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classes qigong tai chi kung fu about us reviews a-z
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What do we teach?
Qigong
Tai chi
Fitness exercises
Kung fu (Chinese boxing)
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chin na,
self defence, shuai jiao,
tai chi chuan
Qigong & tai chi
Qigong and tai chi are suitable for most adults who can
stand and walk without the aid of a stick.
Fitness exercises
Fitness is different to health. Being fit entails a wider range of concerns e.g. increased
flexibility, suppleness, strength, cardiovascular health/fitness,
agility... These considerations are addressed at length in the
fitness syllabus. The fitness
exercises are more challenging than qigong & tai chi.
Kung fu
Kung fu is another matter entirely. This is subject to
eligibility criteria.
What don't we teach?
We don't teach other martial arts e.g. karate, MMA, wing chun or judo
Tailored sessions, such as: tai chi for the
elderly, tai chi
in a chair, tai chi for children,
tai chi for people with mental health issues or tai chi as performance art
We cannot teach
kung fu to children or the
elderly
These are not areas that we specialise in.
We are not trained or qualified to teach these approaches, nor is our syllabus or insurance
geared with these in mind.
You need a good tai chi teacher to
adjust your posture physically, to help calibrate your alignment, to point
out where you are holding tensions, and to note any musculoskeletal
imbalances. The nonverbal physical adjustments you get from your teacher
help you develop a level of self-awareness not accessible through solo
practice alone.
(Harvard Medical Schools Harvard Health Publication, May 2009)
Access for all?
The aim with differentiation is for all students to access the
curriculum relative to each individual's ability.
This means that those who struggle are assisted, those who do fine are developed
and those who do well are challenged further.
Parity
Flattering the skilled and patronising the awkward is not the tai chi approach.
Each student must be treated with respect and
courtesy.
Everyone comes from a different mental and
physical background, and brings with
them a unique set of quirks and habits.
Shedding these takes time.
Equal opportunity
Someone may struggle to begin with and then blossom later.
Others may always struggle. This is simply the way things are.
We treat all students equally.
Is everyone in equal condition?
How fit and healthy are you? But what condition are you in? Are you
fit or fat? Do you have back problems? Knee problems? Do you take any form
of medication on a regular basis?
Aging badly is nothing to be proud of. You may want to get out of your big
car, switch off your fancy phone, your laptop (and all the other devices)
and get off your backside. Before it is too late.
How healthy do I need to be to do tai chi?
You don't need to be fit to start tai chi classes. But you do need to be able to
stand up, walk and step without the aid of a stick.
The qigong
& tai chi classes are designed to cultivate a greater degree of
fitness: stamina, balance, endurance,
flexibility, mobility and coordination.
In some respects the exercises will be just as challenging as
yoga, but not exertive. Please bear in mind that you will be on your feet and moving around for
approximately 90 minutes.
Fit for combat?
In martial arts, if you attend the lesson, the assumption is that you are fit
enough to train. If there's anything preventing you from training properly that
night, a kung fu lesson is not suitable for you.
Traditional kung fu does not offer concessions or tailored lessons. Nor does it
offer age, gender or weight-specific concessions/classes. Everyone trains
together. The only differentiation is
ability.
Concessions?
Even if we wanted to be charitable with students, what could you
expect from us?
We cannot carry you through the form
movements.
We cannot download skills into your brain.
We cannot cure laziness or
apathy.
We cannot make you brave.
We cannot make you tall, small, rich or happy.
More...
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
19 September 2023