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Joan Campbell Thomas Malone
In celebration of the Tai Chi Foundation’s 50 years, each month in 2025, we are publishing blog posts featuring historical material, reflections by TCF tai chi teachers, videos, and photos. We hope the images and words connect the tai chi community to our school’s many strengths, expand our understanding of the art, and inspire our practice. And who knows? Perhaps something in this series will inspire you to share your experience as well; the door is always open. Welcome to this month’s edition!
August Reflections
Introducing Joan Campbell and Thomas Malone whose tai chi stories began decades ago and continue today. Join them as they share their memories.
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Joan’s Tai Chi Story
Joan at Versaille
Joan is a retired college professor who began teaching tai chi in the late 1980’s, and never stopped. She maintains the Gainesville Tai Chi website, handles correspondence from new students and sends reminders to students in ongoing classes. Joan attends all the advanced classes that her husband, Paul Campbell teaches, always gaining inspiration from them.
I was first attracted to learning tai chi in 1973, in New York, when I saw someone doing a round and was mesmerized by his slow and graceful movements. When he finished, I ran up to him and asked what that was—I was so eager to learn to move like that. He told me about Professor Cheng Man-ching and his studio in the Bowery.
Shortly after that, at age 25, I began taking weekly classes in the Hall of Happiness from Tam Gibbs and Ed Young. I learned the entire form over several months. I learned the form easily and remembered the moves with confidence. I got straighter and more flexible.
I was deeply involved with the Arica School at the time and had a very rich spiritual life, so I wasn’t looking for spiritual growth or support in tai chi. It was all about how to slow down, get straight, and move with awareness. It took many years for me to find a spiritual path through tai chi.
Click to read more of Joan’s tai chi story
(L-R) Gainesville Tai Chi teachers Suellyn Winkle, Jenn Downey, Joan Campbell , John Doody, and Bob Connelly in Chicago for Winter Training 2020. Also in attendance: Paul Campbell, Aella Campbell, and Kerry Oresky.
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Thomas’s Tai Chi Remembrance
Thomas Malone, M.Ac., Ph.D., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Thomas graduated from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture with a Master’s in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture (Worsley Acupuncture), and has practiced in Chicago, Santa Fe and New York City. His practice builds upon a life-long interest in the healing arts. He has been studying Tai Chi Chuan since 1985 and teaching since 1996. He is certified in Five-Element Medical Qi Gong, Arica Chua Ka® , and also practices Zero Balancing on his patients. Thomas has a strong foundation in the biomedical sciences through his Ph.D. in molecular and environmental toxicology, a B.S. in biochemistry and industry experience in research and development.
Growing up in the School of Tai Chi Chuan
Unexpected Beginnings
My journey with tai chi chuan started in 1985, when I was nine years old. I was at a family reunion in Woodward, Oklahoma on my great uncle’s ranch. I was looking for something to do while the adults sat around and talked. Suddenly, my uncle George Fletcher (aka Uncle Bucky) asked me if I wanted to play “invisible.” He proposed that we try to walk from one building to another without being seen by the adults, who were sitting outside in the vicinity. I perked up and was totally intrigued. We started by hiding behind a bush. George said, “Let’s start by trying to make it to that other bush.” But there was a secret walk that I first needed to learn that would allow someone to become invisible.
He taught me the “invisible walk” and had me practice for a moment. Once he could see that I had it, we proceeded to walk slowly and hopefully invisibly from bush to bush and tree to tree, until we eventually made it all the way to the other building on the property. We had a great time together and established our first real connection.
Little did I know that the bonds formed between us during that experience would open the door to a spiritual path that would become the defining influence upon my growth and evolution for the rest of my life. Later in life, George told me that Oscar Ichazo had taught that “invisible walk” to Patrick Watson, and then asked Patrick to teach it to the participants at Oscar’s lectures in 1982 at the Sugar Maple Resort in Maple Crest, New York. When George got back to New York after our family reunion, he shared our experience with Patrick Watson and proposed bringing me to the 1985 Tai Chi Summer Camp at Bennington College. Patrick and my parents all thought it was a great idea, and the rest was history.
Click to read more of Thomas’s essay
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Starting Your Tai Chi Journey?
You can learn more about tai chi by exploring the diverse offerings of the Tai Chi Foundation (TCF). TCF provides live online courses, allowing you to participate in guided sessions in the comfort of your home. These virtual classes offer unique opportunities to connect with experienced instructors, ensuring that you receive personalized guidance and feedback. Additionally, TCF offers Teachable on-demand classes, providing a flexible way to learn at your own pace. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, these online resources offer a wealth of knowledge to enrich your tai chi journey. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, check out the in-person course offerings of TCF’s affiliated local schools.
TCF is a not-for-profit educational organization that promotes, funds, and teaches programs that enable people to learn tai chi chuan and embody its principles.
Be sure to check out our new TCF 50th Anniversary Shop, where you can find stylish tai chi t-shirts and other great branded merchandise!
The Tai Chi Foundation Editorial Team
Photos courtesy Tai Chi Foundation Inc.
Copyright Tai Chi Foundation 2025
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