Instructor
Certification
Tai Chi
Healthways is internationally recognized as a leader in Tai Chi/Qigong
education and instructor’s certification. Our mission is to
uphold and pass on the traditional teachings of this unique Chinese
martial art and healing art. We are committed to setting and promoting
the highest teaching standards in the industry today in order to
preserve and carry on the classical teachings of Tai
Chi and Qigong. Tai Chi Healthways supports diversity and encourages
the advancement of all styles of Tai
Chi and Qigong.
We are proud
and honored to follow the proven teaching methodology of Professor
Li Deyin,
one of the foremost Tai Chi experts in the world today. We are
dedicated to providing the highest-quality training. We provide a
comprehensive set of resources, including individual and group
training, supplemental educational training aides such as DVD videos
and manuals, and opportunities for convenient distance learning.
Our instructional DVDs provide teacher's reference for all major
styles/routines
with suggested class-hour to meet the demand of growing
class. To enhance the learning process, we host several
workshops annually, which are conducted by world-renowned Tai Chi Grand
Masters. Three of today’s most respected Grand Masters, Chen
Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and Abraham Liu,
act as Tai Chi Healthways honorary advisors. We also offer continuing
education programs in order to provide our instructors with
ongoing support.
Your
application will be processed by our Certification Committee Members:
Master Jesse
Tsao, Ph.D.;
Katharine Iskrant, Master of
Public Health; Dr. Larry
Cammarata, Ph.D., licensed
consulting psychologist; and
Sheryl Wilde, three-time USA
national Tai Chi
Grand Champion.
Tai Chi is
the fastest-growing practice in the fitness and wellness industry.
The need for great class teachers and private instructors is quickly
expanding. If you are interested in helping others improve
their health, relieve stress, and develop energy and vitality
– all while improving your own health and well-being
– this instructor certification program is for you!
Let Master Jesse Tsao be your mentor. There are no
prerequisites. New students can simply enroll in any of our regular
classes to begin accumulating class credit, or through distance
learning for non-local people.
If you have previous Tai Chi experience and can perform any short or
long routine/form, you are eligible to enroll in our leadership
training class. Your prior Tai Chi training can come from any school.
Tai Chi Healthways certification is based on your knowledge of the Tai
Chi Classics and is not limited to a particular style. The leadership
class teaches you not only the practical, day-to-day skills necessary
to excel as a Tai Chi instructor, but gives you the theoretical
knowledge you need to succeed as well. Workshop hours hosted by Tai Chi
Healthways count as credit, and private lessons with Jesse Tsao may
also count as credit.
Potential
instructors will be evaluated by our Certification Committee Members
based upon ability to meet the following criteria:
- Pass the theory exam (25 multiple choice questions).
- Complete an essay: write a handout to demonstrate your ability to research
Tai Chi philosophy and its health benefits. This handout could be used
later when you teach your own class or for presentations.
- Perform postures and name moves accurately.
- Describe
guidelines of each move or posture, and demonstrate
ability to effectively adjust clients into proper alignment.
- For senior Instructor and above, you need to explain
applications to be used in self-defense, and be familiar with major energy
channels used in Tai Chi for
self-healing.
For people with tai chi experience before, you do not need to start from the
entry-level. The committee will evaluate you to higher certificate level
based on your demo of what you can do. For beginners, each certificate
level requires progressive development and refinement of
skills as determined by the Committee.
| Certification
Level |
Hours
of Tai Chi class credit |
Hours
of leadership training |
| Associate
Instructor |
300+1 tai chi routine |
30 |
| Instructor |
500 +1 classic routine,+ push hands & tai chi weapon |
50 |
| Senior
Instructor |
700+2 classic routines, push hands & tai chi weapon &
self-defense application |
100 |
| Executive
Instructor |
1000+3 classic routines, push hands, tai chi weapon, application
on both self-defense and self-healing |
150 |
Potential
instructors must meet both the abovementioned Guidelines for
Certification and Minimum Credit Hours to fulfill certification
requirements. The required class credit hours can be earned from our
school or another accredited school. If you have studied at another
school, a letter from your former teacher stating your class hours
would be helpful; however, the final decision regarding certification
will depend on the Tai Chi Healthways Certification
Committee’s evaluation of your skill level. Classic routine means
those traditional long forms, such as Chen, Yang, Wu, W'u, Sun,...
