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)

Kung fu is thousands of years old and is a highly developed system of martial art. The student who locates a good kung fu school will find the training thorough and challenging. Kung fu skills, which have been refined over centuries, are not learned easily or quickly. The sincere student, however, through hard work and dedication, will not be disappointed with the results. 

(Adam Hsu)

   Kung fu styles like taijiquan have become widespread and popular. It is important for all practitioners to understand a major weaknesses in the transmission of all Chinese arts; a lack of basic training. In fact, step-by-step training program, standardized terminology, clear explanations and correct interpretations are either entirely missing or woefully scarce.

(Adam Hsu)

4 styles

There are 4 traditional styles of taijiquan: Chen, Yang, Wu and Hao.

Taijiquan means...

Taijiquan literally means martial art that uses the yin/yang principle in combat.
Taiji means supreme ultimate (yin/yang). 
Quan means fist (combat/martial art).
It is commonly translated as 'supreme ultimate fist'.

I strongly believe that students should limit themselves to learning and fully developing in just one style only. By learning many styles and collecting many forms we simply cannot have sufficient time to practice.

 Few have the resources or talent to be the master of more than one style. The really good teachers focus on one style.

 (Adam Hsu)

Martial athlete

Many people who commence taijiquan practice are essentially 'daydreamers'.
They have fanciful notions of becoming a martial artist but entirely lack the grit and determination required to accomplish the task.
Instead of committing to a challenging regime of on-going comprehensive, rigorous training, the student is contented with the dream.
Combat is not easy and there is a risk of injury if the student is unfit. This is true of any martial art.

To reach a high level of skill, the student needs to take a lesson from sport. 
They must become a martial athlete.

Complete martial art

The training is thought-provoking and insightful; with lessons about living, as well as about fighting.
There is nothing macho, aggressive, confrontational or competitive about taijiquan.
Health, wellbeing, character development and philosophical study are just as important as combat skills.

You can also understand Sifu Waller's insistence on a certain level of fitness for the martial side. Anyone that thinks Taiji is for old people has clearly no idea what the total art is about.

(Chris)