More than just form?

Taijiquan students study all 13 areas of practice:

1. Qigong
2. Fitness
3. Form
4. Pushing hands
5. Principles
6. Brain work (meditation, awareness, metacognition)
7. Neigong (whole-body strength)
8. Jing (whole-body power)
9. Self defence
10. Martial skill
11. Chin na (seizing)
12. Shuai jiao (take downs)
13. Weapons

Exploring these 13 areas of study will offer a balanced comprehension of the art.

Don't pull your punches!

A well-practiced student hits comfortably and easily, with their hands finding their own way to the targets. They are also used to being hit and do not flinch from fear.

When a punch is pulled, both the attacker and the defender suffer:

1. Inability to assess range accurately
2. No sense of commitment
3. Unaccustomed to the threat of actually being hit
4. Unfamiliar with impact
5. Inability to counter-attack effectively

An unskilled striker will often hurt their own hand when they hit their opponent because they are not accustomed to impact.

The bite...

Upon impact, your hand/elbow/knee sinks slightly into the opponent before bouncing back off again. This process occurs naturally and need not be contrived.

If you pull off too soon, 4 ounces of pressure has not been established and the power will diminish.

 

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Do not push on impact. That way, the kinetic energy will travel out of your body instead of just bouncing back. Your intention goes through the opponent. Your punch does not go through your opponent. The effect goes inside your opponent.

How much of the force you are delivering is actually going into your opponent?

If you are tense, then much of it will bang off your attacker's body and back into you. There is a concussive shockwave that travels along your arm, into your spine and throughout your body.

This is not good for your health. This is why 4 ounces of pressure is fundamental. The moment of contact must be heavy, soft and penetrating. Do not push.

Biofeedback

You need to feel what happens when you physically strike somebody.

Do you feel a jarring, unpleasant jolt upon impact? Adverse feedback up your arm and into your neck? Did the blow have the intended effect? Were you hurt yourself? Hitting another person skilfully may not be as easy as you imagine.

Ideally, you should end by actually hitting something. When you practice explosive technique just by doing taijiquan, your own antagonistic muscles stop your fist or foot.

(Frederic Delavier) 

Effect?

Performing applications in thin air is no good. It proves nothing.

Striking target pads and bags - whilst useful - are also unrepresentative. Nothing compares to striking an actual person.

You may appear to have wonderful form and effective-seeming combat skills but it will all fall to pieces if your strikes are worthless.

Last Monday class of 2022

 

 I will absolutely recommend this school to everyone no matter what age or gender! Sifu Waller and Rachel are both excellent and with lots of patience for everyone.

(Jo)

I have been involved in the world of martial arts since I was 8 (around 40 years), having a 2nd Dan grade in Karate and Jujitsu and also having experience in 7 Star Praying Mantis Kung fu.

I have been interested in the internal arts, specifically Taijiquan and Baguazhang for many years but realised how hard it is to find someone teaching the authentic art.

With Sifu Waller I found what I was looking for!

Sifu's understanding and knowledge is outstanding.  The syllabus is both deep and broad allowing a structured development of each student as they progress.

Sifu Waller teaches the full art not just the commonly seen "health tai chi".  This is a martial art that is subtle and effective, using body structure and biodynamics to achieve success.

What I also love is the freedom to make your own decisions to what level you wish to study.  Just interested in the health benefits, then there is a health syllabus or a slightly more advanced fitness syllabus.

Want to take the training further, learning self defence, the full art of Taijiquan or the full Kung fu syllabus including Taijiquan and Baguazhang?  That’s available if you have the desire and commitment to grasp it.

The class has a well considered structure designed over many years and a friendly and fun approach suitable for anyone.

I can highly recommend this class for anyone with the passion and dedication to learn a true martial art or someone with a desire to improve their health.

There is no other class in the whole of the North East like it!

(Chris Young)

 

Induction course - Monday 12th October

The next induction course starts Monday 12th October. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com 

Induction course Monday 14th September

 The next induction course starts Monday 14th September. Places must be booked on-line in advance (Covid-19 guidelines).

There are a limited number of places available. If you want to book a place, please send us an e-mail.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

TAI CHI - 3-week induction course - Monday 14th September

We have received the go-ahead to resume tai chi classes at St Andrew's Church hall in September.

The induction course will start @ 6:45 PM on 14th September.

Under the new Covid-19 guidelines, registration must take place on-line prior to the induction course.

If you are interested and want to attend, please let me know and I will send you a registration form.

sifuwaller@outlook.com

Modern tuition

Modern students often expect to attend a one-off workshop and just pick up the skills.
This is naive.

We do not expect our students to train form in the traditional way, but it will take time to learn the moves correctly.
It is necessary to have the form regularly corrected, so that a process of ongoing refinement and improvement takes place.
Accurate positioning, attention to detail and a growing awareness of nuances is vital.

Once the form pattern has been learned, it must also be mirrored.

Isn't tai chi just slow motion exercise?

No. Some of the training methods are slow, and some are not. As the student gains greater skill, their movements become fluid and dynamic. They move at whatever speed the situation demands.

Slow motion movement, chilled out exercise or dance cannot be considered tai chi. Tai chi is more than this. It adheres to certain parameters, guidelines and rules of practice.

Intelligent exercise

In the longevity book The Blue Zones, Dr Robert Kane emphasised the fact that many forms of exercise - especially sport - often have adverse side effects that impede long-term practice. 
By contrast, as a milder form of exercise, tai chi can be practiced throughout your entire lifespan, making it a safer, sustainable choice. Tai chi is a fun, balanced way to exercise. 

What is tai chi?

When most people say 'tai chi' they mean tai chi for health. Tai chi for health is a simplified, movement-based exercise adapted from taijiquan (a Chinese martial art). 

Tai chi is intended to improve health and wellbeing through frequent, regular practice using low effort. 

In many martial arts schools the practice was carried out in secrecy and the school's very existence was frequently concealed from the authorities. For example, taijiquan is based on body of theory known to be around 2000 years old yet it was not revealed until 1750. 
When a master of taijiquan faces an opponent he brings to the confrontation thousands of years of philosophical, martial and practical thought. He has lived most of his life according to the principles established centuries ago and in the process, he has strengthened his body and probably earned a long and healthy life.
(Howard Reid)