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Class information and Specialist courses are listed below 2008 Workshop dates and information is under the 'diary' menu above See SIDE BAR MENU for, 'timetable' for class times, 'costs & membership' and 'venues' for class locations
Shifu Liu demonstrates the Chen 56 Competition Form at the Chinese New Year in Manchester TAI JI CIRCLE Classes and Courses
> JULY and AUGUST CLASS NEWS
• 9-25 August Summer break, last class will be on Thursday 7 August, classes begin again on Tuesday 26 August For information on our classes in Tai Ji Quan – beginners to competition forms, Da Bei Qi Gong, Tai Ji Gong Fu, Bagua Zhang, and the Hard (Ying) Qi Gong course, please scroll down the page For a student's personal experience of Hard Qi Gong training see below > NEW – SUBSIDISED Wednesday afternoon summer Tai Chi Classes with the CHINESE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION & MIND (see below) NEW CLASSES FOR 2008 Chen Tai Ji 2: 19 Part Form Tai Ji 42 Part Fan Form– Open to all levels Chen Tai Ji Double Sabre Form– Open to all levels Bagua Zhang – Open to all levels These new classes are open to existing and new students who would like to study them, as well as the Chen Beginners Course on Sundays. Chen Tai Ji Quan & Other classes:NEW: Introduction to Chen Tai Ji, Beginners Courses 2008Our accessible 10 week beginners courses will give the new student a step-by step practical experience of the basic essential requirements of Chen Tai Ji and enable them to move on to the next levels more easily, (for details see below), other students are welcome to attend.All beginners welcome and other students can drop in for Level 1 revision, or attend the other Level 1 or 2 classes. If you missed the beginning of the course you can still come along and catch up at other Level 1 classes. > Introduction to Chen Tai Ji, 10 week course began 4 May Sundays Beginning Date: 4 May 2008 Time: 10-11 am Special beginners course non-member price is available for 10 classes, (see 'Cost & Membership' in side bar menu for fees). If you miss a class it can be made up at other Level 1 classes. Booking for the course is necessary, email: info@taijicircle.com These beginners Sunday classes will continue into August, anyone who missed the May start date and would like to start tai ji, is welcome to come along and join in, the pace is slower than the Tuesday Level 1 class. NEW drop-in Level 1 beginners class on Thursday evenings at St Paul's, Camden Square, at 6.30pm, if you have a course ticket you can use that for payment. All beginners or Level 1 are welcome. ______________________________________________ Other Levels 1 and 2 classes:- Beginners to Chen Tai Ji are welcome to join these drop-in classes at any time, but it is easier to first have completed the Introductory Course, or to be doing the course and join in the other classes. Sunday Level 2 19 Part Form Mondays Level 2 18 Part Form Tuesdays Level 1 Thursday Level 1 beginners See 'timetable' menu for full class timetable. > NEW – SUBSIDISED CLASSES with the CHINESE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION & MIND Chen Tai Ji for better health: with Chris from the Tai Ji Circle Fancy doing Tai Chi in the park in the summer months? We offer a 10 sessions beginners’ course at subsidised rate Come along to join us at Bethnal Green Garden (next to Oxford House, Derbyshire Road)
Days:- Wednesdays (Start on 2 July) 2 pm – 3pm or 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Donation:- £10 (paid in advance) There will be another style tai ji class on Friday afternoons in Tower Hamlets with a different teacher and venue, all enquiries contact numbers below. ALL CLASSES MUST BE PRE-BOOKED AND PRE-PAID IN ADVANCE, no cash taken on the day. Pre-book only by calling the telephone numbers or through the website given below, not directly through the Tai Ji Circle. Contact:- 0208 429 8468 or 07947 769 078 0207 510 1081 (ask for Tai Chi) or visit:- www.tcm-healthcare.co.uk
A Charity Partnership project among:- Chinese Mental Health Association, MIND in Tower Hamlets and in Enfield CHEN TAI JI The power of the internal Chen Tai Ji Quan system lies in its idea to combine Chinese martial arts and medical theories to benefit health and well-being. This dynamic style is the original tai ji from which many other styles derive, and was once a secret practice from the Chen family village in Henan province. The traditional Chen forms contain original martial applications within them and they have both soft slow movements and fast energy releases. Chen Tai Ji can be practised slowly in a high stance to gain energy, or more vigorously in a lower stance for competition and increased stamina. Tai Ji is suitable for all healthy age groups. There are many health benefits to be gained by the practice of tai ji. The slow movements help the body, breath and mind to relax, give energy, help coordination, concentration, balance, strength and grace. Class Levels Introduction to Level 1 Chen Tai Ji This 10 classes over 10 week course, covers warm up