Special
Offer: There is a large and
growing demand for qualified Tai Chi instructors. To accommodate this
need, we are offering a special Entry-level
Instructor Certificate now!
Personal trainers and group fitness instructors are especially welcome.
The Entry-level Instructor Certificate will qualify you to teach Tai
Chi’s basic skills and lead exercises safely and effectively.
Not only is this program an excellent way to expand your repertoire of
wellness and fitness knowledge, but it will also increase your success
and value.
A minimum of 80 class hours, plus 6 hours of leadership training, are required to
become an
Entry-level Instructor. Once you are certified, you can begin teaching
Tai Chi’s basic easy movements, providing a valuable resource
for your community! Instructor
candidates living outside of the San Diego area
can simply use the Tai
Chi
Fundamentals
for
Beginners DVD for at-home
self-study, with no workshops to attend and no expensive travel.
Leadership training materials will be e-mailed to you for self-study.
When you are ready, go to the next step for
evaluation (See below the "Distance Learning".)
After
completing the program, you will be properly equipped with everything
you need to turn your passion into a rewarding career. A student will
be awarded certification when he or she demonstrates the required
proficiency level to carry forward the Tai Chi tradition.
The total
cost for evaluation and certification is $275, includes: (1)
The Tai Chi Fundamentals for Beginners DVD; (2)
Leadership Manual and exam (e-book through e-mail); (3) A 60-minute
evaluation can be scheduled in advance for those who come for
evaluation in person; (4) Certificate. (5) Once you have
become a Certified Instructor, you will become a member of Tai Chi
Healthways Association, receive free referrals by Tai Chi Healthways
for your local
area. Listing your name and contact info on the Tai Chi Healthways
Certified Instructors listing page, no monthly or annual dues to Tai Chi
Healthways. Life long valid after you become a certified
instructor.
To upgrade
your certification to the next level, the processing fee is $150. This includes one free DVD of your choice, another
evaluation and the upgraded certificate.
Instructors
can be certified from anywhere in the world through Tai Chi Healthways'
convenient Distance Learning
certification program. You don't
need to make a trip if you can
provide enough evidence, and your video shows your skill well enough
for the certificate level you are applying for. Here is how:
- The first
step is to register as a long-distance instructor trainee. We will send
you the instructor’s training materials package, which
includes:
- (1)
The Tai Chi Fundamentals for Beginners DVD (or a dvd you prefer) through regular
mail.
- (2)
Leadership Manual. We put a 20-hour self-study materials through
internet file, so you can study and train at your home. We keep this
Leadership Manual as an e-book continually updated with the most useful
information.
- (3)
The Exam for Tai Chi Instructor Certification.
- When you
are ready, return your exam answers to us and send us a videotape,
video file, or DVD of yourself doing Tai Chi movements. You can send
the answer of exam and video through internet. www.YouTube.com
and some other website provide free video sharing hosting.
You can just upload your video and send us the links. We will review
and evaluate it and will be happy to issue you the teaching
certificate. If your postures, movements or routines need more works,
we will provide corrections and suggestions for you to
improve. No monthly or annual dues to Tai Chi
Healthways. Life long valid after you become a certified
instructor, but we do hope you can come to workshop once every two
years to update your skills.
- The total
cost for this Distance Learning Certification program (including
materials package, exam, evaluation, and certificate) will be $275.
The package also includes permanent
listing of your name and contact info on the Tai Chi Healthways
Certified Instructors listing, and a 20% discount on all Tai Chi
Healthways workshops and all private lessons with Master Tsao
You
can click the button right here to
through PayPal, or send a check payable to Master Jesse Tsao, 5051
Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130
- For Associate Instructor level, you also
need
to choose an instructional DVD from which to learn a standard or
traditional routine/style through home study. Many Tai Chi and Qigong
DVDs are available on the Tai
Chi DVD page of this
website. There is no need to order additional videos from us if you
have previous Tai Chi experience and already know a routine. The
Entry-Level Instructor applicants need only demonstrate basic hand
patterns and basic steps. No Tai Chi routine is needed.
