The Tai Ji Circle for Chen Tai, Qui Gong and Wushu - the traditional Chinese arts or relaxation, health and fitness.
Tai Ji Cirlce home page About Shifu Quan Jun Liu and the Tai Ji Circle Class information Diary of events and workshops. Photo Gallery Our Latest News Contact the Tai Ji Circle

Diary

 

 

The class timetable is under the 'classes' menu.


Tai Ji Circle's Lam Rim Retreat over the May bank holiday

Qi Gong & Chen Tai Ji in Wales

weekend with Shifu Liu Quanjun

24 – 27 May 2013

Join us for this long bank-holiday weekend of Da Bei Qi Gong and Chen Tai Ji Quan in the peaceful and beautiful setting of Lam Rim Buddhist Centre in South Wales. With views across to the Brecon Beacons, delicious vegetarian and home-grown food, a treelined meditation walking path and intensive internal training with Shifu Liu.

There will be two daily sessions with a focus on Qi Gong. We will also be practicing the Chen Traditional Form. It is not necessary to have much previous experience to attend. There is the opportunity to attend Buddhist Puja at the centre. No use of mobiles or smoking on the premises is allowed. There is an hour’s karma yoga after breakfast to help with food preparation, jobs around the house and garden, where everyone gives a helping hand.

The weekend is suitable for all

For bookings email Chris: info@taijicircle.com

Registration cut-off date 17 May


NEXT London workshop:

1 June Chen Foundation Silk Reeling and Standing Practice

Saturday 2-6pm

Get to grips with the Foundation syllabus of Chen style Taijiquan in a 4 hour workshop with Shifu Liu Quanjun. The standing practice prepares, relaxes and strengthens the body and mind for tai ji practice. The circular silk reeling movements and posture corrections are the key to a refinements in the routines, so the workshop is useful for all levels of practitioner.

Suitable for beginners and experienced students

at St Paul's Church Hall Camden Square, NW1 9XG

• If you are a non-member and wish to sign up for a Foundation workshop and Foundation Course in the same term, you may pay the member's fee.

Workshop Fees
Members £45    
Non-members £60

Email to book a place: info@taijicircle.com


Tai Ji Circle Calendar 2013:

Saturday Workshops, Term Dates and other events

All workshops are taught by Shifu Liu

Term One: Sunday 27 January to 20 March
9 February Da Bei Qi Gong + Chinese New Year Party (No experience required)
23 February Tui Na – TCM Chinese Massage techniques (No experience required)
2 March Foundation Chen Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang (No experience required)
9 March FREE Chinese Massage and Qi Gong Special Workshop (No experience required) More details to come!

21 March to 10 April – 3 weeks for China Trip

Term Two: Sunday 14 April to 15 June

13 April Chen Xiao Wang’s 19 Part Form (No experience required)
20 April Chen Xiao Wang’s 38 Part Form

26-29 May: Weekend Chen Tai Ji & Qi Gong Retreat with Shifu Liu in the tranquil setting of Lam Rim Buddhist Centre in South Wales (No experience required)

1 June Foundation Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang (No experience required)

Term Three: 16 June to 10 August
22 June Single Sabre
29 June Laojia Yi Lu – Old Frame I
3 July Laojia Er Lu – Old Frame II
27 July Push Hands (No experience required)
10 August Double Sabres

11-24 August Summer Break

Term Four: 25 August to 19 October
7 September Da Bei Qi Gong (No experience required)
14 September Foundation Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang (No experience required)
28 September Chen Xiao Wang’s 19 part Form (No experience required)
5 October Chen Sword Form

Term Five: 20 October to 14 December
26 October Xinjia Yi Lu – New Frame I
2 November Silk Reeling + Chen Applications (No experience required)
9 November TCM Nutrition, Foods and Health (No experience required)
30 November Chen Tai ji quan Assessments (Members only)
7 December Da Bei Qi Gong (No experience required)
14 December Xinjia Er Lu + Christmas Party

All 2013 workshops are planned, but please email to book and for confirmation closer to the workshop date.

Foundation workshops listed below, each will cover some different aspects of Foundation training.

Saturday Foundation Chen Tai Ji Workshops for new and continuing students

2 March Chen Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang
1 June Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang
14 September Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling + Zhan Zhuang
2 November Silk Reeling + Chen Applications

• If you wish to sign up for a Foundation workshop and Foundation Course in the same term as a non-member, we will give you the workshop at the member's price.

Shifu Liu teaches on several different levels, while beginners can learn the steps of the routine or technique, more experienced students gain deeper appreciation of the subtle inner movements of energy as their practice improves. New students are also welcome to come to along. Attending workshops can contribute towards teacher training experience.

