Right: Paul Pitchford (left) and Michel Czehatowski (right) practicing Double Push Hands (Tui Shou) January 1979 in Moscow, Idaho.
Right: Paul Pitchford (left) and Michel Czehatowski (right) practicing Double Push Hands (Tui Shou) January 1979 in Moscow, Idaho.
Instructor
Above: Single Whip, Gangbala Pass, Tibet (June 30, 2017). Elevation 16,327 ft. Yamdrok Lake (background) is Tibet's largest lake (45 miles long) and at 14,570 ft elevation.
Above: Practicing San Shou (Tai Chi two person form) with student Peter Schmitz, Pacifica, CA (1983).
Michel Czehatowski
Michel studied Yang Family (or Yang Style) Tai Chi with Paul Pitchford from 1975-1980. Paul, a student of Chu Chu-Fang, emphasized softness through "listening" and "receptivity" - the Heaven (Tian) level of Tai Chi.
Michel continues the lineage emphasizing those same qualities of softness, listening, and receptivity. He is proficient in the Single and Double movement forms (two person partner forms) of Tai Chi and enjoys sharing his knowledge of Tai Chi, health, and Chinese culture with others.
Above: Paul Pitchford (left) and Michel Czehatowski (right) practicing Double Push Hands (Tui Shou) January 1979 in Moscow, Idaho.
Left: Taking a week long Tai Chi class with Master Wang Zhi Yong and his students in August 2019. Group picture taken after practice at Maiji Shan, Tian Shui, Gansu Province, China.
Above: Teaching Southeast Asian refugees Tai Chi at the Buddhist Council for Refugee Rescue and Resettlement, City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Talmage, CA (June 18, 1981). Left to right: Do Nghi, Huynh Hai Kong, Nguyen Hong Thu Thi, Michel, Luong Phuong Dai
Right: Teaching Tai Chi through Mercy Medical Center's Mercy Healthline Program, Downtown Mall, Redding, CA circa 1990.
Right: Paul Pitchford (left) and Michel Czehatowski (right) practicing Double Push Hands (Tui Shou) January 1979 in Moscow, Idaho.
What students are saying:
“Michel is an excellent teacher. He is very patient and gentle in his approach. He is obviously dedicated to both his own practice and to sharing his knowledge and skill with others. This creates a serious atmosphere in class that is still very friendly and non-competitive.” -Ethel Foster
“Redding Tai Chi is a welcoming, nonjudgmental community open to people of all abilities and ages. From our incredibly dedicated instructor Michel Czehatowski, we learn the single movements of the Yang Family style of Tai Chi.” -Vicki Gallagher
“I have been learning tai chi from Michel for a couple of years. As a person who has practiced martial arts, and other internal martial arts, for 20 years, I can say with experience that Michel is a gift to Redding and the tai chi world. His classes are a true respite from the busy world and I would recommend Michel’s instruction of tai chi to anyone, young or old.” -John Ramaley