Shu-Kuang Press and Publications was founded in the year 2000 by Sifu Ray Hayward, chief instructor of the non-profit Twin Cities T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Studio. We are dedicated to sharing the lessons of his teachers, Master Liang Tung-Tsai and Master Wai Lun Choi.

This web site offers Books, DVDs, Weapons, and Equipment to help you on your T'ai-Chi Ch'uan and Martial Arts journey.

Our name comes from the Chinese name given to me by Paul Gallagher. Master T.T. Liang introduced me to Paul and I used to travel to his studio in western Massachusetts. I trained with Master Gallagher, who is the eldest and most senior of Master Liang's students (and who assisted him in translating his book), at his Wu-Ming Valley studio. One time at the end of our training as I was leaving, Paul looked at me and said "I have your Chinese name now, it's Shu-Kuang." He wrote the characters down and I brought them to Master Liang who explained them to me and told me that Paul Gallagher was very clever and that this name suited me perfectly. The characters pictured in our logo were written by Master Liang.

The emblem represents a saying about the three Internal styles. The saying goes, "Hsing-Yi goes through the center, Pa-Kua goes around the center and T'ai-Chi stays in the center." In the first and second part, the center refers to the opponent. Hsing-Yi seeks to step through the opponent, taking their territory. Pa-Kua circles around the opponent, keeping distance to defend and attack. The third part means that T'ai-Chi maintains their center of gravity and stands in one (or a small) place using yin and yang to defend and attack. Master Liang used to say, "T'ai-Chi stands in the center using invisible circles to defend and attack."

When I was younger and living at my parents' house, I used to get up early and warm-up and do T'ai-Chi in my room. Then I would go outside and practice Pa-Kua, Hsing-Yi and weapons in my backyard. When there was dew on the grass I would practice Pa-Kua and the footwork would leave a circle in the grass. I then noticed after Hsing-Yi there was a straight-line pattern, which went through the circle. So, by putting a yin/yang in the middle, the logo representing the three centers theory, and my practice, was born.

The idea behind our name and symbol is that by practicing T'ai-Chi and the other "centers", there will be hopeful conditions that everyone will enjoy good health, well-being, peace of mind, and have more energy to travel this journey of life. Conditions are hopeful for relaxation, centering, discovery of self, harmony with nature, and meaning for life.

"Whether we can become immortal or not by learning and practicing T'ai-Chi is not the main concern, but we have the greatest hope of reaching the age of 100 years or more, the highest level of longevity. Nonetheless, a person’s life and death are predetermined; riches and honors are in the hands of Heaven. I strongly believe in cause-and-effect. While we are living we must live virtuously, try our best to enjoy our life, appreciate nature, and finally wait for our allotment so that we have not spent the best of our days vainly."