Complete Reality Tai Chi

I've dabbled in the Asian martial arts for many years, and earlier this year, I connected with this school's teacher, Jesse Thundermoon. We had both studied tai chi with the late Master C.K. Chu in New York, although Shifu Jesse much more extensively than I.

I was happy to find a "school brother" to study with, and I feel lucky to be working with this one in particular. Jesse's knowledge is extensive, and he's a very good teacher as well. The vibe in the class is both upbeat and relaxed.

Everyone works at their own pace, and Shifu moves from student to student giving personalized instruction. I greatly appreciate the attention to detail and - when necessary - guidance as to the martial aspects of this art.

The other students are friendly and focused, and the outdoor classes in the shaded garden are a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. Tai chi can look easy - "They're just moving slowly and waving their arms around" - but there's a lot more to it than that. Complete Reality Tai Chi seems great for beginners, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to get back to it as well.

Fantastic school with a devoted group of practitioners and a superb teacher. Unlike other tai chi classes I have tried, he pays individual attention to each student and adds so much detail and nuance to your form. I've been going for a few months now and already I'm noticing improvement in my posture, flexibility, and knee and lower back pain.

Although I have chosen not to learn a form, I did learn Qigong and Easy Horse Stance from Jesse‘s free Tai Chi instructor Karen about two years ago. After about two months, I realized I no longer had flat feet (a condition I had my entire life!). I had developed arches from one of the very simple exercises just from practicing daily. I also have noticed improved balance and enhanced mental concentration. Spiritually, I feel more at peace and I have a more positive outlook on life. I want to thank Jesse and Karen for this blessing and I highly recommend them for anyone looking to learn Tai Chi and Qigong.

I'm an old, nervous beginner, and it's taken me a long time to get the courage to seek out a teacher for Tai Chi. Jesse, his associates, and his students have warmly accepted me for who I am. In his 10:30 a.m. Saturday class, Jesse gives gentle, thoughtful, and constructive comments, the perfect amount not to confuse me while, at the same time, helping me make steady progress. I feel very lucky that Jesse's student, Karen, who teaches Complete Reality's Free Tai Chi at the Poughkeepsie Library, helped guide me to Jesse. Thanks to you both. I'm hooked!

Shifu Jesse's group class on Saturday mornings is wonderful. I started attending his free Qigong and tai chi class on Friday mornings at the Boardman Road Branch Library (taught by our fantastic instructor Karen, who has been studying with Shifu Jesse for 5 years) in January 2023 and loved it. I continued and still continue to attend those free classes. I have found amazing benefits in this practice, and I also wanted to not only refine my practice but also learn more moves and further my progress. I thus decided to try Shifu Jesse's class mid-April of 2024. I admit I thought I would feel intimidated, but Shifu Jesse is welcoming and patient. His individualized attention to each student after we do group form is incredible and helpful. With only 5 classes so far, I can feel the difference. I think my overall form has improved, and with each week, I feel I have made progress. I have learned a few additional moves, which I make sure to practice every day when I do both qigong and the tai chi long form up to the point that I know. I had a severe accident in September of 2022 where I dislocated my left thumb (which required surgery) and injured my left elbow and left shoulder. I ended up with adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) that resulted in a lot of therapy, multiple steroid injections, and a procedure to burst the shoulder capsule in 2023. This practice has helped me so much with my shoulders, neck, and hands. The combination of the medical intervention and on-going daily practice of qigong and tai chi continue to help me with flexibility and range of motion in my entire body. I always feel better after doing my practice. My focus and breathing have also improved. We are lucky to have Shifu Jesse in Poughkeepsie to be able to take advantage of participating in his classes to learn such a practice that provides benefits for our daily lives. Shifu Jesse has the skill and knowledge that enables him to take a complex practice and break it out into small steps for us to learn and incorporate into our practice for noticeable benefits.