The Clackamas print., May 28, 2008, Page 4, Image 4

4
The
Clackamas Print
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
New tai chi instructor finds zen at Clackar
Nick Hancock has filled a
void left in the tai chi class,
but brings his own flavor to
the ancient martial art
Matt Garrison
The Clackamas Print
Instructor Nick Hancock may be able to
calm people down with tai chi, but he can also
kick ass with kung fu.
In the gym in Randall three mornings a
week, students can be found flowing from one
position to another in slow and quiet move­
ment Some appear tranquil as they listen to
their master.
Hancock has been teaching tai chi for eight
years and started at Clackamas toward the end
of winter term.
• “Nick first started his foundation in martial
arts (kung fu) when he was five years old,” said
Hancock’s father, Pat Hancock, who is the mas­
ter and owner of Body Balance Healing Arts in
Clarksburg, Md.
For his involvement in kung fu, Hancock
has won international medals.
“By the age of 10 to 12 years, he started
teaching kung fu,” his father recalled.
Raised in Maryland, he moved to Oregon
in his early 20s. As a young teenager, he had
developed an interest in tai chi, a series of fluid
postures that promote both bodily fitness and
relaxation.
“Tai chi started in China, dating back all the
way to the Yellow Emperor (beginning in 2697
BQ,” he said. “Much of die tai chi we see in
die United States is either Yang or Chen style,
while both are a martial art Yang style is most
well-known for its physical benefits.”
Tai chi and kung fu are similar, the main
difference is that tai chi is an internal exercise,
whereas kung fu is an external exercise.
“The biggest difference is that it’s a slow-
moving form and that it’s relaxing and restor­
ative,” Hancock said of tai chi. “The martial
applications focus on redirecting the opponent’s
energy while conserving your own.”
“The tai chi class on campus
starts out with a chi kung (energy
work) and breathing exercises, as
well as stretches and basic warm­
ups,” he added. “After warm-ups,
die class begins the Yang style
form.”
Doran Jensen, a tai chi student,
describes Hancock as a quality
instructor.
“It’s amazing to watch him,”
she said. “He has die form like
second nature.”
His seemingly effortless abilities
may, in part, be die result of having
been around tai chi his entire life.
“My father taught tai chi for a
living,” he said. “I was bom with a
tai chi school in the backyard.”
RIGHT: Nick Hancock, second from
the left, teaches the finer points
of tai chi to his class. During the
year, the class is held indoors in
the gym and dance studios, as
well as outdoors in the area in
front of the Community Center.
Robert Crawl
Robert Crawford Clackamas Print
Matt Gar-:
Business law classes to litigate mock trial in McLoughlii
The two BA 226 classes,
taught by different instruc­
tors, will demonstrate the law
, Kyle Steele
11
Feature Editor
The McLoughlin Hall auditorium:
perhaps the perfect place for a court­
room battle to determine which busi­
ness class is a superior legal team.
On June 3 at 1 p.m., two teams
from each of the business law, or BA
226, classes, taught by instructors
Joan Ryan and Mike Moiso, will par­
ticipate in a mock trial. It will test the
groups’ understanding of the subject
matter covered throughout the term,
and will be open to the public.
“It was Mr. Moiso’s idea,” Ryan
said. “His class has challenged our
viduals who are not enrolled in the
class to the mqck trial.”
Three students from Ryan’s class class as well as other students.
will
represent
the
This is Clackamas’
defense, while Moiso’s
first business law mock
three will play the
trial, but Moiso has high
part of the plaintiff.
hopes for the teaching
The entire proceedings
exercise.
should last one hour.
“In the fall, we’ll do
According to Moiso,
a bigger case, but still
both sides began plan­
interschool,” he said.
ning for the event at
In fact, he would like
the start of the term.
to someday challenge
The trial will be based
other community col­
on the real whistle­
leges, to the same type
blower case, Cleary
of trial.
vs. US Steel, and will
“The ultimate goal
Joan Ryan
try the teams’ knowl­
the following quarter
Business Law
edge of business whis­
(winter) is to take on
Instructor
tleblower laws.
•Mt. Hood Community
Moiso, a practicing
College,” he said.
lawyer^of 15
now, the primary
will be presiding oVer the
a strong case to
judge. The jury,} on trie oth
will be made up of the first |
to^arriye at the erent, in
“We are very
confident in
our defense.
The plaintiff
has a very
weak case.”
their team’s victory.
“We are very con
defense,” Ryan said,
has a very weak case."
In contrast, Moiso'
going to trounce the otl
One of the possible o
event would be the acct
reaching more student
a greater interest in tki
class offered at the coll
“Everybody is invite
trial and find out moi
law classes,” Moiso sa
ing to make it (BA 22
taining.”
Mock Tr
June Tat 1 p.m. indie Md
auditorium. The first 12 SI
become members of the'
Photo illustration by