exercises and the Chen Tai Ji stances, footwork, hand and body positions, the silk reeling exercises and the movements of the preparatory form. Course date: 4 May 2008 Level 1 The preparatory form and silk reeling exercises are vitally important to obtaining correct development in tai ji practice. With posture correction and repetition the student can develop smooth movements and transitions, increased energy, relaxation and gain good balance and coordination. These movements are the 'qi gong' of tai ji and are important for every level of student to practice regularly. Level 2 After completetion of the Chen course and Level 1 you will be ready to try learning: • The 19 Part Chen Form (created by Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang), this is an entry level beginners form to familiarise the student with movements of the various Chen styles and the 74 part traditional long form • The 18 part Chen Form (created by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei) is an introduction to the 74 part traditional long form. When comfortable with these forms you can move on to the Level 3 classes Level 3 • 74 Part Form is the oldest 1st traditional Chen routine, from which many of the shorter forms and other tai ji styles (Yang) derive • Chen 56 Competition form (a combination of the old and traditional new Chen forms) • Chen Sword, Sabre, Double Sabre • Pushing Hands it is better to have some Tai Ji experience before starting Push Hands. At the moment there is no Push hands class. Level 4 • Cannon Fist is the advanced 2nd traditional Chen routine Laojia Er Lu (as it is full of explosive movements). It is advisable to have studied 74 Part Form before beginning this form. • Chen Tai Ji Gong Fu students wishing to study Tai Ji Gong Fu level 2 need to have completed the Hard Qi Gong Course with Shifu Liu or have his permission to attend the class. Click here for more information on Chen Tai Ji Quan OTHER CLASSES Tai Ji Fan 42 Part Form This elegant and distinctive form is a new class for 2008 and is at St Paul's Church Hall, Camden Square, NW1, on Sundays at 2pm. 42 Hand Form – Tai Ji Competition Form The 42 Form (Competition Form) combines movements drawn from the Yang, Wu, Chen, and Sun styles of traditional Taijiquan. It was created in 1989 by the Chinese Sports Committee to standardise the many different competition forms, and will be used in the 2008 Olympic Games in China. Although it embraces four major styles it has its own life and spirit. It is rich in content and techniques yet easy enough for almost anyone to learn. The 42 Forms contains the essential principles and important characteristics of the four major styles, while it retains the traditional principles of Tai Ji, it is meticulously constructed and is fully compliant with competition rules. Wednesdays at 8pm St Paul's Camden Square 56 Form – Chen Tai Ji Competition Form This form especially conceived for competition, combines movements from the 2 traditional Chen forms, Laojia Yi Lu and Laojia Er Lu and some from the new frame Xinjia Yi Lu. It is helpful to have experience of Chen style tai ji before learning this form Wednesdays at 9pm St Paul's Camden Square Tai Ji Gong Fu Gong Fu classes have important warm-ups or ji ben gong, stretches, kicks, jumps, pad practice and energetic hand and weapon forms that are practiced for health, exhibition and competition. Strength, fitness, flexibility, better coordination and balance and an understanding of self defense, are all benifits of Gong fu training with Shifu Liu. • Tai Ji Gong Fu Level 2: For experienced students who have completed Hard Qi Gong training Adults only Tai Ji Gong Fu Level 1: Tuesdays 8.30-9.30 pm, King's Cross Methodist Church Hall Tai Ji Gong Fu Level 2: Thursdays 8.30-9.30 pm, St Paul's Church hall, Camden Square Bagua Zhang – 8 Trigram Palm, Internal Martial Art Bagua Zhang, (eight trigram palm), an internal martial art characterised by the practice of circle walking and spiralling movements in the forms. NEW BAGUA WEEKLY CLASS AT 12 noon ON SUNDAYS at St Paul's in Camden Square Da Bei Qi Gong – Buddhist Qi Gong With its roots in Buddhism, this is a most powerful form of Qi Gong, it derives from the Yi Jing Ching and is an excellent internal exercise and a well regulated system. It is a meditative, relaxing practice for the cultivation of energy and compassion, that can be practised sitting or standing. For good information on Buddhism: http://www.crystalinks.com/buddhism.html Classes at all our venues – see timetable Warm Up Exercises Most classes include warm ups of the joints, muscles and tendon stretching to loosen up the body and increase flexibility, mobility and strength. CLASS INFORMATION • All the classes are taught using the Chinese Pinyin rather than the English names, which are standard and useful when attending other classes with Chinese teachers worldwide. • Students should wear loose comfortable clothes and flat shoes, and not eat a heavy meal for at least 1 hour before class. If you attend a gong fu class, bring a change of clothing and small towel.
