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Master Rod Ferguson - National Chief Instructor Australian
Academy of Tai Chi and Qigong
Rod conducts professional Tai Chi and Qigong in Australia and overseas. Rod
has won many awards and honours, yet his teaching style is very natural, and
inspires students of all levels.
Since 1978, Rod has conducted Tai Chi classes and workshops in Australia and
overseas and has been a guest speaker at many functions. His demonstrations
are much sought after at numerous Festivals, Seminars and Public
Performances. His teaching style is very natural and inspirational.
At the 2008 Annual Queensland Seminar in November, Grandmaster Gary Khor
awarded Rod Ferguson the title of "Master”. An official ceremony was later
held in April 2009 on the Great Wall in China. "This award is in recognition
of the dedication and persistence to the art of Tai Chi, the Academy and for
developing his own knowledge and skill. Also for continuously promoting the
benefits for all to enjoy, I bestow the title: MASTER Rodney Ferguson"
Grandmaster Gary Khor Founder and President.
Under the auspices of AATCQ founder Grandmaster Khor, Master Rod continues
to develop his own Tai Chi skills and has competed on an International
Level. During 1987 Rod spent six months studying and teaching in the United
States of America where he competed in the All US National Competition
receiving a bronze medal in the "A" division. In 1998 Rod was awarded
another bronze medal in the USA (Taste of China) this time in the open
weapons section with his Fan routine. He achieved a Gold Medal for his
stunning Fan routine at the Asian Championships in 1990. Rod has travelled
to China for further studies on a number of occasions. In 1996 Rod spent six
weeks presenting workshops and classes in South Africa.
Rod has been a driving force to ensure that Tai Chi and Qigong has become
accessible to many people. From 2001 for approximately two years, he
conducted the extremely popular Saturday morning Tai Chi classes at South
Bank in Brisbane, usually to groups of 80 or more. Since 2003, Rod has been
conducting several weekly classes for the Brisbane City Council Active &
Healthy Parks program. His students will happily testify that his knowledge
and presentation are superior, and his
classes are fun, as well as being instructional and relaxing. Rod also
conducts Active & Healthy classes for the Gold Coast City Council and each
Monday at 8.30am is drawing crowds of 100 or more at Burleigh Heads by the
beach. You can also join Rod for a relaxing Tai Chi and Qigong lesson every
Saturday morning at 8.00am beside the river in Brisbane’s beautiful New Farm
Park.
Rod has developed programs to cater to people of various special needs
groups, proving the fact that Tai Chi and Qigong are indeed suitable for
everyone! On numerous occasions he has been invited to present the health
care benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong to a variety of medical and health
related organisations. This includes demonstrations, workshops and talks at
the Annual Australian Medical Association Qld (AMAQ) Health & Lifestyle
Festival over a number of years and also for Diabetes Expo.
His busy schedule includes: Instructor training, teaching for seniors and
children, presenting workshops and programs for businesses and public
classes. He has made presentations to many groups including; AMAQ, Qld
Newspapers, AMP, Institute Chartered Accountants, Macquarie Bank, Australia
Post, McCullough & Robertson. Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veterans, Heart Safe
Program, MBF, Queensland Health & Fitness Association, Performing Arts
Trust, Flight Centre, Hyatt Regency, Laubman & Pank, TAB, Hypertension
Association, Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference, Diabetics Association,
Parkinson’s Association, Leukaemia Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Tri
Care, Toowong Private Hospital, MLC, National Australia Bank, Palmolive, Qld
Childrens Activity Network, South
Bank, Royal Pines Resort, Telstra, Unilever, Workcover Qld, Anglicare,
Australian National Training Authority, Blue Care, Gold Coast City Council,
Brisbane City Council, Dept of Main Roads, Sinnamon Village Therapy Centre,
St Johns Mens Home, Villa La Salle Retirement Village & Hostel, the
Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, and many more.
Following on from Rods presentation at the Qld Health Annual Falls Forum
2008, several groups have completed further train the trainer instruction
programs. The Qld Health Allied Health Workers in Charleville then went on
to take Applied Tai Chi for Falls Prevention to their rural communities. Qld
Health also conducted a successful pilot study How to implement a successful
falls prevention to the community at Stafford on Brisbanes north side. Also,
after the successful and popular weekend of workshops Rod held in Cooktown
early in 2009, the Cooktown Council then funded another visit in May for
further training, totalling four visits to Far North Queensland to date.
In July 2009, Rod was very fortunate to be selected to present a session in
the expert Tai Chi Teachers Stream (one of only fifteen chosen throughout
the world) as part of the International Tai Chi Symposium in Nashville,
Tennessee.
The worlds five Grand Masters of five Tai Chi Styles (Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao),
Wu, Sun) came together with Medicines Top Mind‐Body Researchers (from
Harvard, the Mayo Clinic, the US National Institute of Health) ... with one
purpose ... to expand the understanding and use of the mind‐body science of
Tai Chi. They all openly shared their knowledge with the 500 participants
from around the world.
“As the United States creates more appropriate health care priorities I hope
that our country will look at the success of models such as the one used by
Rod Ferguson in Australia. The Tai Chi programs initiated by Rod [Applied
Tai Chi] provides Tai Chi activities in partnership with government
sponsored wellness programs allowing many more people to experience the
benefits of Tai Chi. I am grateful that Rod travelled to the International
Symposium to share his success in Australia”. ‐ Dr Sandy Matsuda ‐ Assistant
Professor of Occupational Therapy, University of Missouri Deputy Chair,
Academic Steering Committee, International Tai Chi Symposium.
World Tai Chi Day founder Bill Douglas, reporting on the event, published in
his international newsletter that: “Master Rod has pioneered working with
state and local governments to expand Tai Chi extensively into Australian
senior and health care sectors. He's created an Applied Tai Chi model that
can be emulated worldwide”.
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