Dennis Mace is relocating his massage therapy practice, & Tetana Adkins Mace is launching her Mental Health Practice at Phoenix Rising Therapy PLLC! đđŠ
Dennis Mace, LMT will be relocating his massage therapy practice starting in September 2022!
In addition to being the Bagua Zhang Instructor at MaceMartialArts, I am also a Licensed Massage Therapist, available by request at Be Well Massage Spa in Mukilteo, WA.
Over the years, I have discovered how incorporating Bagua Zhang principles into my massage therapy practice has helped enhance effective treatment work, as well as having a more rejuvenating experience both for my clients and myself.
My Bodywork Style:Â my goal is to connect with each clientâs particular needs to help support your process of healing and relaxation.
My approach and modalities of practice integrates a seamless flow of Myofascial Release, Swedish Massage, Lomi-Lomi, Tui-Na, Deep-Tissue, Thai and Sports Massage, so that I can help release deeper tension and pain in a way that feels both soothing and rejuvenating.
I completed my massage therapy training with honors at Everest College â Seattle in 2010, specializing in Sports Massage.
More recently, I expanded my healthcare training by completing an intensive 100 CEU medical massage course, Advanced Pain Management Therapies, from Living Metta (February through June, 2022).
If you need to relax and ease some pain, request Dennis Mace when you schedule your appointment with me by contacting the
To schedule an appointment for a massage with me, please call or text the Be Well Massage Spa at +1 (425) 381-3866.
Phoenix Rising Mental Health Therapy đŠ đ«
Tetana Adkins Mace, LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Reiki Practitioner and owner at Phoenix Rising Therapy PLLC
My wife, Tetana Adkins Mace, LMHC is starting her own Mental Healthcare practice â Phoenix Rising Therapy PLLC â we all have challenges, and sometimes expert therapy is what we need to heal from traumatic experiences and insight to help us break through whatâs holding us back.
Tetana is accepting new clients at this time for mental health therapy, Reiki and other healings, if you are interested please see her website Phoenix Rising Therapy PLLC.
Phoenix Rising Therapy PLLC
Mental and emotional trauma affect our bodies, just as physical trauma can affect our mental and emotional well-being.
We will be collaborating and discussing this topic in more detail in future articles and classes, stay tuned!
Accepting New Bagua Zhang Students at the Mace Martial Arts WuGuan! đ
Bagua Zhang Demo video from June 2022
We have space for a couple more in-person students for group classes at our new WuGuan, message us if youâre interested in learning Bagua Zhang Kung Fu!
Please RSVP to all classes you plan to attend, to confirm location and schedule.
Space limited to 5 students per class for in-person training â please message ahead to confirm your spot!
We also have times available for private lessons if the group classes do not work for your schedule.
For students joining remotely via Zoom, we can host classes for up to 100 participants on our Zoom account.
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.Â
Safety and Courtesy – 16 Keys to Enhance your Learning ExperienceÂ
Safety and Courtesy at Mace Martial Arts
Thereâs a proverb that says âMartial Arts begins and ends with Courtesy.â
Respect for yourself, your elders, your peers and the sanctity of life is the bedrock that we live by at Mace Martial Arts.
These are the Safety and Courtesy requirements and expectations at Mace Martial Arts.
These standards of respect are the keys that will help you get the most out of your training and enhance your relationship with your instructors and classmates.
Pay attention to how these simple rules of respect and etiquette improve your sense of self worth, accountability, and interactions both inside and outside of the WÇ GuÇn (æŠéŠÂ training hall).
These rules of etiquette apply to students and teachers alike â this helps create the safe space where we can all have fun, and enjoy learning and growing together!
Safety and Courtesy â 16 keys to enhance your  learning experience (on-line or in-person):Â
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 Be real (authentic) and courteous with your self, your classmates and your instructor: keep your training realistic, honest, safe, and fun. Respect and honor yourself, your instructor, your classmates, and the generations of practitioners before you that poured their blood, sweat and tears into cultivating this wellspring of wisdom that you are now a part of. Appreciate what youâre learning, and celebrate your growth and accomplishments!