Specialist CoursesChinese massage Dian Xue and Tui Na Dian Xue is Chinese pressure point therapy, and Tui Na is traditional Chinese Massage that utilises different hand massage techniques to stimulate blood and qi flow along the acupuncture meridians to help clear areas of blockage or pain within the body. Occasional workshops are given in these traditional Chinese health therapies. Shifu Liu is available for treatments by appointment. Anyone who is interested in studying this traditional form of Chinese Massage can get in touch by email and put their name down for any future courses. See 'Profile' menu above for more information on Chinese massage. Ying Qi Gong (Hard qi gong)
Shifu Liu being tested after his Hard Qi Gong training
Hard Qi Gong – 100 + days training programme Hard Qi Gong practice improves your internal qi (energy) and is a benefit Training start date Hard Qi Gong is a serious, challenging and demanding internal and external training programme that works on both a mental and physical level. It can also benefit many chronic health conditions. It takes daily practice and strong determination to succeed. People suitable for the practice Hard Qi Gong is traditionally practised during the cooler months in China, (but the British climate is so temperate that it can be practised here from late August through to early July) and can be done by anyone aged 16-60 years who is fit and healthy without any serious mental or physical problems. It is not suitable for anyone who has experienced past severe physical or psychological trauma. It is also advisable to have had some practice of qi gong or meditation and have attended some of our classes beforehand. Benefits The body and mind are strengthened and rejuvenated, energy increases and problems such as allergies, backache, headaches and other conditions may dissapear. It is a foundation for steel jacket training, one main benefit is the strengthening of the internal parts of the body to protect against injury. Shifu Liu will interview all potential students to check their suitability and the training process will be explained in more detail at that time. (Advance booking is essential, email us for interview) Tai Ji Circle students after completing the Hard Qi Gong training course, undergo optional testing (below)
> Justin Schlosberg on Hard Qi Gong training with the Tai Ji Circle
I’ve been training in Chen Tai ji quan and Da Bei qi gong for a year and a half now, and ying qi gong for nearly a year. Sometimes I’m not sure whether it’s training‚ studying‚ or just experiencing. Similarly I’m not sure whether it’s a hobby, a passion or a lifestyle it’s a tricky thing to define. When I started, I often found myself saying in jest that it would take me the best part of 30 years to get my head round the subtleties of the movements. In some ways I’ve progressed quicker than I expected, but in other ways the mountain just gets higher and steeper. As soon as I think I’ve mastered something, I discover I’m not even close. Maybe my back is not relaxed or my shoulders aren’t open or my hips aren’t low enough. Or maybe I’m just thinking too much. Doing the foundation course in ying qi gong last year, I glimpsed for the first time what it is to really think about nothing and feel only a fire in my belly, with my feet rooted to the ground and all my muscles completely relaxed. The course itself seemed to last forever at least the first 2 months did. It was during this time that training became the centre of my life, and everything else (work, family, friends) had to be slotted in around it as best I could. It’s sometimes easy to reflect on it with rose tinted glasses but reading back over my diary entries, those first two months were anything but plain sailing. I’d heard from previous graduates that the course can be gruelling to say the least, but it’s hard to imagine just what that entails until you do it. With seemingly constant aches and pains, endless fatigue and little to show for it other than a slightly more toned physique, I often wondered why I was actually doing this. But it was the personal landmarks‚ that kept me going. Doing the exercises for longer and with less pain was like a world of new possibilities opening up before me. I realised that I actually can do what I assumed or feared that I couldn’t. Ying qi gong exposed my weaknesses but also my potential to improve with perseverance and will power, like chipping away at a great wall piece by piece. By the time the course ended, I felt stronger and more awake‚ than ever before. And even if there is no end goal, and the peak of the mountain is forever obscured by clouds, it’s enough to know that I’m trying my best. For although I felt elated when the course finished, I quickly realised once again how much more there is to learn. In accepting that, the training becomes less about trying to get somewhere or be someone, and more about just enjoying the journey (of a lifetime). |
| For information in London contact info@taijicircle.com | |
