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Diary

 

 

The class timetable is under the 'classes' menu.

CLASS NEWS: Summer 2010

> 4 July Beginners Chen Tai Ji Quan Course on Sundays, see 'classes' menu for details

 

Tai Ji Circle Saturday Workshops 2010

with Shifu Liu

 

   

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.
   With their focus on understanding the 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.

 

NEXT LONDON WORKSHOP

 

5 June, 3 July, 31 July   Chen Tai Ji Quan: Xinjia Yi Lu Part 3

In this third workshop workshops Shifu Liu will continue teaching the movements, and some fajin and applications, with movement details and postural correction. Suitable both for those who have begun to study Chen and want to learn this routine, and those with more experience who will gain a deeper experience of this form.

Registration cut-off date 29 July

Cost per workshop:
Members £50
Non-Members £100 per workshop

Time: 2.00-7.00pm with refreshment breaks

Register for workshops with Chris: info@taijicircle.com

A deposit of £15.00 is required to secure a place on each workshop

We reserve the right to cancel workshops if under 10 people book

Venue: St Paul’s Church Hall
Camden Square, NW1 9XG Top of the Square, 10 minutes from Camden Town underground and Camden Rd Station, bus 29 or 253 up Camden Rd to Cantelowes Rd, (Torriano Avenue stop)

 

12 June  The do’s and dont’s of nutrition with Shifu Liu

What to eat, what not to eat and different food combinations, according to the principles of Traditonal Chinese Medicine.

Bring along fruit and vegetables and food that you like to eat and find out what foods mix well and enhance health and which don’t and may be harmful. This will be practical so we’ll be cooking up food and eating it together.

Suitable for everyone.


A special Tai Ji CIrcle May seminar

 

15 May  Qi Gong, Martial Arts and Therapy with Grand Master Chu

Don’t miss this great opportunity to work with the remarkable Grand Master Chu from Manchester. He specialises in qi gong practice for good health and for healing others, as well as being formidable practioner of martial arts, with a vast knowledge and immense skill. He is the Chairman of the Manchester Kung Fu Committee and Dragon and Lion Dancing Club, and on the board of directors for the Chinese Education Culture Community Centre in Manchester.

The workshop is suitable for everone and will be divided into 3 parts with refreshment breaks. Qi gong practice will be followed by a demonstration in the use of martial applications in defence and attack, and the last session will be qi gong therapy, a great opportunity to experience qi gong for healing. If you have a specific serious health problem please notify us before hand.


Saturday, March and April Workshops

Our first three Chen Tai Ji Quan workshops have the theme 'Theory, Practice and Observation' and will lead towards assessments for all levels. These will be accessible and open to all, and are important for everyone to improve their practice, particularly those who wish to gain a teaching certificate with us. There will be a number of workshops leading up to this:-

All workshops are with Shifu Liu and we will supply a syllabus and details required for each part of the assessments.

13 March Chen Style Chansi Gong, Preparatory Form
Suitable for beginners to experienced practitioners. Shifu Liu will help us to understand why we are all so different in our practice, how some people can relax while others cannot and how the mind affects us all. The workshop is important for everyone and is aimed at both those who are interested in teaching and new students who are beginning their practice with us.

Registration cut-off date 11 March

27 March 19 Part Form 2 Level syllabus

Continuing on from the last workshop, exploring movement and posture, Including the use of fajing, theory, applications and posture correction

Registration cut-off date 25 March

10 April  Laojia Yi Lu, Chen Traditional Long Form
Including using fajing, theory, applications and posture correction

Registration cut-off date 8 April

17 April Chen Sword Form
Including using fajing, theory, applications and posture correction

Registration cut-off date 15 April

Time: 2.00-7.00pm with refreshment breaks

 

Cost per workshop:
Members £50

Members Concessions £45
Non-Members £100

Venue: St Paul’s Church Hall
Camden Square, NW1 9XG Top of the Square, 10 minutes from Camden Town underground and Camden Rd Station, bus 29 or 253 up Camden Rd to Cantelowes Rd, (Torriano Avenue stop)

Register for workshops application to Chris: info@taijicircle.com

Deposit of £15.00 is required to secure a place on each workshop

We reserve the right to cancel workshops if there are under 10 people booked


FUNDRAISER FOR HAITI


Tai Ji Circle workshop & Sale of Chinese Paintings

Da Bei Qi Gong Workshop with Shifu Liu

20 February 2009

Saturday 2.00 – 6.00 pm

Shifu Liu will teach a meditative qi gong for energy and good health, and we’ll sell or auction
Chinese paintings to raise funds for the earthquake victims of Haiti

Suitable for everyone, no experience is necessary.