Stay focused and present  during lessons, and solo practice: pay attention to how you feel, think about what youâre learning, and what the movements mean â it is a path of discovery!
Be Careful and Courteous during training: be mindful and respectful with yourself, your instructors and classmates â we are all here to learn and grow. Be mindful that self defense training is designed to injure an attacker, and we must take special care in this training environment not to injure ourselves or our classmates. When a classmate taps at their limit of a joint lock, choke or throw, carefully and safely release pressure. Respect and respond to each of your classmatesâ limits and boundaries, and be mindful that these are different for everyone, and change for each person for various reasons over time and in different situations. Each one of us is individually responsible for maintaining a safe learning environment for everyone.
Commit to practicing at home at least 30-60 minutes a day what youâre learning in class: youâll be surprised how fast you improve. If you practice only during classes, then youâll waste class time trying to remember, instead of learning and progressing â take initiative for your growth! Use class time to refine your skills and learn new information. Mastery is a path, not a destination.
Be mindful of how the art youâre learning relates to all aspects of your life:Â Consider you are practicing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week â constantly learning and growing, and discover how this art can apply to and enhance all aspects of your life.
Stay humble and curious: check your ego at the door. Remain inquisitive. The classroom is for learning â not a place for competition or to dominate others. What youâre learning can make you healthy, as well as powerful â but that power doesnât entitle you to intimidate, manipulate, bully, or try out new skills on others that arenât capable classmates â thatâs what the classroom is for! Like the saying goes: âwith great power comes great responsibility.â Martial Arts is about nurturing oneâs self, and protecting the sanctity of life. Remember, stay curious and keep a beginners mind â because there is always potential to grow!
Take off street shoes, jewelry and watches during class: wearing jewelry and watches can be distracting and potentially entangle or injure yourself or a classmate while training. Bare feet, Socks, or soft-sole low-profile training shoes are acceptable while on the mats, but must be clean, in good repair and for indoor training only. This is for sanitary and safety reasons, and also to maintain the WÇ GuÇn (æŠéŠÂ martial training hall). If training outdoors, be sure to wear clean shoes that are appropriate for training (low profile athletic, martial arts or wrestling shoes).
Practice good hygiene: your body, hands and hair should be washed clean and groomed, to avoid spreading disease and infection; mild deodorant is welcome but avoid strong perfume or cologne as some classmates could have allergies â strong body odors, perfumes  and colognes are distracting and inappropriate for training, and will make others avoid wanting to train with you. Keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed to avoid scratching or cutting yourself and training partners. Long hair should be tied back to keep clear vision, avoid distractions and entanglement. Wash your hands after using the restroom, before interacting with others. Your training clothes or uniform should be neat, clean and in good repair, loose fitting and durable, and appropriate for training.
Maintain space, Avoid interruption, Be Considerate: while we like to cultivate a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in our  WÇ GuÇn, be mindful of your instructor and classmates. Avoid talking over anyone or invading someoneâs space in an inappropriate manner without their permission or out of context with training exercises, as this is disruptive and potentially dangerous, especially in training.
 Private Classes can include more than just yourself: a) invite up to 2 other people to join your private lesson, get feedback while training with each other, and split the tuition of $80 per hour. b) If you can get 3 or more people to join you during your private class, you can create your own weekly group class, at group class tuition â this is a win-win situation, because itâs cheaper for you and your classmates, more beneficial for your instructor, and you get more opportunities to learn and grow with classmates!
Try to join Group Classes: if the group class you want to attend is full, or you live too far away to attend, or you are taking private lessons, try to join one of the regularly scheduled group classes remotely, so you can see others train and get more feedback and learning opportunities.
Ask questions! Be thoughtful about your training, if thereâs something youâre unsure about, donât hesitate to ask â this is for your growth, and as your instructor, Iâm here to help you! Questions and curiosity are opportunities for learning â your question could help your classmates learn something valuable as well!
Take notes after your lessons:Â Â This helps you remember material covered during class so you can practice on your own outside of class. Get a notebook dedicated to your martial arts classes, so you have your own convenient reference as you progress. Avoid taking notes during class if it is disruptive to flow, unless the instructor has the group set aside time during class for everyone to do so.
