Coaching cycling, teaching tai chi and fitting cyclists at his bike shop are all part of Jeff Noftz’s week.
Noftz, the co-owner of Kinetic Systems bicycle shop in downtown Clarkston, keeps a tight but flexible schedule sharing the activities he loves with others.
Currently on Monday nights, Noftz teaches tai chi at the Independence Library helping people explore martial arts which are such a big part of his life.
‘Tai chi is about quality movement, synergistic movement and letting go of tension in the body? You learn how to stand better and be less rigid in movement, posture and breathing,? said Noftz, who sees poor posture, lack of motion and flexibility as major health issues not taught in most sports.
Noftz’s interest in the martial arts dates back to the 1960’s. Then as an employee of the University of Idaho, Noftz joined a boxing club and practiced other martial arts.
‘I went through all the different martial arts and loved them all? I became enamored with Eastern philosophy and movement and blending with nature,? said Noftz, who began conditioning on a bike when he struggled with jumping rope during boxing training.
‘As I got older I started gravitating towards the softer forms of martial arts,? he added.
Part of Noftz’s ability to teach tai chi dates back about 10 years when Noftz heard a story from a friend that intrigued him and would lead him to an invaluable mentor.
Upon visiting his ailing grandmother at the hospital, the friend saw a small Chinese man working his hands above the woman’s body. Curious, the friend placed his hands between his grandmother’s body and the strange man’s hands and felt a shock.
Hearing the story, Noftz knew he had to find the man, but had little information to start his search.
‘All my friend knew was it was a little bald Chinese guy,? recalled Noftz. ‘I knew there was a small community in Chinese medicine and tai chi. I found him in Ann Arbor.
‘I went in to see this guy and I had visions of Kung Fu and ‘Grasshopper? that sage-like person,? Noftz continued.
The man turned out to be Gabriel Chin, a member of the Board of Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan who also held a full professorship in chi kung from Beijing University, said Noftz.
Noftz took classes with Chin, who taught for over 60 years. Meeting Saturdays and Sundays year round, Noftz began to study intensely under Chin practicing both tai chi and Chinese medicine.
‘He was the most curious person I ever met,? said Noftz. ‘But a lot of people couldn’t get passed his wacky exterior.?
While studying, Noftz eventually became Chin’s chauffeur taking him around from healings and teachings, learning from him close up.
‘He was a great human being. He wouldn’t take money for healing or tai chi so we’d stick money in his pockets and his wife would know and take the money,? said Noftz.
The lessons learned from Chin coincided with Noftz’s goals in the operation of Kinetic Systems bicycle shop in Clarkston with Louise Kasl.
‘I started taking everything he was doing and put it into bicycle racing, because it’s all the same. How the body works is how the body works,? said Noftz.
As Noftz worked the store, at its current location since 1986, he gained a reputation for fitting people to bikes.
‘I started reading medical books and things about alignment and posture,? said Noftz.
That experience and knowledge pays dividends now as Noftz satisfies his passion for coaching and teaching through the cycling group The Flying Rhinos. The group consists of about 300 cyclists of varying abilities who race year round while pursuing active life-styles.
‘Teaching and coaching provides a huge family,? said Noftz.
Through the group and Kinetics, Noftz and Kasl organize several races including an internationally licensed cyclocross weekend of racing in addition to their annual Spring and Fall Back 40 Rides and the January 1 Polar Rhino Ride. Noftz hosts training sessions throughout the year, both indoors at Kinetic Systems and outdoors on a track on the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club.
The group also benefits from Noftz’s experience gained when he was asked to coach cycling one winter at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Shortly afterwards, Noftz and two other coaches were asked to set up an Olympic training center in Marquette for two summers.
While Noftz realizes the challenges of running a small business, he relishes the flexibility and freedom the venture allows.
‘We’re doing what we do because we love it and that’s the reward? I’d rather do this than be an engineer at GM. We’re open seven days a week. We’re here and I love it.
‘Running the store you get to know people well. Like if you need your car fixed you call John Morgan? Clarkston has that small town feel,? said Noftz.
Noftz sees the library’s cooperation with the tai chi class as part of the community he has enjoyed since his family moved to the Clarkston area in the 1950’s.
‘The library has been wonderful about it. There’s great people there looking to build a community atmosphere,? he added.
Noftz teaches tai chi at the Independence Township library on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. The class is offered for $4 and is open to the public. Casual clothes are encouraged.
To learn more about the Flying Rhinos Cycling Club call 248-625-7000 or visit their Web site at www.flyingrhinocc.com.