ALL PROCEEDS TO BE DONATED


Suggested Fee: £40
email to book: info@taijicircle.com

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

For bookings email Chris: info@taijicircle.com

 

The new dates and other workshops for 2010 will be announced soon


PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS 09

14 February   Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling and Applications (4 hours)

28 February   Da Bei Qi Gong (4 hours)

7 March   Bagua Zhang (4 hours)

21 March   Chen Xiao Wang’s 19 part Form (4 hours)

4 April   Chen 24 part Spear Form (4 hours)

18 April   Bagua Zhang (4 hours)

2 + 9  May   Chen Xiao Wang’s Long Form – Laojia Yi Lu (12 hours)

23  May   Chen Sword form (4 hours)

13  June   Chen Cannon Fist – Laojia Er Lu (6 hours)

20  June   Da Bei Qi Gong (4 hours)

4 + 18 July   Chen Double Sabres (8 hours)

1 + 15  August   Chen style Push Hands (8 hours)

12  September   Da Bei Qi Gong (4 hours)

26  September   Chen Tai Ji all Beginners Syllabus (4 hours)

10 October   Chen Xiao Wang’s 19 part Form (4 hours) (form, fajin and applications)

24 October   56 Chen Competition Form (6 hours) (study the routine)

14 November   Chen Sword Form (6 hours) (learn routine and practice fajin)

21 November + 5 December:  Chen Xiao Wang’s – Laojia Yi Lu (12 hours)

12 December:  Special Christmas Workshops Xinjia New Frame + Push Hands Applications, plus Demonstration of Chen Tai Ji and Qi Gong. Times to be confirmed

 

12 December: Christmas Workshop & Party ‘09

12.00 noon – 3.00pm Chen Tai Ji Quan Workshop with Shifu Liu
Come and try the exciting Chen New Frame Form & Applications, for all levels of experience
Fee: Members £30.00 Non Members £45

3.00 – 6.00pm Chen Tai Ji and Qi Gong demonstrations
Christmas Party,
with performances
, singing, music,
raffle and merrymaking... bring some snacks & drinks

Venue: St Paul's Church hall, top of Camden Square, NW1 9XG

email confirmation: info@taijicircle.com

 

21 November + 5 December Chen Xiao Wang’s – Laojia Yi Lu (12 hours)

Shifu will be teaching the first traditional Chen long form Laojia Yi Lu originally created by Chen Changxing (later taught to Yang Luchan the founder of the Yang style of tai ji so popular in the West). Laojia Yi Lu is the foundation of the Chen style and many of the other forms in the Chen repertoire are structurally based upon it, here's some info:-

Perhaps the best known Chen family teacher was 14th generation Chen Changxing (1771-1853). He further synthesized Chen Wangting's (the founder of the Chen style) open fist training corpus into two routines that came to be known as "old frame" (lao jia). ... Chen family teaching remained hidden and was not officially "released" to the public until 1928 (from WIkipedia).

Suitable for everyone with basic Chen-style skills.

With refreshment breaks.

Times: 2.00pm–8.00pm

Costs of workshops:

6 hour workshop: £65 Non Members, £50 Members

Venue
St Paul’s Church Hall, Camden Square
London NW1 9XG

For bookings email Chris: info@taijicircle.com

14 November Chen Style Sword Form with Shifu Liu

Step by step tuition in the traditional Chen-style sword form with Shifu Liu, with posture correction and fajin practice, emphsis on yin yang, 'empty' and 'full' aspects of movements of the form.Suitable for everyone with basic Chen-style skills

24 October Chen Style 56 Part Competition Form with Shifu Liu

This dynamic yet flowing form was especially conceived for competition and demonstration. It takes about 4 1/2 minutes to perform. With its framework rooted in the Chen style, it combines movements from the two classic Chen forms, Laojia Yi Lu and Laojia Er Lu (first and second traditional routines), together with those from the new frame Xinjia Yi Lu. Xinjia Yi Lu form was created by Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang's famous Grandfather, Chen Fake in the 1920's, (its underlying structure is based on Laojia Yi Lu and it contains many smaller spiral movements and energetic fajin). The modern 56 part routine therefore combines the essence of the Chen style and is itself a well balanced form, particularly beneficial for coordination and strength.