- Those who apply for Instructor level and
above
may need to attend our workshops or arrange for weekend leadership
training in San Diego, unless you can provide us strong evidence that
you possess the skill and teaching experience. You do not
need a
trip to us if you can demo not only a tai chi bare hand routine, but
also a tai chi weapon routine, and push hands skill in your
video. This will be the best fit if you are a Tai Chi teacher
already, but need a standard certificate to gain more teaching
opportunities. Our evaluation is based on the Tai Chi Classic
which applies to all styles or routines, not only on Tai Chi Healthways
curriculum.
- To upgrade
your certification to the next level, the processing fee is $150. This includes one free DVD of your choice, another
evaluation and the upgraded certificate.
Please mail a check or money order, or Western Union/MoneyGram to Jesse Tsao, 5051 Sterling Grove
Lane, San Diego, CA 92130, or pay by PayPal to the account: taichitsao@Yahoo.com
We offer a
special program in conjunction with Somerset
Skills and Learning to attain
the Tai Chi Healthways Entry-Level
Instructor Certification for
only $95
if you are a qualified Open College Network Tai Chi Foundation
Instructor. OCN courses are accepted as qualifications in
England for people would work in health–cardiac nurses,
occupational therapists, Tai Chi instructors running health classes,
etc.
This fee
includes the Fundamentals DVD
and an assessment, submitted by video to Tai Chi Healthways, and
exempts you from the Tai Chi
Healthways written test. You will need to submit
proof of OCN qualification before you receive the Tai Chi
Healthways certification.
If you are
currently an OCN student preparing to achieve both instructor
certifications, please click the payment button below for the $95 Tai
Chi Healthways assessment and Fundamentals DVD.
Tai Chi Bang Instructor
Accreditation
- Enquires are welcome from people who would like to set up practical
workshops led by Master Jesse Tsao in their country for this OCN
accredited course. www.taichibang.com
If you would prefer to not use PayPal, please mail a money order or use Western Union/MonyGram to Jesse Tsao,
5051 Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130. Indicate your DVD choice
along with your evaluation materials.
Tai Chi
Healthways also offers Qigong Instructor Certification
similar to
the Tai Chi Instructor Certification program. You don't need
show us proof of class hours, but you must pass the exam and write an
essay giving an introduction to Qigong.
You must also submit a video for assessments. The total cost
for
evaluation and certification is $275, which includes:
- The Qigong Fundamentals for Beginners DVD
(at no charge).
- Qigong Leadership Manual through
internet e-file, so you can study and train at your home. We keep this
Leadership Manual as an e-book continually updated with the most useful
information.
- The Exam for Qigong Instructor
Certification. The package also includes permanent listing of
your name and contact info on the Tai Chi Healthways Certified
Instructors listing, and a 20% discount on all Tai Chi Healthways
workshops and all private lessons with Master Tsao.
Use the "Pay Now" button for the Qigong Instructor Certification
package.
Successive levels of Qigong
Instructor Certification
- Entry level requires
only that you know how to demonstrate and teach the Qigong Fundamentals
for Beginners set.
- Associate level
requires mastery of two sets/DVD titles, apart from the Fundamentals
for Beginners.
- Standard level
requires mastery of three sets in all, one in addition to the two
learned for Associate level.
To upgrade your certification to the next
level, the processing fee is $150. This includes one
DVD of your choice, another evaluation and the upgraded certificate. Click
here to see the selection of DVDs.
Please
mail a check or money order, or Western Union/MoneyGram to Jesse Tsao, 5051 Sterling Grove Lane,
San Diego, CA 92130.
Master Tsao's Annual Tai Chi
& Qigong Workshop 
This will be an annual workshop for Tai Chi and Qigong serious students from all around
the nation and world, open to all levels, beginners to advanced. It is a good
opportunity for instructors who
are willing to carry forward Tai Chi Healthways and Master Jesse Tsao's
teachings. It is also for those who seeking discipleship.
