Curtis really didn’t know Master Muir, so Curtis asked Master McRitchie for an introduction. Curtis told Master McRitchie that he really, really wanted to learn the Silk Tassel Gim set. Master McRitchie knew how hard Curtis trained and had no problem introducing him to Master Muir.
After the introductions were over, Curtis quickly turned the conversation to the Silk Tassel Gim set. Curtis asked Master Muir if he would teach him. Now, Master Muir is a traditional martial artist and inquired if Curtis had ever studied Tai Chi before. Curtis told Master Muir that he had not really studied any Tai Chi before. Master Muir suggested that, like any other student, it may be best to start at the beginning, with the Tai Chi fist pattern. Master McRitchie knew how hard Curtis trained his martial arts and he knew how badly he wanted to learn the Silk Tassel Gim set. At this point, Master McRitchie intervened and suggested that Master Muir teach Curtis the Silk Tassel Gim set and just watch what happens. Curtis could tell that Master Muir was skeptical, but he agreed because of Master McRitchie’s request. So Curtis began his Tai Chi training, not only with the General’s weapon but with an elite pattern of the General’s weapon.
Curtis stayed in Winnipeg for about 6 months and then returned to Regina to resume his martial arts training in the Bak Hsing Choy Lee Fut system. After returning to Regina, Curtis would travel to Winnipeg for the next 3 years to study with Master McRitchie and Master Muir.
Upon returning to Regina, Curtis found that Master Richardson was planning a move to Edmonton, Alberta. Curtis was quite disappointed, having just moved back to Regina to be closer to family and friends and to resume his martial arts studies of Bak Hsing Choy Lee Fut; he was not ready to move again.
After Master Richardson moved to Edmonton, Curtis was approached by several of Master Richardson’s students who wished to continue training in the Bak Hsing Choy Lee Fut system. Curtis was one of Master Richardson’s senior students and the students knew Curtis was very close to achieving Black Belt status. They asked if Curtis would consider continuing to teach Kung Fu to them. Curtis agreed, and this was his first school with about 20-25 students. Curtis knew that his training was incomplete and was wondering how he would complete his training.
Sifu Curtis > Master Richardson > Master McRitchie > Master Muir > Master Suen >>
Under Master Muir, Curtis learned the Silk Tassel Gim pattern, the regular Yang gim pattern, the Sun Tsai two-person gim pattern and the Yang broadsword pattern. Master Muir resides on Salt Spring Island and teaches both Yang and Chen styles of Tai Chi at his school on Victoria Island. Master Muir has published a book on Yang Tai Chi called “YANG STYLE – TRADITIONAL LONG FORM – TAI CHI CH’UAN.” For more information on Master Muir, check out Victoria Taiji Academy.