Shifu Liu will teach the routine step-by-step and has said that everyone can practice the competition form whatever their level, however some Chen tai ji experience is helpful.

10 October 19 Part Form Workshop with Shifu Liu

'Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang created the 19 Part Form in response to demand from students for a short routine suitable for beginners, the form is composed of 19 movements, divided into four sections. The simplicity of the form’s choreography facilitates easy assimilation by the novice, yet offers the experienced practitioner room to express and develop the basic principles, energies and techniques of the style.'

Shifu will teach the movements step by step. This Level 2 form has some different postures, practice and fajin than the Chen Style 18 part Form, and is preparation for learning the traditional Chen Long Form, Laojia Yi Lu. The movements are designed to make the body’s energy very strong.

 

26 September   Beginners Chen Tai Ji Quan workshop

Learn and refine the basic essentials of Chen Tai Ji Quan, silk reeling exercises, beginners form, some applications and posture correction

Suitable for all levels, no experience is necessary.

 

12 September Da Bei Qi Gong

Da Bei Qi Gong is a powerful set of simple movements, that when practiced regularly, can help you to increase the body's internal energy, calm and relax the mind, and help relieve stress. The practice can be seated or standing and is ideal for learning to do at home (as it only needs a small space). The focus is on the dantian (the energy centre below the navel) and to strengthen and improve the internal organs. At an advanced level when your energy is very strong this qi gong can be used for healing oneself and other people.

Suitable for everyone, no experience is necessary.

1 & 15 August 2009 Chen pushing Hands Workshop - Part 1 & Part 2

Working with a partner these workshops will deepen your understanding of the importance of pushing hands in our tai ji practice. Shifu Liu will teach many aspects of Chen style pushing hands, explaining techniques and the difference behind the movements of forms and pushing hands. These workshops are to be held over 2 Saturdays.

All levels welcome.

 

4 & 18 July 2009 Chen style Double Sabres Workshop - Part 1 & Part 2

A unique opportunity to learn the whole of the Chen Double Sabre form with Shifu Liu of the Tai Ji Circle. This fascinating and dynamic routine has sweeping circular movements and energetic jumps which can be practised by more experienced students. The workshop is held over 2 Saturdays, and the Form will be taught slowly step-by-step with posture correction.

 

20 June  Da Bei Qi Gong

Da Bei Qi Gong is a powerful set of simple movements, that when practiced regularly, can help you to increase the body's internal energy, calm and relax the mind, and help relieve stress. The practice can be seated or standing and is ideal for learning to do at home (only needs a small space. It focuses on the dantian (the energy centre below the navel) and to strengthen and improve the internal organs. At an advanced level when your energy is very strong this qi gong can be used for healing oneself and other people.

The movements are quite simple to learn, so it is suitable for everyone to try.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn more about Da Bei Qi Gong from Shifu Liu, he is the lineage holder in this country, and during a normal class there isn't enough time to go into detail as there is during the workshop when there is also time to ask questions and experience everything more fully.

 

13 June   Laojia Er Lu or Cannon Fist (6 hours)

Saturday 2.00 – 8.00pm

A rare chance to learn this advanced Chen form which is full of ‘fajin’, energy releases. Shifu Liu will teach slowly step by step, the routine of this ancient traditional form and refine posture and movements. Knowledge of the 1st Chen long form, Laojia Yi Lu is helpful, but not essential.

 

23 May   Chen Sword form (4 hours)

Saturday 2.00 – 6.00pm

Learn the steps of the 49 movement Chen sword form, together with posture correction, the names of the sword routine and the types of cutting movement and angles of the sword.

 

2 + 9 May Chen Xiao Wang’s Long Form – Laojia Yi Lu (12 hours)

Shifu Liu teaches Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang's Laojia Yi Lu (over 2 x 6 hour workshops, split over 2 Saturdays, with posture and movement correction).

