan

8. Sun Style Taijiquan

9. Northern California and Oregon Taijiquan and Qigong Directory

10. Silk Reeling

Cloud Hands - Yun Shou

Cloud Hands

Taijiquan and Qigong

By
Michael P. Garofalo

Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung

Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form 108 Movements

Taijiquan Simplified 24 Movement Short Form in Yang Style

Sun Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Taiji Sword (Jian)

Staff Weapons
Jo, Bo, Cane, Staff, Spear, Walking Stick, Club, Short Staff

Master Chang San-Feng

Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing

Master Sun Lu-Tang

Push Hands - T'ui Shou

Sung - Loose, Relaxed, Open, Yielding, Responsive

Taijiquan: Links and Bibliography

Qigong: Links and Bibliography

Valley Spirit Taijiquan Journal

Northern California and Oregon
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory:
Instructors, Schools, Workshops

Chen Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Silk Reeling, Spiral and Twisting Energy, Circles

The Four Gates

Grasping the Sparrow's Tail: Ward Off, Roll Back, Press, Push
Stress Reduction Techniques
Classroom Lesson Plan for 5th or 6th Grade Students

Thirteen Postures: 8 Gates and 5 Steps

Temple Qigong

Breathing and Taijiquan

Walking and Taijiquan

Thirteen Treasures Walking Qigong

Tai Chi for Diabetes

Taijiquan For Good Health, Fitness and Vitality

Taoism, Nature Mysticism, Alchemy

Feedback, Kudos and Reviews

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Club

My Personal Practice

Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan Journal

Zen Poetry

Cold Mountain Poets: Wanderers, Mystics, and Sages

Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu)

Master Han Shan

Haiku and Short Poems

The 300 Missing Poems of Han Shan

The Spirit of Gardening

Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Website

Cloud Hands - Yun Shou

Michael P. Garofalo's E-Mail

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Journal

Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, Northern California, U.S.A.
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Disclaimer

Zen Poetry

The Spirit of Gardening

Haiku Poetry

Cold Mountain Sages

Cloud Hands: The Gentle Mind-Body Arts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung

� Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2006