www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk	Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain
		Longfei Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 1

Pytt Geddes 1917-2006

Pytt (Gerda Geddes, second from left): a taiji pioneer and an inspiring teacher

In 1988 my taiji teacher suggested that I go to see her former teacher, so I went to my first class at The Place dance studio with Gerda Geddes (always known as Pytt). During her classes Pytt was always a mine of wonderful stories, which she drew from the full and varied life that she had lived. This had included being part of the Norwegian resistance movement and narrowly escaping from the Nazis, training in psychoanalysis and dance, and being the first person to teach taiji in the West.

Pytt first encountered taiji in Shanghai and eventually found a teacher - Chou Hawk Pang - who was willing to teach a woman and a Westerner, which was very unusual at that time.

Pytt saw taiji as a healing force both physically and spiritually. She also interpreted the taiji form as an allegorical journey, which corresponds to our journey from birth to death. She explored this idea in her book, Looking For The Golden Needle.

When I began to teach taiji myself, I looked to her as a role model. What I found inspiring was her continuing consideration and exploration of the taiji and the philosophy behind it. One of her greatest qualities was her openness and willingness to learn from others. She taught me that the teacher-student relationship is always two way - the teacher learns as much as the student.

Anne Gathercole

Longfei Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 1 Table of Contents