I was born in 1957 in Siberian city Omsk. Years has been devoted to going for acrobatics and volleyball. On graduating in 1980 from the Omsk Polytechnical University successfully worked as an engineer in sphere of electronics. Later has received higher economics education. Among my passions there is electronics of high quality audio, aquarium and room plants.
From 1979 till 1981 with enthusiasm was going for karate. It was something new, intriguing and caused respect! Then our laws recognized karate by criminal sport, and practice in karate was recognized as a crime! And officially all karate classes were closed. For me it was possible only in 1989 to return to trainings. "Perestroyka"! By that were always practice and karate and hand-to-hand fighting only for myself. It was pleasant to be trained and to observe own development, but there was no aspiration to competitions or to reception of belts.
For the first time I has read about energy "Chi" and about art of Tai Chi Chuan in 1989. From this moment the information about Tai Chi became more and more. Phrases were magnificent but the knowledge was poor! But how it works?
At the beginning of 1992 in my head has come an idea to invite in Omsk the experts of the martial arts of Orient. And already in August the fortnightly visit in Omsk of master San Gee Tam with group of his student was happen. Hundred of the Omsk inhabitants (and me!) have met with Tai Chi "face to face"! All that was demonstrated during seminars was wonderful: power without physical force, action without movement! Fantastic, but in real life!
And the absolutely unexpected for me was the offer San Gee Tam arrives to him in England for continuation of study Tai Chi! Why me? You know, around of me were training the perfect sportsmen, karate black belts owners, and champions in various kinds of single combat. I has been invited all of them on these Tai Chi lessons!
And I start this way! In February 1993 I have for the first time arrived to Great Britain for study Tai Chi with master San Gee Tam. In 1994 I received the certificate of the Chief Instructor of the Golden Flower Tai Chi Association International. In 1995 I received the professional certificate of the Golden Flower Tai Chi Instructor. Tai Chi has changed my life and me! A simple example: at first time I went to England to study only arts of a single combat in Tai Chi style, and have returned with understanding of necessity of all-round self-development and spiritual growth! Absence of aggression is a very important point in Tai Chi practice. In a movement I am not only my body, in the reflection I am not only my mind! Uniting mind and body we find everything other! In 1998 on celebrating the 5-th Anniversary of our school 16 (!) strong men could not even move me from place! Theirs total weight was more than 1500 kg (3307 pounds)! My mind and body worked together!
Nowadays I run several classes, including children's. A lot of time I devote to personal Tai Chi practice. To me delivers large pleasure to observe as the Tai Chi study helps to my student in our not simple life, overflows by stresses and vagueness, to find health and to create intention in vital purposes!
And all these years my daughter supports me! She is one of my first and best students!
LENA PANKOV: Personal Profile
My name is Lena Pankova. I was born on December 31, 1986. My childhood was very merry. I went in kindergarten close to our home and there I had a lot of friends.
Since 6 years old I began to study Tai Chi. At
the beginning of May 1993 has passed my first Tai Chi lesson. For me was
surprise, when after two years of Tai Chi practice I could resist at pressing
of two adult men. It is very interesting to going for Tai Chi trainings.
An each time get to know
something new.
And I think that Tai Chi will be always part of my life.