With their focus on understanding postural alignement, tai ji principles, health, philosophical and martial principles of practice, together with emphasis on correct posture Shifu Liu’s workshops are essential for gaining deeper theoretical and practical experience of the essence of Chinese internal martial arts.

Every workshop will be different from those given previously.

Workshops are accessible and open to students of all levels of practice and new students are also welcome to attend most of them.


Workshops Times, Fees and Venue

Times: 2.00–6.00 pm

Workshop fee :
Members : £45 (drop-in price)

Non-members £60 (drop-in price)

Paid in advance in class, or if paid online (email for details)

Members: £40 

Non-members: £50

Venue:
St Paul's Church Hall, Top end of Camden Square, London, NW1 9XG


please email to book a place: info@taijicircle.com


2013 Past Workshops

Tai Ji Circle and Liu Quanjun present a unique seminar!

12 Duan Jin: 12 Pieces of Brocade
With the Creator & Chief Compiler Professor Yang Bai Long

27 April
2.00 – 7.00 pm

This is a rare and unique opportunity to learn, 12 pieces of Brocade Health Qigong with one of China's leading Qigong for health Guru, Professor Yang BaiLong. Professor Yang was the head of the Daoyin Yang Shengcentre in the Beijing Sport University, senior student of world famous qigong grand master Professor Zhang Guang De (creator of DaoyinYang Sheng Gong) and expert in Chinese traditional sports for health and wellbeing with indepth knowledge on Chinese Medicine and qigong.

Professor Yamg was invited by the Chinese Health Qigong Association to lead a group of Professors, Chinese Medicine doctors and Qigong experts to research and restructure the thousand year old 8 treasures and 12 pieces of Brocade, after months of intensive research and examination on hundreds of variations, Professor Yang and his team finally created the Health Qigong sets based on the traditional versions but with further insight and health benefits embedded into the routines. These routines are designed to fit into our modern way of living and created to effectively combat modern day physical and psychological problems with a view to improve our health and welbeing.


We will learn the movements and their benefits as well as their relationship to traditional Chinese Health preservation and energy Channels and meridians.

The seminars are suitable for all level of qigong or Tai Chi practitioners

 

Chen 19 Step Form – Workshop with Shifu Liu

13 March 2013
2.00 – 6.00 pm


Shifu Liu is teaching the Foundation 19 Step Chen Form, created by Grand Master Chen
Xiao Wang.This is an opportunity to improve your posture and get an in-depth look at this routine which is ideal for beginners to learn and incorporates many typical movements from the longer traditional forms.
Suitable for all levels and new students welcome

 

Chen Tai Ji Foundation Workshop with Shifu Liu

02 March 2013
2.00 – 6.00 pm


Shifu Liu will teach the importance and practice of Standing Post (Zhan Zhaung) and Silk Reeling (Chansi Gong) exercises, which are the entry point for Chen Taijiquan. Correction in posture and movement in these exercises is the key to personal improvement and better understanding of Chen Tai Ji Quan. Without continuous training in Foundation practice, the balance and coordination required for releasing energy correctly in forms and martial applications cannot be achieved.

Suitable for all levels and new students welcome

Workshop Fees
Members £45    
Non-members £60

Email to book: info@taijicircle.com


23 February: Chinese Massage Workshop with Shifu Liu.

2.00 – 6.00 pm at St Paul's Church Hall, Camden Sq NW1 9XG.

Chinese massage stimulates energy circulation and brings increased blood flow to problem areas of the body. The workshop will be split into three parts, looking at Meridians, learning techniques and treatments. Shifu Liu is a member of ACTM, and a specialist in healing therapy with Tui Na (Chinese massage), Dian Xue (acupuncture point massage) and qi gong.

Students should wear comfortable loose, warm clothes, a blanket/pillow and bring a notebook.

Suitable for everyone,
no experience is necessary.


2012 Past Workshops

1 December
2-6pm St Paul’s
Tai Ji Circle Assessments
These assessments are for all student members at all levels, to gain feedback on their training and address aspects of their posture and movements to lead to improvement in their practice. Foundation and level 1 students as well as those at higher levels will benefit, and this will give confidence to move on and try the more complex routines. We will assess the forms given so that you can chose. Everyone will need to show proficiency in the Foundation training before Shifu will asses forms at a higher level.

The assessments will be in Zhan Zhaung (Standing Practice), Chansi Gong (Silk Reeling), the 19 Step Form, the 38 Step Form, Laojia Yi Lu and Laojia Er Lu, Single Sabre and Sword Forms.

