Sam Masich
Encyclopedia
Sam Masich is a taijiquan instructor, performing songwriter
and filmmaker residing in Vancouver
, Canada and Berlin, Germany.
Sam Masich was born February 7, 1962 in Prince George, British Columbia
Canada
. He began his career with an intensive apprenticeship in taijiquan and judo
at age 18 with Brien Gallagher in Burnaby, BC. By age twenty, he was teaching in community centres in Vancouver BC and in 1985 was selected to Canada's national Chinese martial arts
team to compete in the 1st World Wushu
Invitational tournament in Xian, China
. Between the years 1985 and 1988, Masich competed in tournaments around the USA gaining a reputation as a top taijiquan/neijia competitor.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Masich became a formal disciple of Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and Liang Shouyu. As well he furthered his studies with Yang Zhen Duo
, Chen Xiaowang and Jou Tsung Hwa. During this time he began teaching workshops and seminars in his native Canada and elsewhere. He created the "5 Section Taijiquan Program" and has published articles on taijiquan, taijijian
, pushing hands
) and other subjects.
From the 1990s, while continuing his research and teaching in the field of Neijia
, Masich began a parallel career as a performing songwriter and recording artist, working primarily with Christine Duncan and Michael Friedman and in collaboration with Michael Creber, Miles Black
and others.
Other endeavours have included stints as a film and television special skills trainer and choreographer, workshop facilitator for professional actors and martial arts instructional-film maker. He is the subject of two internationally airing documentaries including Quiet Places: A Tai Chi Retreat by Omni Films
.
Quiet Places—A Tai Chi Retreat (OMNI Films 1999)
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and filmmaker residing in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada and Berlin, Germany.
Biography
Sam Masich was born February 7, 1962 in Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He began his career with an intensive apprenticeship in taijiquan and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
at age 18 with Brien Gallagher in Burnaby, BC. By age twenty, he was teaching in community centres in Vancouver BC and in 1985 was selected to Canada's national Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
team to compete in the 1st World Wushu
Wushu (sport)
The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
Invitational tournament in Xian, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Between the years 1985 and 1988, Masich competed in tournaments around the USA gaining a reputation as a top taijiquan/neijia competitor.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Masich became a formal disciple of Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and Liang Shouyu. As well he furthered his studies with Yang Zhen Duo
Yang Zhen Duo
Yang Zhenduo , a native of Yongnian Hsien County, Hebei, was born in Beijing, China, into the famous Yang family of martial artists...
, Chen Xiaowang and Jou Tsung Hwa. During this time he began teaching workshops and seminars in his native Canada and elsewhere. He created the "5 Section Taijiquan Program" and has published articles on taijiquan, taijijian
Taijijian
Taijijian is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art Taijiquan. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional Taijiquan schools...
, pushing hands
Pushing hands
Pushing hands, , is a name for two-person training routines practiced in internal Chinese martial arts such as Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, T'ai chi ch'uan , Liuhebafa, Quan Fa, Yiquan.-Overview:...
) and other subjects.
From the 1990s, while continuing his research and teaching in the field of Neijia
Neijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
, Masich began a parallel career as a performing songwriter and recording artist, working primarily with Christine Duncan and Michael Friedman and in collaboration with Michael Creber, Miles Black
Miles Black
Miles Black is a multi-instrumentalist and producer residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Biography :Miles Black was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. He started playing piano at age 12...
and others.
Other endeavours have included stints as a film and television special skills trainer and choreographer, workshop facilitator for professional actors and martial arts instructional-film maker. He is the subject of two internationally airing documentaries including Quiet Places: A Tai Chi Retreat by Omni Films
Omni Film Productions Limited
Omni Film Productions is a Canadian television and film production company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Omni Film produces and/or coproduces a variety of television programs including dramatic series, documentaries, lifestyle series and more all for the Canadian and international...
.
Discography
| Year | Album Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Diamond Space | Michael Friedman | producer, lyricist |
| 2005 | Cinematic | FFM (Friedman, Fortin & Masich) | performer, writer |
| 2005 | Cow! | Aldous Orwell Project | vocalist, guitarist, songwriter |
| 2005 | Blue Manifesto | Blue Manifesto (Sam Masich & Bobby Kapp) | vocalist, guitarist, songwriter |
| 1998 | Why It Happens | Sam Masich & Christine Duncan | vocalist, guitarist, songwriter |
| 1998 | Angst Ridden Writer | Michael Friedman | lyricist |
| 1997 | Different Standards | Christine Duncan | songwriter, co-producer (with Miles Black Miles Black Miles Black is a multi-instrumentalist and producer residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Biography :Miles Black was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. He started playing piano at age 12... ) |
| 1997 | The Vogue Show | Christine Duncan | producer/song-writing contributor |
| 1995 | AniManiacal | Sam Masich | vocalist, song-writer |
| 1994 | Rhythm and Bliss | Moritz & the Fiddleheads | guitarist |
Internal Arts Filmography
| Year | Film Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Push Hands Video Manual vol. 2 | 45 min |
| 2007 | Yang Style Traditional 54 Taijijian | 60 min |
| 2007 | Zheng Manqing Taijiquan | 118 min |
| 2004 | 5 Section Chen Style Taijiquan | 60 min |
| 2003 | Traditional Yang Style Taijiquan 108 | 60 min |
| 2002 | Tai Chi in Performance | 65 min |
| 1996 | 5 Section Taijijian (solo sword) | 80 min |
| 1996 | 5 Section Taijijian (2 person sword) | 70 min |
| 1993 | Balancing the Heart Qigong | 80 min |
| 1993 | Tai Chi for 50+ | 45 min |
| 1992/2003 | Vital Xingyiquan vol. 1 | 70 min |
| 1992/2003 | Vital Xingyiquan vol. 2 | 105 min |
| 1992 | 5 Section Yang Style Taijiquan | 60 min |
| 1992 | 5 Section Taijiquan (2 person) | 40 min |
| 1991 | 24 Simplified Taijiquan | 90 min |
| 1988 | Tai Chi Reference Video Series | 60 min |
| 1987 | Push Hands Video Manual vol. 1 | 40 min |
Documentaries on Sam Masich
The Ancient Arts of Tai Chi and Qigong (Osiris Films 1998)Quiet Places—A Tai Chi Retreat (OMNI Films 1999)