Laojia Yi Lu is the 1st traditional long form of the Chen style and itself is the basis of the Chen family style as the more modern Chen forms have the structure of this important routine as their underlying theme. It is predominantly 'yin' in flavour as opposed to the 'yang' of Cannon fist, Laojia Er (with many explosive movements). These two forms offer a harmony of yin yang balance in their practice at a more advanced level.

This is a great opportunity to learn the form step by step, revise sections you are not sure of and gain an overall understanding of the structure of the whole form and the movement principles behind it. If you are new to the form do not even try to remember the movements but get the feel of the overall movement themes and with practice the whole will slowly come together. This wonderful form is the root of Chen style and essential for development of practice.

The workshops will be split up with tea/snack breaks (bring something to eat with you). All welcome, but it is helpful to have some prior Chen experience.

Times: 2.00pm–8.00pm

Costs per day for workshop:

Per 6 hour workshop

Non Members: £65

Members: £50

 

> 18 April – Bagua Zhang, Eight Trigram Palm Workshop 2

This workshop will continue with teaching the Bagua forms and the martial applications taken from the movements of the form. The photo above shows Shifu Liu demonstrating the application from the 1st bagua movement.

Bagua Zhang or The Eight Trigrams Palm is a martial art based on the ancient Chinese book "The I Ching" and it's philosophy. It uses the eight trigrams, the sixty-four hexagrams, and its theories of Yin and Yang to describe fighting tactics, postures, forces used in fighting, and the health exercises that are contained inside Bagua Zhang. The practice of circle walking is bagua's characteristic method of stance and movement training. In the workshop Shifu will include posture correction and the use of some martial applications from the forms. Suitable for all levels.

> 4 April – 24 Part Chen Spear Workshop

Shifu Liu will be teaching the movements of the 24 part Chen Spear form and also the traditional Chen 'sticky' spear form, which is practiced in pairs and tests the attack and defence movements of the form; this is good for developing coordination with a partner and feeling the strength of the movements from the dantian.

The 24 Spear form was created by Chen Wanting and is one of the oldest Chen forms. It is said to originate from a female warrior 'Yang' of the Song dynasty, who used a 24 movement Spear form to avenge the death of her male relatives. Chen Wanting applied tai ji principles to the form which made it unique. SInce then the form has been developed into a longer 72 part form. All welcome, though tai ji experence from hand forms is helpful, and the form itself is vigorous.

> 21 March – 19 Part Chen Form Workshop

The 19 Part Form by grand Master Chen Xiao Wang is a combination of postures from the three major styles of ChenJiagou Taijiquan. It is composed of 19 movements, divided into four sections. The rhythm and flavour of the form reflects the classic attributes of Chen style, showing especially the influence of Lao Jia Yi Lu (the traditional long form): it has a mixture of soft and hard, with fast and slow movements.

While Shifu will teach the movements of the form, including posture correction, fajin or energy releases, and the martial applications.

With something for everyone, attending the workshop will be a good opportunity for new students to learn the movements of a longer form, while others will enjoy gaining experience of the underlying martial and fajin applications.

 

7 March

Bagua Zhang, Eight Trigram Palm

Bagua Zhang or The Eight Trigrams Palm is a martial art based on the ancient Chinese book "The I Ching" and it's philosophy. It uses the eight trigrams, the sixty-four hexagrams, and its theories of Yin and Yang to describe fighting tactics, postures, forces used in fighting, and the health exercises that are contained inside Bagua Zhang. The practice of circle walking is bagua's characteristic method of stance and movement training. In the workshop Shifu will include posture correction and the use of some martial applications from the forms. Suitable for all levels.

 

28 February

Da Bei Qi Gong

Come and try this meditative qi gong with it's roots in Shaolin Buddhism, it is complementary to the tai ji training, so learn more about calming your mind and increasing your body's energy with this practice and the possibility of using qi gong for healing. The movements are quite simple to learn, so it is suitable for everyone to try.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn more about Da Bei Qi Gong from Shifu Liu, he is the lineage holder in this country, and during a normal class there isn't enough time to go into detail as there is during the workshop when there is also time to ask questions and experience everything more fully.

 

14 February Workshop

Chen Tai Ji Silk Reeling and Applications

This first seminar on silk reeling and applications will demonstrate the fundamental importance of the basic movements that underlie the Chen style of tai ji and its martial heritage, it is suitable for everyone to try.

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For information in London contact info@taijicircle.com