24 November
 2-6pm St Paul’s
 Chen 19 Form

 Back to basics, and an ideal chance for new students to learn this form created by GM Chen Xiao Wang to facilitate grasping the movement principles of the Chen family style. It is an entry level routine, that is suitable for beginners and experienced students, and it is essential to know this form for gaining the TJC teachers certificate from Chen Xiao Wang.
 All welcome, no experience necessary

 

17 November
 2-6pm at St Paul’s
 Laojia Er Lu – Cannon Fist

 Learn the movements from the form step by step, with some of the relevant applications. A great chance to get experience of the famous Chen Pao Cui or Cannon Fist Routine, created as the ‘Yang’ hand form to compliment the more ‘Yin’ Laojia Yi Lu (Old family 1st form) routine, which together are the basis of all Chen family tai ji quan hand forms. Cannon fist is lively and exhilarating, with plenty of jumps, kicks, and fajing (energy releases).
 Chen tai ji quan experience is helpful

 

10 November
 2-6pm at St Paul’s
 TCM Dian Xue Tui Na Chinese Massage
 Learn some helpful Dian Xue (Pressure point massage) and Tui Na massage techniques for the winter, help family and friends, bring a partner or friend to work with (they can pay 1/2 price) and a blanket, make sure your nails are trimmed short!
 All welcome, no prior knowledge of TCM is necessary
 

27 October
 2-6pm at St Paul’s
 TCM Food and Nutrition Seminar
 Come along and learn about healthy diet, how foods affect the body and health, different foods for different seasons and constitutions.
 All welcome, no prior knowledge of TCM is necessary

13 October
 2-6pm at St Paul’s


 Da Bei  Qi Gong and Healing Sounds Workshop
 Prepare for the winter season and help to keep the body healthy. As well as working with some of the 18 movements of Da Bei Qi Gong, Shifu Liu will be teaching the ‘sounds’ qi gong that vibrate with the organs of the body, and we will also learn the sounds that relate to Jing, Qi and Shen, translated as Essence, Energy, and Spirit.
 All welcome, no experience necessary

29 September: Fundamental Chen for all with Shifu Liu

This workshop aims to give a rounded view of Chen Tai Ji Quan training and will be broken down into 4 parts to cover different aspects of the style, health, yin and yang philosophy and internal martial applications: the Standing Post exercise is the qi gong of Chen tai ji quan and with the Silk Reeling exercises both hand and stepping forms help generate and move energy throughout the body, the short 4 Direction Fist routine (Sifang Quan) works with the primary movements of the classic form and Push Hands practice gives insight into movement principles with a partner.


Throughout the workshop Shifu Liu will check posture and movements which will help your understanding of the practice, and improve coordination, balance and strength.

 

8 September: Meridian Healing Qi Gong with Shifu Liu

Meridian Qi Gong for self healing can be practiced seated or standing. This is a qi gong exercise that helps to make the body active and intelligent while still being relaxed. It is practiced by learning to store energy at the dantian centre and teaching you how to circulate energy through the meridians (as in Traditional Chinese Medicine) and organs of the body to re-balance them. This qi gong may also help with weight loss.

Suitable for everyone to try

25 August:Chen Silk Reeling with Shifu Liu

Shifu Liu will teach the importance and practice of Silk Reeling (Chansi Gong), both standing and stepping twining exercises which are the entry point to Chen Shi Taijiquan a necessary practice for beginners and advanced students. Correction in posture and movement in these exercises is the key to personal improvement and understanding of both Chen Tai Ji Quan hand and weapons forms. Without enough training in Chansi gong, the balance and coordination required for releasing energy correctly in forms, martial applications and fajing cannot be achieved.

4 August  Chen Sword Form with Shifu Liu

Shifu Liu will teach the Chen Tai Ji Quan Sword routine step by step, helping you to understand the parts of the sword used for different techniques such as chop and thrust. The Chen sword form enables the student to understand and learn to project energy to the end of the sword tip, and make play with the weapon a continuous part of the body.

 

14 + 28 JULY Chen Traditional Long Form Laojia Yi Lu (Old frame)
Saturday workshops with Shifu Liu

A great chance to learn this classic, beautifully balanced routine, of Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang's Laojia Yi Lu (Chen Old frame), over a double workshop of two Saturdays. Shifu Liu will teach the routine of this traditional form, refine your movements with postural correction, show some techniques and applications and help you gain an overall understanding of the structure of the whole form.


Workshops are of general interest and open to all levels of student practice.

20-21 June: Chen Taijiquan Push Hands Seminar with Chen Ziqiang


Don’t miss this unique opportunity to work with Chen Ziqiang on his first visit to London. He is a dynamic young teacher who will conduct a two day seminar in Chen-style training in push hands practice which is his specialism. The son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Ziqiang is a 20th generation direct descendant of the Chen Family Taijiquan, and is the Chief Coach of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School in Chenjiagou, China. He is also a multiple national champion of China.