- It
is a one-week intensive training session in which Master Tsao will
share his insights and expertise, training you to be a Tai Chi and
Qigong expert.
- The next training session will be July 23-28, 2013 (Tuesday to Sunday).
- Location is San Diego, CA, in the United
States of America. International students are welcome!
- Tuition is $700 for the week. 20%
off (= $560) for those who registered in our certificate program and those who attended previously,
or international
students. Food and room on your own,
--Master Jesse Tsao is the 12th generation of direct-line lineage holder of Chen style Tai Chi.
Serious students can propose discipleship application.
Please mail a
check, made out to Jesse Tsao, by July 1, 2013
Words from previous participants:
- Thank you for the last 6 days of Tai Chi instruction. You showed us so many subtle details of the martial art and opened my eyes to the depth of Tai Chi practice and application. It is a martial art for the intelligent strategist and requires a lot of mental focus and years of training to develop real skill. You taught us the importance of the basic structure and how keeping the qi flowing and unbroken leads to real strength. You also taught us that good instructors feed their students and nourish them so they grow. Being a good person is key to being healthy and becoming a high level Tai Chi martial artist. We are all very blessed to receive such treasures from
you.--J.W.
- I finally got home after a few days on the road! but with great energy to apply all the great teachings I received in your camp. I had a great time learning with you and words can't tell how appreciative I am for your valuable lessons that I know will carry me through this journey into Tai Chi. I had bad teachers in the past and finding one with such integrity and wisdom is the greatest reward. I would love to come every year if possible and also get to know the form very well so next time I'll feel more confident. Thanks again for an unforgettable
week....--S.R
- Master Jesse, I want to thank you again for teaching me this past week! I learned many new things and had some misconceptions cleared up! Also, I learned a valuable lesson regarding using softness to overcome force. I pushed with a couple of guys who were very Hard in their approach to push-hands and they were easily "pushed around" so to speak. And the eight push hands tactics you gave us are great! Thank
you!--M.O.
- What a week! I feel I have learned so much. It will take a lot of processing, but I'm sure my taiji will move to a new level. I met so many very fine people. They are a credit to your great teaching skills. Before I came to San Diego I consulted the Yijing. I asked what can I expect from a week taiji teaching? The sage answered 58 Dui Joyful, and my reflections: Progress and joy, Stimulating conversations,
friendship.--A.F.
- Please accept my thanks for all your generously shared knowledge, skill and patience during the summer workshop. I learned a lot more in Push Hands than I expected (just one or two defensive wiggles to set up an offensive move, rather than the endless wiggling I was doing) plus clarity on double-rooting for the first time (not that I can do it very well, but at least I know my goal). Your Push Hands training sessions have helped me to move forward into the present as well as understand the essentials that can make improvement possible - so thank you for using your fighting skills with respect for the "children" in your charge! The coil/joint lock on the wrist pull-down combined with the pluck head lock was fun, so thanks for using me as your demo.
I greatly value your dedication to teaching the real treasures of Tai Chi Chuan, and how hard you work for all your students. --D.S.
- Just a quick email to thank you for another unbelievable workshop. You truly are a wonder!! You have a rare ability
to teach the most difficult concepts and techniques in a plain and simple manner. You are always open and welcoming,
never intimidating, allowing us to absorb the material as best we can. Last year I learnt enough to work on all year, now I realize it's enough to last a lifetime.--
M.R.
- The workshop was excellent. I have been to quite a few martial arts workshops and this was by far the best both in terms of the amount of information presented and the quality of the presentation. It was very well structured and organized. The taiji shi san shi was an amazing drill and your insights into the ba fa was really helpful and opened my mind to a greater level and understanding of tai chi. The push hands was great. You did an excellent job of breaking down the material into small, learnable steps and then gradually expanding upon them. I found it to be very helpful. You are by far the greatest tai chi player and instructor I have ever met. I appreciate that you do not try to hide behind magic and mysticism and present real, tangible and honest skills to your students. Most other tai chi instructors teach very unrealistic self defense applications but yours are very realistic, reasonable and intelligent. It is so rare anymore to find someone of such high moral quality in the martial arts like you who exemplifies the true spirit of the martial arts. I am also glad that your local students seem to understand and respect what a treasure they have in you and how fortunate they are to have you as a teacher! I wish that I lived closer so that I could train from you more often. I spent my long flights home writing notes on all the great information I got from this training trip!! I just can't compliment you enough on the 2012 workshop and am very excited about the next
one!--M.S.