Invite family or friends to join us, if you think theyâd benefit from and enjoy the training. If youâre learning remotely, a) Sponsor your instructor for a workshop where you live, or b) schedule times when you can come train in person with your instructor to get the hands on training you need to progress. Our goal is to pass on this art, itâs healing benefits and skill development to good people that will also enjoy walking this path.Â
Advise and confirm attendance: students please advise which classes you plan to attend in person, or remotely, Â and if there are any delays or if something comes up that you canât attend. As space is limited for in-person group classes, this is helpful for others who wish to attend and also for the instructors to plan class material and topics. Â Instructors will also advise as far in advance as possible if there are any delays, changes in time or venue, or cancellations of scheduled classes, whether they be group classes, private lessons or workshops.
Be respectful of the WÇ GuÇn and your instructorâs home: the WÇ GuÇn (æŠéŠÂ Martial Arts Training Hall)  is a sacred space where we temper our mind, body and spirit, learn and train our art together. The WÇ GuÇn is the representative home of our art, Bagua Zhang. Therefore we treat the space with respect, by extension also respect our martial ancestors who passed their teachings to us; bow or salute before entering or leaving the training space. Be careful and learn how to practice properly with the training equipment, weapons and mats so as not to damage them or be injured from recklessness. Keep the WÇ GuÇn clean and organized, help to tidy up before and after class. Also be careful and respectful in your instructorâs home, where the WuGuan is located, only enter if invited. Remove street shoes before entering the WÇ GuÇn and the instructors home. If you have to use the restroom, ask first, and wash your hands if you use the restroom, and tidy up after yourself. Respect and courtesy earns trust, and builds a safe environment to learn and grow in together, therefore treat our WÇ GuÇn as a sanctuary, for each of us.
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.Â
While going over martial applications practice earlier this year, one of my students asked a good question: do we step backwards in Bagua Zhang?
Technically and strategically, the answer is no â in Bagua Zhang, we learn how to pivot around oncoming attacks, turn aside or around to flank and generate turning force, then continue flowing and moving forward.
Circular Stepping in Bagua Zhang solo forms practice starts counter-clockwise, then changes to clockwise, changing back and forth, mirroring cycles of transformation in nature.
But Bagua doesnât go backwards. Why?
Several martial arts systems incorporate backwards stepping and movements to draw an opponent off balance. While this tactic can be effective, it is always risky to give an opponent your ground. In combat, when one of the combatants is stepping backwards, itâs often because theyâre injured, reeling and trying to disengage â this is usually the beginning of the end of the fight.
But in Bagua Zhang training, the concept is to adapt to situations and challenges and keep moving on, going with the flow, taking ground without hesitation or breaking momentum or strength.
Whirling StepÂ
In our branch of Bagua Zhang, we practice a rare stepping method called Whirling Step, which utilizes wrapping and sweeping techniques when turning and changing directions â then continuing to forge ahead to take ground and new opportunities.
This applies to more than just self-defense and combat strategy.
Like cycles of seasons, patterns repeat, but time keeps moving forward, as our planet Earth keeps spinning forward, around the Sun, as our solar system spins along the outer rim of the Milky Way GalaxyâŠ
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The past is a memory, the future is a dream, but the present is a gift. đ
If we think about the past too much, be it from grief, trauma, or longing for glory days, we stay stuck in the past, and stagnate. Reflecting on our experiences is necessary to learn from them, especially with our traumas and losses â yet to heal and grow, we must stay present to face our challenges, embrace opportunities and forge ahead. đ
Weâre Moving! đÂ
Speaking of forging ahead, we are moving!
After 3 years in Shoreline, our family has sought opportunities further North, and we are in the process of moving into our new home in Everett, WA.
I will be taking time off from teaching over the next month to rebuild our WuGuan at our new home. Â Thereâs a lot to do!
Starting in January 2022, Bagua Zhang classes will be resume at
Towns at Riverfront
(Please register for classes for address)
Everett, WA
United States
Stay tuned for updates and class start dates!
At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation.Â