We were lucky to catch up with Taran Champagne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taran, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started off learning Chinese martial arts and lion and dragon dance while I was a student at the University of Florida. Once I relocated to Texas, thanks to the Army, I was able to find my Sifu (teacher), Michael Thomas, who has imparted to me more knowledge than I ever would have imagined possible.

After having practiced for now over 17 years, I would say that my knowledge would have been far deeper and faster in these arts if I had started networking earlier. There is a huge benefit in meeting others who are in this field, and oftentimes they can connect you to someone who can help advance your studies. My own Sifu, studied under many different teachers, and encouraged me to learn from many others. There are many teachers of varying levels of quality, but if you are fortunate to learn from a teacher with not only a high level of skill, but the ability to transmit that knowledge, you will learn much faster.

In Chinese, there is a phrase, 吃苦，which means to eat bitter. This is the most useful skill to have when it comes to trying to advance one’s knowledge. What it means is that you must be willing to endure hardship. When it comes to the study of these arts, great skill does not come easy, and can only be achieved through constant and intense practice.

Unfortunately, time is limited, and there are the necessities of daily life. Like most others, I still have a normal day to day job, which means my time is limited on when I can teach and practice on my own. This stands in my way of advancing further in my studies.

Taran, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Taran Champagne, and I am a Sifu (teacher) of Chinese martial arts (kung fu/wushu), lion and dragon dance.

I remember being interested in these since I was a small kid. I would watch old Shaw Brothers Kung Fu movies with my Father (himself a lifelong practitioner of martial arts). I was amazed by the control the people had over their bodies, and the way they moved. I knew when I would have the opportunity, I would seize upon it. I started learning karate when I was in high school. When I went to college there was a club that taught kung fu, and immediately joined it. Ever since then I have been hooked and have been practicing the past 17 years.

Being the Sifu of Austin’s longest running dragon and lion dance team, I serve in a unique position of not only being there to bring good fortune and prosperity throughout the year with our performances, but also serving as a cultural ambassador for these arts. While it is good to perform these dances, my hope is to introduce people to them, and hopefully inspire the next generation of dragon and lion dancers to take up the art. I am very blessed to have dedicated students who train hard to allow us to perform all year round! This year, as lockdowns were eased up, my team was able to perform 30 times over the course of one month for Lunar New Year festivities. It was so fulfilling to see all the smiling faces of everyone as we went from location to location, sharing dragon and lion dance.

For those who study Chinese martial arts from me, it is my hope that they learn how to develop balance in their life. Just like when practicing kung fu, you can be too hard or too soft. Only when there is a harmony between the two can you achieve optimal outcomes. The same is true in day-to-day life. You have to be strong enough to stand up to the rough stuff in your life, but flexible enough to be able to take an opportunity when it presents itself.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Choosing to pursue your passion often is something that most people do not understand. Most people crave security or an easy life. It is only through the struggle that comes with pursuing what you love that you can craft a thing of beauty. Even those with natural talent have to work hard to refine those talents into something that other people want to support. You have to develop that “WOW” factor, and this can only be achieved over a long period of time.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My Sifu always says, that we aren’t looking for more students, but instead for future teachers. My goal is to share what I have learned, and hopefully out of all the people I share it to, someone is willing to take up the torch, and pass on what I have shared when I no longer can.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tddt.org
• Instagram: @tddtaustin
• Facebook: @tddtaustin

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Huaxia Kongyuan Mexico City, Mexico Photo Credit: Jerry Clark @_jerryclark