I am so glad to have found such a fantastic club to learn and train in tai chi. Both the teachers, Sifu Waller and Rachel, not only possess significant martial skills and knowledge regarding tai chi, but are also very patient with beginners like myself. I like the fact that in this club, tai chi is taught in a structured method ensuring beginners develop a solid foundation as they progress further. I like that even though there may be a lot of students training, the teachers have time to see how one’s own practice is developing and have time to make suggestions, give explanations, correct any bad practice and give encouragement. I like the fact that the club caters for students of all abilities with beginners like myself to highly experienced individuals who also help beginners.
I would recommend this club to any one interested in tai chi not only as a martial art but also for its health benefits. It is really a superb club.

(Mayur)

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.

Sustainable exercise

In the longevity book The Blue Zones, Dr Robert Kane emphasised the fact that many forms of exercise, especially sport, 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. 

Baguacamp

We hardly ever listen to the sound of a dog’s bark,
or to the cry of a child or the laughter of a man as he passes by.
We separate ourselves from everything,
and then from this isolation look and listen to all things.
It is this separation that is so destructive,
for in it lies all conflict and confusion.

(Krishnamurti)

Ideal form of exercise

According to the book The Blue Zones it is important to think of exercise in terms of what you can reasonably do long-term. 

The ideal form of exercise is moderate enough that you can do it for the rest of your life. It needs to be joint-friendly, provide a gentle workout and be sustainable. 

This sounds rather like tai chi, doesn't it?

The drawbacks of exercise

Not all forms of exercise are necessarily good for you. For example, running may improve cardiovascular health but is also very hard on the joints.
Lifting heavy weights can cause significant tension to accumulate and - if the muscles are large enough - adversely affect the skeleton. Most forms of exercise have pros and cons; especially sport.

Like a lot of people, I thought Tai Chi was just something that old folks did in the park, but the depth of information on the website grabbed my interest, so I gave it a try. So glad I did.

This is real Tai Chi taught to an exceptional standard. At the health and fitness level it teaches you to move efficiently, minimise stress on your joints, and restores flexibility, strength and balance.

But if you want to take it further it opens up the martial arts of taijiquan and baguazhang, which teach you to read your opponents and use their own energy against them. When you see this demonstrated by Sifu Waller you kind of forget any preconceptions.

(Malcolm)

Like a lot of people, I thought Tai Chi was just something that old folks did in the park, but the depth of information on the website grabbed my interest, so I gave it a try. So glad I did.

This is real Tai Chi taught to an exceptional standard. At the health and fitness level it teaches you to move efficiently, minimise stress on your joints, and restores flexibility, strength and balance.

But if you want to take it further it opens up the martial arts of taijiquan and baguazhang, which teach you to read your opponents and use their own energy against them. When you see this demonstrated by Sifu Waller you kind of forget any preconceptions.

(Malcolm)

Dwell not on the faults and shortcomings of others; instead, seek clarity about your own.

 (Buddha)