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Tai Chi
Tai chi is a gentle, slow-motion martial art from China. The Yin Yang symbol is the symbol of Tai chi and is based on the observation of nature. It’s about the balance of opposites, such as day/night, empty/full, expanding/ contracting, and the constant flow from one state to the other. The main principle is to move from the centre or “Dantian”. As Chen Xiao Wang says “When the Dantian moves, everything moves. When the Dantian stops everything stops”
Chen Style, Laoija Form
​We study Chen style Tai chi, which is the oldest form, dating from 1580. We practise the Laojia form, which means “old form”. It’s made up of four parts and divided into 74 patterns. The patterns form a continuous flow. Click HERE to find a list of the patterns. This video shows the first five patterns of the Laojia form.​
Silk reeling exercises are movements taken from the form and repeated on both sides. This helps develop precision and a sense of moving from the centre in a flowing way. Click HERE to see some more silk reeling videos.
Silk Reeling
Bagua is a recent form of Tai chi and it’s performed in a circle. You take gliding steps called “snake walking” or “mud walking”, and you walk in a circle around a central object or a tree, stepping with your toes first. You change direction in a number of different ways, which get more complicated as you progress through the form. Bagua is an incredible way of improving your balance and even your sense of direction! HERE are a selection of Bagua videos from my youtube channel.
Bagua
The fan form I teach was created by my teachers, Eva and Karel Koskuba, It has 22 sequences and so takes a relatively short time to learn. The sequences are based on the Laojia form and so if you know the Laojia form, learning the fan form is relatively easy. Click HERE for videos of the fan form.