- Everyone enjoyed your workshop. You give so much to it and your knowledge and experience comes from your heart to the students. I wish I had been able to be there more.--G. C.
- Dear Jesse -- What a week!! You have been tirelessly teaching, showing us all the Way of Taiji, the spirit and how to attain it. I learnt a lot. I loved the Shi San Shi, understanding that they can also mix and not always stand alone. I appreciated the details in the Chen classes, the wave like moves, the applications reminder. I gained a lot of depth in my form in these two days. This re-kindled my Chen spirit!!! I really enjoyed the way you taught Push-Hands. You controlled the class perfectly and the different moves were introduced and explained extremely clearly. These exercises enabled the students to get a deep understanding of each move (control, connection, peng, whole body, rounding, softness, coiling, change, from the feet, caterpillar/ worm!!!…) and to try the moves with different partners, thus allowing for different ways to react and adjust. It was perfect! Many if not all were able to go back home with the ability to do the push-hands form, while understanding the reasons behind each move. All students seemed really happy and relaxed, and some were bruised :-)
Again, a huge thank you and looking forward to continuing learning with you. --I.G.
- Jesse, the workshop was great, it has really given me ideas for my training. I want to do more two-person and applications work. Thanks again, for being such an excellent teacher, and for all your support --K.N.
- I want to thank you for a tremendous week of learning during the Tai Chi and Chi Kung camp. It was great. This is the kind of information I want to learn and know so that I can better understand these ancient arts. The culture is so important to understand and appreciate how and why these practices began and why they are still so important today. I enjoyed the hand outs, lectures and demonstrations.
Thank you for allowing me the honor of learning these ancient arts and being willing to share them. You are a man of great integrity. --J.J.
More About
Our Certification Committee Members
Jesse
Tsao, internationally
known Tai Chi master, Qigong therapist, and alternative medicine and
wellness consultant, is the founder of Tai Chi Healthways. He is
specialized in the areas of self-healing, preventive therapies, stress
management and mind-body wellness. Born and trained in China, he has
been practicing Tai Chi for over 38 years, including 10 years of
intensive study with world renowned grand master Li Deyin in Beijing,
China. He was the gold medallist in the Beijing Collegiate Wushu
Competition in 1980.
Katharine
Iskrant, MPH, CHCA, is a tai chi practitioner and a health care consultant. Katharine is the Practice Leader for HealthyPeopleTeam.com. Ms. Iskrant’s educational background includes a Masters in Public Health from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelors in Psychology (Honors) from Columbia College of Columbia University.
Larry
Cammarata,
Ph.D. is a clinical and
consulting psychologist who maintains licenses in California and North
Carolina. He has practiced psychology for over 20 years and
has
special expertise in the areas of mind-body wellness, hypnosis, stress
management, relationships, and men’s issues. Dr.
Cammarata is a
professional speaker and workshop presenter who has made professional
contributions to local, national, and international retreats and
conferences. Besides his involvement in the profession of psychology,
Dr. Cammarata is a certified instructor of Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient
Chinese system of exercise, moving meditation, and
self-defense. In
his spare time, he is a professional musician who has performed
locally, nationally, and internationally.
Sheryl
Wilde
is a three-time International Tai Chi Grand Champion (2004
-2006) and a freelance writer specializing in corporate
communications.
She has also written for television, magazines and newspapers for the
past 15
years. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and has more than 20
years of
experience in the financial accounting industry.
Jesse Tsao/Tai
Chi Healthways
5051 Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 793-8939,
E-mail: Jesse@TaiChiHealthways.com
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