Nearly everyone has seen film clips of Chinese people of all ages practicing slow and graceful exercise movements in public parks and open spaces. To us, this may look like a strange and exotic practice but to the Chinese themselves it is simply a part of their everyday lives. When we look deeper what we see is a set of exercises that have been developed over centuries to help extend life and improve its quality, especially into old age.

 

Chi Kung for Health & Fitness

To the Chinese our health is governed by the subtle flow of energy within and around our bodies. This energy is called chi and the practice of working with our body's energy is called chi kung, literally "energy work".  Chi kung is unlike most western exercise systems in that it is non-impact and initially seems gentle yet develops strength, stamina and suppleness. Chi kung is related to Yoga as it evolved from a shared philosophy although there is generally more emphasis on movement than in Yoga. There are many forms of chi kung which have been developed from ancient medical or military roots yet they all share a common principle. Chi kung is the undoubtedly the starting point in T'ai Chi. We offer a selection of courses to give a good introduction to this important area.

 

The T'ai Chi Solo Form

After obtaining a good grounding in chi kung the next step is the T'ai Chi form. The solo form is a flowing set of movements designed to allow the practitioner to learn the principles of T'ai Chi. In learning the form we learn about ourselves and develop our physical abilities and coordination. There are a number of related forms with increasing levels of technical difficulty and we offer a selection of courses tailored to your needs.

 

Push Hands & Martial Applications

Although T'ai Chi may be used solely for health and relaxation purposes it should be understood that its original purpose was as a martial art. T'ai Chi Chuan, along with Hsing Yi Chuan and Ba Gua Chang comprise the three major internal school martial arts of China. The emphasis of these arts is not brute force but the subtle use of energy allowing even the elderly to maintain an impressive ability to defend themselves against younger, fitter and stronger individuals.

We can offer further training, known as "push hands", involving a partner, which develops sensitivity to another's intentions. In addition, we can provide an introduction to Hsing Yi and Ba Gua which are complementary martial arts. Finally, we offer training in the use of traditional weapons such as sword, sabre, spear and staff for those who would like to explore this topic.