WTCQD is an acronym for World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, which was founded by Bill Douglass and Angela Wang of Kansas City in 1999 to celebrate the healing art globally. WTCQD is observed on the last Saturday of every April at 10 am local time, with practitioners from around the world gathering to “play” Tai Chi and Qigong and celebrate the kindred spirit of the art. The event begins in Fiji and moves westward through seven continents, culminating in Hawaii. Before the Corona pandemic, WTCQD was observed in hundreds of cities big or small if not in thousands.
One of the primary objectives of WTCQD is to bring people together across racial, economic, religious, and geopolitical boundaries for the purpose of health and healing, providing an example to the world. The celebrations take place in a variety of settings, with most occurring outdoors in a natural environment that emphasizes the philosophy of Tai Chi and Qigong, which emphasizes harmonizing the relationship between human and nature. But people honor WTCQD in their own way. In St. Louis, Missouri, there is one group with a dozen people gather around a lake in a nature reserve while others choose to be in Lutheran Church of the Atonement to hold their celebratory events; in Mexico City, Mexico, there were mega Tai Chi with more than 3,000 participants. Per Wikipedia, the National Council of Deputies in Brazil joined 22 U.S. Governors, the Senates of California, New York, and Puerto Rico and other officials and bodies from around the world in recognizing World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in 2013.
Las Vegas, often referred to as “Sin City,” is known for its vibrant nightlife, including over-powering neon lights, noisy slot machines, and endless parties with flowing drinks and large dishes, as well as mega concerts with famous stars and mind-blowing magic shows. This reputation may seem at odds with the principles of Tai Chi and Qigong.
Desert Breeze Park, a vast 240-acre public park with both indoor and outdoor facilities, is located a short 10-minute drive from the famous Las Vegas Strip. It boasts amenities such as meeting rooms, a swimming pool, pickleball courts, a baseball diamond, basketball courts, children’s playgrounds, dog parks, picnic areas, soccer fields, and more. It is one of the largest community parks in Clark County, which includes the city of Las Vegas.
Kat Reyes, a Qigong teacher and medical Qigong healer who has lived in Las Vegas for years, has volunteered to organize the WTCQD celebrations for several years. She has a broad understanding of Qi and considers any activity that involves breath work to be Qigong. As a result, the WTCQD celebration in Las Vegas has a tradition of inviting various modalities of Qi work, including various Chinese martial arts, health Qigong, Tai Chi, drumming, flute playing, Hawaiian chanting, and more. With the support of the Clark County Park Administration, this year’s WTCQD celebration took place in the southwest corner of the park, under the shade of several large trees. With the help of Tai Chi schools, a professional audio-visual system was set up, banners was erected, and school pamphlets were displayed on a table. Over a hundred practitioners, along with their families and friends, participated in the event, and even a toddler was enjoying the friendly atmosphere.
The program began at 9:30 am with a gentle warm-up led by Sifu Greg Pergament, which many newcomers also joined. Kat welcomed all attendees, and a few words about Bill Douglas and Angela Wang were addressed by me. This was followed by a round of Golden (Qi) Ball exercise led by Kat. At 10 am, the local group joined the global celebration in action and spirit. The event included a Lion Dance performed by Lohan School of Shaolin with nine lions and the youngest performer was only 6-year-old and various Shaolin martial art maneuverings, a group demonstration of Shibashi or Tai Chi Qigong 18 Form, a high-energy drumming session by Kaminari Taiko Japanese Drummers, and demonstrations of standard Tai Chi 24 and martial techniques by Sifu Amin and his students, a performance of “Easy Flow,” a soothing routine with Tai Chi and Qigong movements choreographed by me, and exhibitions of Chen Style 18 form and multiple Shaolin kung fu by Shaolin Tai Chi Culture Center in Henderson. Finally, Sifu Jack Soderberg showcased Liu-He-Ba-Fa. 97-year-young Marie, who could not walk 12 years ago. But with daily practice of Qigong, she now can walk with assistance. She was present, which was very inspirational. The entire event lasted for two and a half hours, but with many packed programs, it didn’t feel long. Shirley and her friends, who were not practitioners, came to watch and occasionally joined in the group practices. Although the temperature climbed to the high-80s near noon, the tree shades and breeze made it enjoyable for Shirley and her friends. Unlike the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip, the WTCQD celebration at Desert Breeze Park is a grassroots event filled with enthusiasm and without any flashy displays.
Disclaimer: I was a performer during this event.