The practicing of Tui Shou (Pushing hands) is the application of different forms with a partner, under different conditions. The aim is to understand other people's internal Qi, how it runs, its balance and coordination, constantly restructuring your own balance and coordination accordingly. It is a preparation for martial applications and techniques by improving reactions to attack.

Suitable for all levels of experience

2 day Seminar Fee:
Fee in cash: £60.00
email booking: info@taijicircle.com

20 June, at Islington Chinese Association
7.00 – 9.00 pm
21 Hatchard Road, London N19 4NG
Archway underground or Upper Holloway (Rail), walk or bus down Holloway Rd, to Marlborough Rd and walk up, left to Hatchard Rd

21 June, at St Paul’s Church Hall
7.00 – 9.00 pm
Camden Square, NW1 9XG
Top of the Square, 10 minutes from Camden Town underground and Camden Rd Station. Buses 29 or 253, up Camden Rd to Cantelowes Rd, (Torriano Avenue bus stop)

 

16 JUNE Da Bei Qi Gong Saturday Workshop for health and well-being
with Shifu Liu

Shifu Liu will be teaching the 18 movement Da Bei Qi Gong. It is a powerful yet simple set of meditative movements, that when practiced regularly, helps to improve the body's internal circulation, calm and relax the mind, and relieve stress.

Suitable for everyone, no experience is necessary.

 

1-4 JUNE Qi Gong and Chen Tai Ji Quan Retreat with Shifu Liu

Join us for a relaxing, peaceful bank-holiday weekend of Qi Gong and Chen Tai Ji Quan in the beautiful quiet setting of the Lam Rim Buddhist Centre in South Wales. There are wonderful views across to the Brecon Beacons, delicious vegetarian home-grown food, a meditation path through the trees plus Shifu’s deep internal training.

There will be two practice sessions a day with a focus on Qi Gong, and the traditional Chen-style Laojia Yi Lu routine. It is not necessary to have much previous experience to attend.

please email for more information or to book a place to Chris: info@taijicircle.com

http://www.lamrim.org.uk/wales/en/1/index.html

 

5 + 19 May 2012

Chen 38 Form Seminar with Shifu Liu

This is a rare opportunity to learn the 38 Form created by Grand Master Chen Xiao Wang. It contains movements from the Chen 74 part Laojia Yi Lu, traditional old frame and the Xinjia New frame routines.
Shifu will teach the form step-by-step in two parts, with fajin, posture and movement
correction. Suitable for those with some experience.

 

14 April 2012

Chen 19 Step Seminar with Shifu Liu

We will be working with the 19 step Chen Form created by Grand Master Chen Xiao Wang. A great opportunity to get an in-depth look at this routine which is ideal for beginners to learn and incorporates many typical movements from the longer forms.

Shifu will teach the form step-by-step, so that you can learn it from scratch, as well as working with posture and movement correction, and showing the fajin, energy releases, and some techniques from the form. Suitable for all levels.

 

24 March 2012

2.00–6.00 pm

Foundation Chen Tai Ji Quan training with Shifu Liu

Essential Chen Foundation training, working with the silk reeling, standing and stepping. Shifu Liu will check and improve your posture, check your movements are correct so that you can practice and feel the circular and spiralling movements of internal energy, this will improve coordination and long form practice.

Suitable for all levels, no experience is necessary.


Workshop Costs for 4 hours:
£45 Members, £60 Non-members


Venue:
St Paul's Church Hall, Top end of Camden Square, London, NW1 9XG

please email to book a place: info@taijicircle.com
mobile: 07921765848

10 March 2012

Tui Na Dian Xue - Chinese massage workshop with Shifu Liu

Tui Na, Dian Xue are traditional holistic forms of healing used in China for hundreds of years. Chinese massage stimulates the tissues, organs and energy circulation and brings increased blood flow to problem areas of the body it is a safe alternative to acupuncture.

Shifu Liu is a member of ACTM (Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture), specialising in healing therapy with Tui Na (Chinese massage), Dian Xue (acupuncture point massage), qi gong healing and has worked with orthopaedic problems, stroke victims and arthritis patients.

Students should wear comfortable
loose, warm clothes.

Suitable for everyone,
no experience is necessary.



25 February 2012

Da Bei Qi Gong for health and well-being: Seminar with Shifu Liu

Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention. Come and learn Shifu Liu's Da Bei Qi Gong, it is a powerful yet simple set of 18 meditative movements, that when practiced regularly, help to improve the body's internal circulation, calm and relax the mind, and relieve stress.
Suitable for everyone, no experience is necessary.


 

Top

For information in London contact info@taijicircle.com